View source for American Splendor (film)

{{short description|2003 American biographical film about Harvey Pekar}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = American Splendor
| image          = American Splendor film.jpg
| alt            = 
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini|Shari Springer Berman<br />Robert Pulcini]]
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Ted Hope]]
* Christine Kunewa Walker
* Julia King
* Declan Baldwin
}}
| writer         = {{Plainlist|
* Shari Springer Berman
* Robert Pulcini
}}
| based_on       = {{Plainlist|
* {{Based on|''[[American Splendor]]''|[[Harvey Pekar]]}}
* {{Based on|''[[Our Cancer Year]]''|Harvey Pekar|[[Joyce Brabner]]}}
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Paul Giamatti]]
* [[Hope Davis]]
* [[Judah Friedlander]]
}}
| music          = Mark Suozzo
| cinematography = [[Terry Stacey]]
| editing        = [[Robert Pulcini]]
| studio         = {{Plainlist|
* [[HBO Films]]
* [[Good Machine]]
}}
| distributor    = [[Fine Line Features]]
| released       = {{Film date|2003|01|20|[[2003 Sundance Film Festival|Sundance]]|2003|08|15|United States}}
| runtime        = 101 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 101:16--><ref>{{cite web
  |title=AMERICAN SPLENDOR
  |url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/american-splendor-2004-2
  |work=[[Optimum Releasing]]
  |publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]]
  |access-date=2018-01-02
  |archive-date=September 23, 2015
  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923231918/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/american-splendor-2004-2
  }}</ref>
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $2 million<ref name="numbers">{{Cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/American-Splendor#tab=summary |title=American Splendor (2003) |website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]] |access-date=December 29, 2020 |archive-date=April 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403051543/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/American-Splendor#tab=summary |url-status=live }}</ref>
| gross          = $8.7 million<ref name="numbers" />
}}

'''''American Splendor''''' is a 2003 American [[Biographical film|biographical]] [[comedy drama film]] written and directed by [[Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini]]. The film, which chronicles the life of comic book writer [[Harvey Pekar]], is a hybrid production featuring live actors, documentary, and animation. It is based on the 1976–2008 comic book series [[American Splendor|of the same name]] written by Pekar and the 1994 graphic novel ''[[Our Cancer Year]]'' written by Pekar and [[Joyce Brabner]].<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web
| work=[[The New York Times]]
| url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9903E1D71630F936A2575BC0A9659C8B63
| title=FILM REVIEW; A Comics Guy, Outside the Box
| first=Elvis
| last=Mitchell
| author-link=Elvis Mitchell
| date=2003-08-15
| access-date=2018-01-02
| archive-date=January 3, 2018
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103133851/http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9903E1D71630F936A2575BC0A9659C8B63
| url-status=dead
}}</ref> The film stars [[Paul Giamatti]] as Pekar and [[Hope Davis]] as Brabner.<ref name="nytimes" /> It also features appearances from Pekar and Brabner themselves (along with Pekar's long-time co-worker [[Toby Radloff]]),<ref name="nytimes" /> who discuss their lives, the comic books, and how it feels to be depicted onscreen by actors.

The film was filmed entirely on location in [[Cleveland]] and [[Lakewood, Ohio|Lakewood]] in [[Ohio]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=September 12, 2021 |title=American Splendor (2003) |url=https://filmoblivion.com/2021/09/12/american-splendor-2003/ |access-date=2022-10-10 |website=Film Oblivion |language=en}}</ref>

''American Splendor'' premiered at the [[Sundance Film Festival]] on January 20, 2003, and was released in the United States on August 15, by [[Fine Line Features]]. The film received critical acclaim. It was nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]] at the [[76th Academy Awards]].

==Plot==
On [[Halloween]] 1950, 11-year-old Harvey Pekar refuses to dress up as a [[superhero]] for [[trick-or-treating]]. Years later, Harvey is seen walking the Cleveland streets, and the real Harvey Pekar appears in a documentary-style setup. In 1975, Harvey visits a throat doctor, exhibiting hypochondria. His wife mocks their lifestyle and leaves him. At his file clerk job at a [[VA hospital]], Mr. Boats offers advice from an [[Elinor Wylie]] poem.

