American Splendor

American Splendor, the comic, was based on the life and experiences of Harvey Pekar, a lonely curmudgeon from Cleveland. American Splendor, the movie, is a biopic of sorts about Harvey Pekar and the American Splendor comics, starring Paul Giamatti as Harvey Pekar. The actual real-life Harvey Pekar also appears in the movie, narrating parts of the story and commenting on the film itself. On paper, it sounds like it shouldn't work but it does. It's a charming comedic drama that occasionally breaks the fourth wall with documentary-style moments featuring the real people being depicted in the film. Paul Giamatti, in an early leading role, gives a memorable performance.

Rating: 80%

(Image from Wikipedia)