American Splendor (HBO)

About American Splendor (HBO)

American Splendor is an HBO biographical comedy-drama film released in 2003. It is about the life of Cleveland file clerk Harvey Pekar, the author of American Splendor comic book series. The film uses the combination of actors, animation, and the real Pekar himself to tell the story. It explores the mundane life of Pekar providing an in-depth narrative into his everyday struggles and victories.

Making / Production

The film was directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini. It was an adaption of the comic book series of the same name, created by Harvey Pekar, who was also prominently featured in the film. The script was written by the directors themselves.

Actors

• Paul Giamatti - Played the role of Harvey Pekar. He gave a nuanced and deeply empathetic performance, bringing out the various shades of Pekar's character.
• Hope Davis - Played Joyce Brabner, Pekar's wife. She portrayed Joyce with an endearing quirkiness, making the character timeless.
• Judah Friedlander - Played Toby Radloff, Pekar's co-worker. His portrayal was both humorous and sympathetic.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film uniquely uses three different forms of storytelling: the fictional world, scenes with the real Harvey Pekar, and animated sequences from Pekar's American Splendor comic books.
• The real Harvey Pekar and Toby Radloff appear in the film, blurring the line between reality and fiction.

Awards

American Splendor won the Grand Jury Prize for Dramatic Film at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Quotes

• "Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff." - Harvey Pekar
• "I try to make order out of chaos." - Joyce Brabner

Music, Soundtrack

• "Ain't That Peculiar" - Marvin Gaye
• "A Good Idea at the Time" - OK Go