In a documentary scene, the real Harvey discusses his part-time used-record collecting/selling. Flashing back to 1962, Harvey meets shy illustrator [[Robert Crumb]] at a yard sale, bonding over jazz and comics. Returning to 1975, the now-famous Crumb visits Cleveland. Frustrated and single, Harvey has a sobering moment in the VA hospital's "deceased" files, leading him to write his own stories. Inspired by an incident at the supermarket, he stays up all night writing. At a diner, Harvey shows Crumb his comic scripts, and Crumb offers to illustrate them.

Harvey publishes eight issues of ''[[American Splendor]]'' to critical acclaim but little financial gain, remaining a file clerk. He reconnects with Alice Quinn, a former college acquaintance, and they discuss [[Theodore Dreiser]]'s novel ''[[Jennie Gerhardt]]'', but he leaves feeling lonelier.

Meanwhile, in Delaware, Joyce is frustrated with her partner in the comic book store, who has sold her copy of ''American Splendor'' No. 8. She begins corresponding with Harvey, who eagerly responds. They realize they are kindred spirits, and she travels to Cleveland to meet him. After a dinner date, Joyce becomes ill at his apartment, leading to Harvey's care. Joyce suggests they skip courtship and marry.

A week later, Harvey sees his colleague [[Toby Radloff]] eating in his car, heading to [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]] for a screening of ''[[Revenge of the Nerds]]''. Harvey heads to Delaware to marry Joyce and help her move to Cleveland. The real Joyce Brabner discusses becoming a character in Harvey's stories.

Married, Harvey and Joyce attend ''Revenge of the Nerds'' with Toby, which Harvey finds insipid. Back at their apartment, Joyce complains about Harvey's possessions but their argument is interrupted by a theater producer wanting to adapt ''American Splendor'' into a play. After its Los Angeles debut, Harvey's success grows, complicated by Joyce's emotional struggles and desire for children. A producer offers Harvey a guest spot on ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]''. Harvey's appearances are a hit, and Toby becomes an [[MTV]] star.

In Cleveland, Harvey is recognized from ''Late Night'', rather than ''American Splendor'', which angers him. Joyce seeks fulfillment and travels to a peace conference without Harvey's permission. One night, Harvey discovers a lump on his groin.

With Joyce away, Harvey returns to ''Late Night'' wearing an "On Strike Against NBC" shirt, causing chaos. Joyce returns, discovers Harvey's lump, and he is diagnosed with [[lymphoma]]. She suggests making a comic book about it, but he resists. She enlists Fred, an artist, to illustrate the experience. Fred brings his daughter Danielle, whom Joyce adores. Harvey reluctantly agrees to participate and asks Fred to keep bringing Danielle.

Harvey's treatment is grueling. He questions if he is real or a comic character and ponders the story's end if he dies. Harvey dreams of other Harvey Pekars in the phone book. A year later, Harvey and Joyce sign the completed ''[[Our Cancer Year]]'', and he is declared cancer-free. They adopt Danielle, and Harvey adjusts to parenthood. The real Harvey retires from the VA hospital, and the staff holds a retirement party where Joyce, Danielle, and Harvey embrace.

==Cast==
* [[Paul Giamatti]] as [[Harvey Pekar]]
** [[Daniel Tay]] as Young Harvey Pekar
** [[Donal Logue]] as Stage Actor Harvey
* [[Hope Davis]] as [[Joyce Brabner]]
** [[Molly Shannon]] as Stage Actor Joyce
* [[Judah Friedlander]] as [[Toby Radloff]]
* [[James Urbaniak]] as [[Robert Crumb]]
* [[Harvey Pekar]] as Himself
* [[Joyce Brabner]] as Herself
* [[Toby Radloff]] as Himself
* [[Earl Billings]] as Mr. Boats
* Maggie Moore as Alice Quinn
* [[James McCaffrey (actor)|James McCaffrey]] as Fred
* [[Madylin Sweeten]] as Danielle
* [[Gary Dumm]] (a long-time illustrator for ''[[American Splendor]]'') as The Extra (in a suede jacket), who asks Pekar for his autograph in the ''Our Cancer Year'' book-signing scene 
* [[Eytan Mirsky]] as The Guitarist
* [[Josh Hutcherson]] as Kid Dressed As [[Robin (comics)|Robin]] (his first feature film appearance)<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1242688/ Hutcherson entry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717103257/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1242688/ |date=July 17, 2019 }}, Internet Movie Database. Accessed July 25, 2019.</ref>
* Chris Ambrose as Kid Dressed As [[Superman]]
* [[Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini|Shari Springer Berman]] (''voice'') as Interviewer
* [[Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini|Robert Pulcini]] as Bob, The Director

