I had never heard of Harvey Pekar but I saw this movie after hearing all the critics raving about it. It's a well written well acted movie, but I found it utterly depressing. After watching the movie I had no desire to read any of Pekar's work.
Only in America could that schlemiel Pekar be a celebrity!
7/14/10, 9:36 AM
Correction said...
One of the best movies for understanding CLEVELAND ever made.
7/14/10, 11:02 AM
Anonymous said...
I think you missed the mark in that review, at least of the comic book part. It' a deeply personal and, I guess, representative view of a shlub living in the 1960's-70's. I was born later. The stories are interesting because they are real. It's not genius, it's just pertinent to my interests, at least.
"Harvey Pekar, RIP"
12 Comments -
Great movie.
7/13/10, 12:17 AM
Pekar would have remained a complete unknown were it not for Crumb's love of weirdos and losers.
7/13/10, 2:58 AM
Love the R. Crumb quotes. Now there's a genius...great movie made about him too ("Crumb").
7/13/10, 6:50 AM
I heard that Harvey's brother Harry Pekar was a real dick.
7/13/10, 9:02 AM
I had never heard of Harvey Pekar but I saw this movie after hearing all the critics raving about it. It's a well written well acted movie, but I found it utterly depressing. After watching the movie I had no desire to read any of Pekar's work.
7/13/10, 9:33 AM
He was a great guest of Letterman's on his NBC show but Dave eventually turned against him.
I guess HP wasn't far enough to the Left for Dave.
7/13/10, 10:00 AM
One of the best movies for understanding Ohio ever made.
7/13/10, 10:35 AM
I've always found American Splendor a great "feel good" movie.
If something isn't going well in my life, I watch it and say to myself, at least I don't live in Cleveland! And then I go surfing.
7/13/10, 8:23 PM
Your point about the "post-modernism" of the middle ages is echoed here.
7/13/10, 9:08 PM
Only in America could that schlemiel Pekar be a celebrity!
7/14/10, 9:36 AM
One of the best movies for understanding CLEVELAND ever made.
7/14/10, 11:02 AM
I think you missed the mark in that review, at least of the comic book part. It' a deeply personal and, I guess, representative view of a shlub living in the 1960's-70's. I was born later. The stories are interesting because they are real. It's not genius, it's just pertinent to my interests, at least.
7/14/10, 2:30 PM