toy2boy Reviews

Paradise Alley (1978)

If you plan on watching this film, stay away from sharp objects!

[1/10 · 7 February 2008]

I watched this movie and contemplated suicide. Yeah, it was that bad. After the first hour, I only continued with the film with the thought there had to be something appealing. And there wasn't. I am rather shocked it was distributed in DVD format.

I can't think of a worse movie now, this is the very bottom. The story was really shallow, the characters acted poorly. The type of characters were like that of a bad comic book. Timing was so slow that the story literally stops in spots. And the music was lousy. I think Sly actually sang the opening and closing song! 2 hours of my life totally wasted!

This movie stole 2 hours of my life! Nighly not recommended.

American Splendor (2003)

Reaction to No Money Guy, With a Typewriter

[10/10 · 14 March 2005]

A response, because I did not want the following remarks by "the unemployed critic" to be the last lines of this thread.

It is very clear to me that the "the unemployed critic" (TUC) simply does not know:

The characters themselves, nor The movie, nor The movie makers, and certainly not Mr. Pekar, wife Joyce Brabner, or any of the real people the movie represents.

As of this post in March 2005, HBO is showing American Splendor approximately 70 times a month! So I ask you "TUC", how many movies from 2003 get this much showings?

First you say "Crump…offers to help…" is wrong. Mr. Crumb had helped directly set Mr. Pekar's efforts in even producing the comic in the first place. Had it not been for Mr. Crumb, Harvey may have never started the comic. Mr. Pekar consistently gives credit for Crumb's efforts on this.

Mr Pekar's supposed "fame" certainly did not bring him a wife. To suggest that is really irresponsible as Joyce Brabner is a very intelligent woman herself. Harvey certainly wasn't making a great deal of money at the time. While it did foster the catalyst for the initial meeting, it certainly did not make way for a marriage.

And you wrote, "…cancer, and the illness allows him a rare opportunity to put his peculiar life into focus." This is most indicative that you don't have a simple grasp on any of what you write. His life is not 'peculiar' but rather mundane. It is his view of the mundane, which has grabbed worldwide acclaim from most comic critics (those that ARE paid) and most movie critics (again, those that ARE paid).

In your long-winded speech of, "…audience compatibility…" then tell me this; what other movies showed such a deep interpretive analysis of the personality of a character as did American Splendor with insights from (Mr. Pekar's)? -

Wife, Joyce, Friends, Moviemakers, David Letterman, David Letterman's staff, David Letterman's audience, Strangers in the street, Fans of the comic, Daughter, and Coworkers.

Pulling all that off was not only brilliant, but also somewhat insane to even attempt; the fact that co-writers/directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini actually succeeded at the attempt is mind-boggling.

And there was nothing, "…so black and white…" represented in the film at all. It remained consistent through the film.

As for stating what Harvey Pekar would or wouldn't like? Do you know the man, or his wife, or daughter, or friends? Absolutely not, or you would understand that Harvey, Joyce, and Toby said the filmmakers did a fantastic job of "nailing them" in the movie portrayal. They were very happy with the results of the film. Now if you did know those mentioned above, you would realize that making them ALL happy is paramount to winning the lottery.

Signed sincerely, Mark ([e-mail]) A controlling signing agent of Mr. Pekar And most importantly, An actual Friend