==Production==
The film was originally intended to be screened on [[HBO]]. The script was written before the [[September 11 attacks]], was cast right afterward, and shot in about a month in the fall of 2001.<ref name=Kaufman>Kaufman, Anthony. [https://www.indiewire.com/2003/08/bob-american-splendor-goes-from-small-panel-to-big-screen-79527/ "Bob & Shari & Harvey & Joyce; “American Splendor” Goes from Small Panel to Big Screen,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824190022/https://www.indiewire.com/2003/08/bob-american-splendor-goes-from-small-panel-to-big-screen-79527/ |date=August 24, 2019 }} ''Indiewire'' (August 14, 2003).</ref>

Though [[Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini]] had directed documentaries before, ''American Splendor'' was their first narrative feature. Of the film's alternating of fictional portrayals with real-life appearances by Pekar and his friends and family, co-writer/co-director Pulcini recalled, 
{{cquote|"It really was the only way that made sense to tell that story because we were handed this stack of comic strips where the main character never really looks the same because he's drawn by so many different artists. We wondered how to stay true to the material, and that's the concept we came up with. The structure came out of that very naturally. It wasn't something that we labored over."<ref name="creativescreenwriting">{{cite web
| url=http://creativescreenwriting.com/follow-the-books-lead-berman-and-pulcini-on-10000-saints/
| title=Follow the Book's Lead: Berman and Pulcini on Ten Thousand Saints
| last=McKittrick
| first=Christopher
| date=2015-08-10
| publisher=Creative Screenwriting
| access-date=2018-01-02
| archive-date=August 19, 2015
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150819091118/http://creativescreenwriting.com/follow-the-books-lead-berman-and-pulcini-on-10000-saints/
| url-status=live
}}</ref>}} Berman added that upon meeting Pekar they felt compelled to include him in the film:
{{cquote|"We also got to know Harvey even before we wrote the screenplay. We actually went to Cleveland and spent time with Harvey and Joyce, and spoke to them on the phone a lot. Once we spent some time with both of them, we were like, 'Oh my God, we have to put them in the movie!' That was a case where we were still using our documentary instincts and had to figure out a way to include him in it that was a natural fit for the material."<ref name="creativescreenwriting"/>}}

Artwork from actual ''[[American Splendor]]'' comics and ''[[Our Cancer Year]]'' appears in the film; some scenes use artwork replicated by cartoonist [[Doug Allen]].<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3414119/ Doug Allen entry], Internet Movie Database. Retrieved Nov. 23, 2022.</ref> Animated sequences were produced by [[Gary Leib]].<ref name=TCJ>Dean, Michael. [http://www.tcj.com/gary-leib-1955-2021/ "Gary Leib: 1955 – 2021,"] ''The Comics Journal'' (Mar. 23, 2021).</ref>

At one point, Pekar meta-references the structure of the film by doing a voice-over for a one-shot of Paul Giamatti playing him by saying "There's our guy. Well, it's me. Or the guy playing me. Though he don't look nothing like me, but whatever." (Pekar and Brabner had been approached previously by actors interested in playing Pekar on film, including [[Rob Schneider]].)<ref>Morrow, Fiona. [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/harvey-pekar-and-joyce-brabner-the-party-poopers-73250.html "Harvey Pekar and Joyce Brabner: The party poopers,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218091835/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/harvey-pekar-and-joyce-brabner-the-party-poopers-73250.html |date=February 18, 2019 }} ''The Independent'' (13 January 2004).</ref>

