American splendor (2003)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2003
	Director: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
	Actors: Paul Giamatti, Hope Davis
	Country: USA
	Genre: Drama, Documentary
	Conditions of visioning: 20.12.2014, DVD, English version without subtitlte
Synopsis: Harvey Pekar has no clue of drawing but likes comic story telling and jazz. He starts writing the stories while one friend makes the images. He tells his own story, working as a clerk, living in the middle of the Rust belt city of Cleveland. One day one fan Joyce (Davis) comes to Cleveland to meet him.
Review: The story is very touching. Although he is very pessimistic about his own life, the will of story telling and the taste for simple neighbourhood makes the movie very interesting and beautiful. The story sounds a bit like Charles Bukowski's novels.  The form is innovative mixing comic book style with classical movie style and well done! Especially when Harvey meets Joyce in the train station. The acting of Giamatti is amazing for his perfectly fitting face. Also the friends of Harvey look not only realistic but also great. We go through many steps of his life with so much authenticity. I love it.  The cover of the DVD and some posters looks of course very good due to the mix of images from the movie and from the comic books. In addition, I put two covers of the comic book. One of them is a comic book about the time spent during the movie.
Rating: 8 /10