Thursday, Dec. 18, 2003
American Splendor
We know, we know: Depression is a serious illness, often enough a tragedy. It's not nice to laugh at. But what else can you do when you confront glum Harvey Pekar, who has made a great anti-hero out of himself by writing realistic comix about his life as a Cleveland hospital clerk? He's superbly impersonated by Paul Giamatti, Hope Davis is perfectly-matched as his wife and the husband-wife directing team of Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, using delightful, home-made visual effects, has made a perversely inspiring odyssey of Harvey's life and hard times.