[[David Letterman]] refused to appear in the film, and his old network of [[NBC]] did not allow the filmmakers to use footage of Pekar's disastrous fourth and sixth appearances on ''[[Late Night with David Letterman|Late Night]]'' (aired July 31, 1987 and August 31, 1988, respectively), though they had no problems with the other Pekar appearances that are shown in the film.<ref name=Phactual>[https://www.phactual.com/the-story-behind-harvey-pekars-infamous-last-letterman-interview/ "The Story Behind Harvey Pekar’s Infamous Last Letterman Interview,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721233915/https://www.phactual.com/the-story-behind-harvey-pekars-infamous-last-letterman-interview/ |date=July 21, 2019 }} Phactual.com. Accessed July 21, 2019.</ref> The supposed "final appearance" was done using oblique camera angles and a voiced-over audio of the incident.<ref>{{cite web | last=Head |first=Steve |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/08/29/interview-with-the-directors-of-american-splendor |title=INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTORS OF AMERICAN SPLENDOR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218081830/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/08/29/interview-with-the-directors-of-american-splendor |archive-date=February 18, 2019 |work=[[IGN]] |date=28 August 2003 }}</ref> (In actuality, Pekar returned for two more appearances on the Letterman show in 1993 & 1994.)<ref name=Phactual />

The film's original production budget was $1.5 million, and as the film was coming together, HBO gave the filmmakers more money for post-production, animation, and music.<ref name="Kaufman" /><ref name="numbers" />

== Music ==
Mark Suozzo wrote the film's score.

Music played in the film mostly reflects Pekar's affection for avant-garde [[jazz]] and American music from the 1920s and 1930s. A couple of songs by ''American Splendor'' illustrator [[Robert Crumb]] and his band are also featured.

The ''American Splendor (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)'' was released by [[New Line Records]] in 2003, and featured the following songs:<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/Various-American-Splendor-Original-Motion-Picture-Soundtrack/release/1954488 "Various – American Splendor (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack),"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401112623/https://www.discogs.com/Various-American-Splendor-Original-Motion-Picture-Soundtrack/release/1954488 |date=April 1, 2020 }} Discogs. Accessed June 14, 2019.</ref>

# "[[Paniots Nine]]" — [[Joe Maneri]]
# "Blue Devil Jump" — [[Jay McShann]]
# "Chasin' Rainbows" — [[R. Crumb & His Cheap Suit Serenaders]]
# "[[On the Sunny Side of the Street]]" — [[Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio]]
# "[[Oh, Lady Be Good!]]" — [[Dizzy Gillespie]]
# "[[Ain't That Peculiar]]" — [[Marvin Gaye]]
# "Looking Suite: The Shortest Weekend / After Alice (So Sweet, So Sad)" — Mark Suozzo/Global Stage Orchestra
# "[[Stardust (1927 song)|Stardust]]" — Dizzy Gillespie
# "Hula Medley" — R. Crumb & His Cheap Suit Serenaders
# "[[T'aint Nobody's Bizness If I Do]]" — Jay McShann
# "[[My Favorite Things (song)|My Favorite Things]]" — [[John Coltrane]]
# "Time Passes Strangely: Cancer Treatment / Retirement Party" — Mark Suozzo
# "Ain't That Peculiar" — [[Chocolate Genius]]

The following songs — in whole, or in part — are used [[Diegetic music|diegetically]] in the film:
* "Soul Power" — Captain
* "Big Ed" — Mark Cherrie
* "[[Know Your Rights]]" — [[The Clash]]
<!-- * "Paperscape" — BC Time Traveler -->
* "[[Escape (The Piña Colada Song)]]" — [[Rupert Holmes]]
* "American Splendor" — [[Eytan Mirsky]]
* "[[Silent Morning]]" — [[Noel Pagan|Noel]]
* "All Black and White" — written by [[Clair Marlo]] & Alexander "Ace" Baker
* "I'll Be With You in Apple Blossom Time" — [[The Andrews Sisters]]
* "[[My City Was Gone]]" — [[The Pretenders]]

==Reception==
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has a 94% rating based on reviews from 186 critics, with an average rating of 8.3/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Exhilarating both stylistically and for its entertaining, moving portrayal of an everyman, ''American Splendor'' is a portrait of a true underground original."<ref>{{rotten-tomatoes|american_splendor|American Splendor}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a [[Weighted arithmetic mean|weighted average]] score of 90 out of 100, based on 42 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref>{{Metacritic film|title=American Splendor}}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]] awarded the film four stars out of four in his review, calling it a "magnificently audacious movie, in which fact and fiction sometimes coexist in the same frame." He remarked "the casting of Giamatti and Davis is perfect", writing that they "mastered not only the looks but the feels and even the souls of these two people", as well as praising Friedlander's performance. He also found the film "delightful in the way it finds its own way to tell its own story", describing its presentation as "mesmerizing in the way it lures us into the daily hopes and fears of this Cleveland family."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=22 August 2003 |title=American Splendor |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/american-splendor-2003 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608083646/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/american-splendor-2003 |archive-date=8 June 2013 |website=[[RogerEbert.com]] |access-date=14 March 2021 }}</ref>

