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American Splendor (2003)

15 101 min  -  Biography | Comedy | Drama  -   12 September 2003 (USA)
7.6
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Ratings: 7.6/10 from 29,336 users   Metascore: 90/100 
Reviews: 216 user | 171 critic | 42 from Metacritic.com

An original mix of fiction and reality illuminates the life of comic book hero everyman Harvey Pekar.

Writers:

Harvey Pekar (comic book series American Splendor), Joyce Brabner (comic book series Our Cancer Year), and 2 more credits »
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American Splendor -- An original mix of fiction and reality illuminates the life of comic book hero everyman Harvey Pekar. American Splendor -- An original mix of fiction and reality illuminates the life of comic book hero everyman Harvey Pekar.
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chris Ambrose Chris Ambrose ...
Joey Krajcar Joey Krajcar ...
Batman
Josh Hutcherson ...
Robin
Cameron Carter Cameron Carter ...
Daniel Tay ...
Mary Faktor ...
Housewife
Paul Giamatti ...
Harvey Pekar ...
Shari Springer Berman ...
Interviewer (voice)
Larry John Meyers Larry John Meyers ...
Throat Doctor (as Larry John Myers)
Vivienne Benesch Vivienne Benesch ...
Lana
Barbara Brown ...
Nurse
Earl Billings ...
Mr. Boats
Danny Hoch ...
Marty
James Urbaniak ...
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Storyline

Harvey Pekar is file clerk at the local VA hospital. His interactions with his co-workers offer some relief from the monotony, and their discussions encompass everything from music to the decline of American culture to new flavors of jellybeans and life itself. At home, Harvey fills his days with reading, writing and listening to jazz. His apartment is filled with thousands of books and LPs, and he regularly scours Cleveland's thrift stores and garage sales for more, savoring the rare joy of a 25-cent find. It is at one of these junk sales that Harvey meets Robert Crumb, a greeting card artist and music enthusiast. When, years later, Crumb finds international success for his underground comics, the idea that comic books can be a valid art form for adults inspires Harvey to write his own brand of comic book. An admirer of naturalist writers like Theodore Dreiser, Harvey makes his American Splendor a truthful... Written by Sujit R. Varma  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Comic Book | Harvey Pekar | Celebrity | V.a. Hospital | Underground  | See more »

Taglines:

Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff.

Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Esplendor americano See more »

Filming Locations:

Cleveland, Ohio, USA See more »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$159,705 (USA) (17 August 2003) (6 Screens)

Gross:

$6,003,587 (USA) (30 November 2003)
See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Good Machine See more »
Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Cameo: [Gary Dumm] longtime American Splendor artist is the gray-haired man getting his copy of "Our Cancer Year" autographed. See more »

Goofs

Anachronisms: The sign outside the hospital where Harvey works refers to the "Department of Veterans Affairs". The "Veterans Administration" did not become the Department of Veterans Affairs until 1989. See more »

Quotes

Harvey Pekar: You don't have any problems with moving to Cleveland?
Joyce Brabner: Not really. I find most American cities to be depressing in the same way.
Harvey Pekar: And you're OK with the vasectomy thing?
See more »

Connections

Featured in "The Hour: Episode #7.40" (2010) See more »

Soundtracks

"I'll Be with You in Apple Blossom Time"
(1920)
(Published as "Apple Blossom Time")
Music by Albert von Tilzer
Lyrics by Neville Fleeson (as Neville Flesson)
Performed by The Andrews Sisters
Courtesy of MCA Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises See more »