''American Splendor'' won the Grand Jury Prize for Dramatic Film at the [[2003 Sundance Film Festival]], in addition to the award for Best Adapted Screenplay from the [[Writers Guild of America]]. At the [[2003 Cannes Film Festival]], the film received the [[International Federation of Film Critics|FIPRESCI]] critics award.<ref name = FIPRESCI>{{cite web
| url=http://www.fipresci.org/awards/2003
| title=FIPRESCI - Awards: 2003
| access-date=2018-01-02
| archive-date=November 13, 2017
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113123048/http://www.fipresci.org/awards/2003
| url-status=live
}}</ref> ''American Splendor'' was given the Guardian New Directors Award at the 2003 [[Edinburgh International Film Festival]].<ref>Pulver, Andrew. [https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/aug/25/edinburghfilmfestival2003.edinburghfilmfestival "The albino, the mineshaft or the comic-book artist?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830205908/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/aug/25/edinburghfilmfestival2003.edinburghfilmfestival |date=August 30, 2019 }}, ''The Guardian'' (August 25, 2003).</ref> It was also nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]] at the 2003 [[Academy Awards]].

Columnist Jaime Wolf wrote a laudatory review of the film in ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'', also drawing attention to formal parallels with [[Woody Allen]]'s ''[[Annie Hall]]'' and his other films.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2003/09/harvey_meet_woody.html
| title=Harvey, Meet Woody: American Splendor vs. Annie Hall
| first=Jaime
| last=Wolf
| date=2003-09-24
| website=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]
| access-date=2018-01-02
| archive-date=February 22, 2014
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222053423/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2003/09/harvey_meet_woody.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref>

[[Harvey Pekar]] wrote about the effects of the film in various stories published in ''American Splendor: Our Movie Year'' (2004).<ref>Pekar, Harvey, and various illustrators. ''American Splendor: Our Movie Year'' (Ballantine Books, 2004) {{ISBN|0-345-47937-8}}</ref>

==Accolades==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:98%"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:22%;"| Award
! scope="col" style="width:33%;"| Category
! scope="col" style="width:35%;"| Nominee(s)
! scope="col" style="width:6%;"| Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:1%;"| {{Ref heading}}
|-
| [[Academy Awards]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| Pulcini and Springer Berman
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref>King, Susan. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-feb-05-wk-video5-story.html "Oh, the splendor of an unlikely hero,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803205233/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-feb-05-wk-video5-story.html |date=August 3, 2019 }} ''Los Angeles Times'' (FEB. 5, 2004).</ref>
|-
| [[American Film Institute Awards]]
| Movie of the Year
| ''American Splendor''
| {{Won}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref>{{cite web |title=AFI AWARDS 2003 |url=https://www.afi.com/award/afi-awards-2003/ |website=American Film Institute}}</ref>
|-
| Awards Circuit Community Awards
| Best Adapted Screenplay
| Springer Berman and Pulcini
| {{Nominated}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref name="IMDB">[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0305206/awards "American Splendor (2003),"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211211848/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0305206/awards |date=February 11, 2017 }} Internet Movie Database. Accessed Oct. 4, 2019.</ref>
|-
| [[Belgian Film Critics Association|Belgian Syndicate of Cinema Critics]]
| [[Grand Prix (Belgian Film Critics Association)|Grand Prix]]
| ''American Splendor''
| {{Nominated}}
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
| [[Boston Society of Film Critics]]
| [[Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]]
| Pulcini and Springer Berman
| {{Won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>[https://bostonfilmcritics.org/past-winners-2000s/ "BSFC Winners 2000s,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20181209030319/https://bostonfilmcritics.org/past-winners-2000s/ |date=December 9, 2018 }} Boston Society of Film Critics website. Accessed July 25, 2019.</ref>
|-
| [[2003 Cannes Film Festival|Cannes Film Festival]]
| [[International Federation of Film Critics|FIPRESCI Prize]] ([[Un Certain Regard]])
| ''American Splendor''
| {{Won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref name = FIPRESCI />
|-
| rowspan="2"|Central Ohio Film Critics Association
| Best Screenplay, Adapted
| Springer Berman and Pulcini
| {{Won}}
| rowspan = 2 style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="IMDB" />
|-
| Best Supporting Actress
| Hope Davis
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="5"|[[Chicago Film Critics Association]]
| Most Promising Filmmaker
| Pulcini and Springer Berman
| {{Won}}
| rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"|
|-
| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| [[Paul Giamatti]]
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
| Hope Davis
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| ''American Splendor''
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]]
| Pulcini and Springer Berman
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="5"|[[Chlotrudis Awards]]
| Best Adapted Screenplay
| Pulcini and Springer Berman
| {{Won}}
| rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="IMDB" />
|-
| Best Movie
| ''American Splendor''
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| Best Director
| Pulcini and Springer Berman
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| Best Actor
| Paul Giamatti
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| Best Supporting Actress
| Hope Davis
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards]]
| Russell Smith Award
| Pulcini and Springer Berman
| {{Won}}
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="IMDB" />
|-
| Best Actor
| [[Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor|Paul Giamatti]]
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Film|Best Picture]]
| ''American Splendor''
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[Deauville American Film Festival]] 
| Critics Award (''Prix de la Critique Internationale'')
| ''American Splendor''
| {{Won}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="IMDB" />
|-
| Grand Special Prize
| ''American Splendor''
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Edinburgh International Film Festival]]
| Guardian New Directors Award
| Pulcini and Springer Berman
| {{Won}}
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
| [[Florida Film Critics Circle Awards]]
| [[Pauline Kael]] Breakout Award
| Pulcini and Springer Berman
|{{Won}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref name ="IMDB" />
|-
| [[Ghent International Film Festival]]
| Grand Prix
| ''American Splendor''
|{{Nominated}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref name ="IMDB" />
|-
| [[Gijón International Film Festival]]
| Best Feature
| ''American Splendor''
|{{Nominated}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref name ="IMDB" />
|-
| Gold Derby Awards
| Adapted Screenplay
| ''American Splendor''
|{{Nominated}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref name ="IMDB" />
|-
| [[Golden Globe Awards]]
|[[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture]]
| Hope Davis
|{{Nominated}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref>[https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2003/12/18/61st-Annual-Golde-Globe-Award-nominees/87901071777825/ "ODD NEWS: 61st Annual Golde Globe Award nominees,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803205233/https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2003/12/18/61st-Annual-Golde-Globe-Award-nominees/87901071777825/ |date=August 3, 2019 }} UPI (DEC. 18, 2003).</ref>
|-
| [[Golden Trailer Awards]]
| Best Voice Over
| [[Harvey Pekar]]
|{{Nominated}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref name="IMDB" />
|-
| [[Gotham Awards]]
| [[Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Director|Breakthrough Director Award]]
| Springer Berman and Pulcini
| {{Won}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref name="IMDB" />
|-
| rowspan="5"|[[19th Independent Spirit Awards|Independent Spirit Awards]]
| [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| ''American Splendor''
|{{Nominated}}
| rowspan="5" style="text-align: center;" | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiewire.com/article/in_america_american_splendor_and_raising_victor_vargas_top_nominees_for_200|title="In America," "American Splendor," and "Raising Victor Vargas" Top Nominees for 2004 IFP Independent|date=2003-12-04|work=indieWire|access-date=2012-08-20|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061058/http://www.indiewire.com/article/in_america_american_splendor_and_raising_victor_vargas_top_nominees_for_200|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| Pulcini and Springer Berman
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead|Best Male Lead]]
| Paul Giamatti
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male|Best Supporting Male]]
| [[Judah Friedlander]]
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]]
| Pulcini and Springer Berman
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| International Online Cinema Awards
| Best Adapted Screenplay
| Springer Berman and Pulcini
|{{Nominated}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref name="IMDB" />
|-
| [[London Film Critics' Circle]]
| Screenwriter of the Year
| Springer Berman and Pulcini
|{{Nominated}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref name="IMDB" />
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[Los Angeles Film Critics Association]]
| [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| ''American Splendor''
| {{Won}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| <ref>[https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2004/01/08/American-Splendor-top-film-by-LA-Critics/68151073583779/ "'American Splendor' top film by LA Critics,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725223658/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2004/01/08/American-Splendor-top-film-by-LA-Critics/68151073583779/ |date=July 25, 2019 }} UPI (Jan. 8, 2004).</ref>
|-
| [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]]
| Pulcini and Springer Berman
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[Just for Laughs|Montréal Comedy Festival 'Just for Laughs']]
| Festival Prize
| ''American Splendor''
|{{Won}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref name="IMDB" />
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[National Board of Review]]
| [[National Board of Review Award for Breakthrough Performance|Breakthrough Performance by an Actor]]
| Paul Giamatti
| {{Won}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| <ref name ="IMDB" />
|-
| Special Recognition for Excellence in Filmmaking
| Pulcini and Springer Berman
| {{Won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[National Society of Film Critics]]
| [[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| ''American Splendor''
| {{Won}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|<ref>King, Susan. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-04-me-critics4-story.html "Critics Group Names 'American Splendor' Top Film: The National Society of Film Critics also honors Bill Murray and Charlize Theron as best actors and Clint Eastwood as best director of 2003,"]  ''Los Angeles Times'' (January 4, 2004).</ref>
|-
| [[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]]
| Pulcini and Springer Berman
| {{Won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[New York Film Critics Circle]]
| [[2003 New York Film Critics Circle Awards|Best Actress]]
| [[Hope Davis]]
| {{Won}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | <ref>{{cite web |date=January 4, 2004 | last=Brick |first=Michael |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/04/nyregion/minus-frills-film-critics-pick-winners-of-awards.html |title=Minus Frills, Film Critics Pick Winners Of Awards |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725223652/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/04/nyregion/minus-frills-film-critics-pick-winners-of-awards.html |archive-date=July 25, 2019 |work=The New York Times  }}</ref>
|-
| [[2003 New York Film Critics Circle Awards|Best First Film]]
| ''American Splendor''
| {{Won}}
|-
| rowspan="3"|Online Film & Television Association
| Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
| Springer Berman and Pulcini
| {{Nominated}}
| rowspan="3" style="text-align: center;" | <ref name ="IMDB" />
|-
| Best First Screenplay
| Springer Berman and Pulcini
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| Best Titles Sequence
| ''American Splendor''
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[Online Film Critics Society Awards]]
| Best Breakthrough Filmmaker
| Springer Berman and Pulcini
| {{Won}}
| rowspan="3" style="text-align: center;" | <ref name ="IMDB" />
|-
| Best Actor
| Paul Giamatti
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| Best Adapted Screenplay
| Springer Berman and Pulcini
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="5"|Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
| Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
| Paul Giamatti
|{{Nominated}}
| rowspan="5" style="text-align: center;" | <ref name ="IMDB" />
|-
| Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
| Hope Davis
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| Best Screenplay, Adapted
| Pulcini and Springer Berman
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| Best Film Editing
| Robert Pulcini
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| Best Use of Previously Published or Recorded Music
| ''American Splendor''
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| [[San Diego Film Critics Society Awards]]
| [[San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Screenplay, Adapted]]
| Springer Berman and Pulcini
|{{Won}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref name ="IMDB" />
|-
| [[São Paulo International Film Festival]]
| Best Feature Film
| ''American Splendor''
| {{Nominated}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref name="IMDB" />
|-
| rowspan="5"|[[Satellite Awards]]
| [[Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture|Best Actor — Motion Picture Musical or Comedy]]
| Paul Giamatti
|{{Nominated}}
| rowspan="5" style="text-align: center;" | <ref>Maldonado, Ryan. [https://variety.com/2003/film/awards/satellites-pix-picked-1117897313/ "Satellites pix picked: Noms include 'Whale Rider,' 'Rings,' 'Mighty Wind","] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806184343/https://variety.com/2003/film/awards/satellites-pix-picked-1117897313/ |date=August 6, 2019 }} ''Variety'' (December 17, 2003).</ref>
|-
| [[Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture|Best Actress — Motion Picture Musical or Comedy]]
| Hope Davis
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Satellite Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| Pulcini and Springer Berman
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Satellite Award for Best Film|Best Film — Musical or Comedy]]
| ''American Splendor''
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Satellite Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Screenplay — Adapted]]
| Pulcini and Springer Berman
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan = "4" | [[Seattle Film Critics Society|Seattle Film Critics Awards]]
| Best Picture
| ''American Splendor''
|{{Won}}
| rowspan = "4" style="text-align: center;" | <ref name ="IMDB" />
|-
| Best Actress
| Hope Davis
|{{Won}}
|-
| Best Screenplay, Adapted
| Springer Berman and Pulcini
|{{Won}}
|-
| Best Actor
| Paul Giamatti
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards
| Best Picture
| ''American Splendor''
| {{Nominated}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref name="IMDB" />
|-
| [[Sundance Film Festival]]
| [[List of Sundance Film Festival award winners#2003|Grand Jury Prize Dramatic]]
| ''American Splendor''
| {{Won}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref>[http://history.sundance.org/events/38 2003 Sundance Film Festival] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725223656/http://history.sundance.org/events/38 |date=July 25, 2019 }}, Sundance Institute Digital Archive. Accessed July 25, 2019.</ref>
|-
| [[Toronto Film Critics Association Awards]]
| Best First Feature
| Springer Berman and Pulcini
| {{Won}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref name="IMDB" />
|-
| rowspan = "4" | [[Village Voice Film Poll]]
| Best Screenplay
| Springer Berman and Pulcini
|{{Won}}
| rowspan = "4" style="text-align: center;" | <ref name ="IMDB" />
|-
| Best Film
| ''American Splendor''
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| Best Performance
| Paul Giamatti
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| Best Supporting Performance
| Hope Davis
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Writers Guild of America Award]]
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Screenplay — Adapted]]
| Pulcini and Springer Berman
| {{Won}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref>Reuters. [http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/22/sprj.aa04.wag.awards.reut/index.html "Hollywood writers honor Coppola, 'Splendor',"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311152248/http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/22/sprj.aa04.wag.awards.reut/index.html |date=March 11, 2012 }} CNN.com (February 22, 2004).</ref>
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Mojo title}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.newline.com/properties/americansplendor.html |title=New Line Cinema: American Splendor |access-date=January 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810224025/http://www.newline.com/properties/americansplendor.html |archive-date=August 10, 2012 |url-status=bot: unknown}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160116123319/http://moviehole.net/20032751interview-paul-giamatti Paul Giamatti interview for ''American Splendor'']
* [https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/02/25/comics-in-context-73-my-comics-week?page=6 Overview of the film and the comics that inspired it] by [[Peter Sanderson]]
* [https://www.villagevoice.com/2003/08/12/the-secret-lives-of-file-clerks/ Review of ''American Splendor''] by [[J. Hoberman]] of ''The Village Voice'' (August 12, 2003)
* [http://scenebyscenepodcast.com ''Scene by Scene with Josh & Dean''], an ''American Splendor'' movie podcast co-hosted by two former ''American Splendor'' illustrators

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{succession box
| title=[[List of Sundance Film Festival award winners|Sundance Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Dramatic]]
| years=2003
| before=''[[Personal Velocity: Three Portraits|Personal Velocity]]''
| after=''[[Primer (film)|Primer]]''}}
{{end}}
{{Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini}}
{{Dark Horse Comics films}}
{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Film}}
{{National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film}}
{{Sundance Grand Jury Prize Dramatic}}
{{TFCA Award for Best First Feature}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:American Splendor}}
[[Category:2003 films]]
[[Category:2003 biographical drama films]]
[[Category:2003 comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:2003 independent films]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:American biographical drama films]]
[[Category:American comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:American independent films]]
[[Category:Biographical films about writers]]
[[Category:Comedy-drama films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of American people]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of cartoonists]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of writers]]
[[Category:Dark Horse Entertainment films]]
[[Category:English-language comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:English-language independent films]]
[[Category:Films about cancer in the United States]]
[[Category:Films about comics]]
[[Category:Films based on American comics]]
[[Category:Films based on Dark Horse Comics]]
[[Category:Films directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini]]
[[Category:Films set in Cleveland]]
[[Category:Films shot in Cleveland]]
[[Category:HBO Films films]]
[[Category:Late Night with David Letterman]]
[[Category:Live-action films based on comics]]
[[Category:National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film winners]]
[[Category:American self-reflexive films]]
[[Category:Sundance Film Festival award–winning films]]
[[Category:English-language biographical drama films]]