Harvey Pekar (Paul Giamatti) is a loser, the downtrodden, but there is nothing lovable about him. He’s interested in a different kind of comic book – more realistic, more neurotic, autobiographical, miserable. His work is unique and he is unique, but most people can’t see on the surface what is so special about him.
It’s fun the way the film flips between different styles of telling the story and the way the film is aware of itself. Harvey’s life is shit from his perspective, but it’s always been shit. He’s a bit crazy and fixated on collecting and the lifestyle, the people that collecting involves.
Robert Crumb (genius cartoonist) is a character Harvey meets, while scavenging for jazz records. Crumb is played by the almost retarded, always brilliant James Urbaniak.
Considering that this film is about comic books and collecting, and crazy neurotic, anti-social, anti-cool, anti-poser losers and with a miserable, rebellious plot, I’m somewhat surprised that I didn’t like it more.
I totally dig the point of view of Harvey the character – his stubborn anti-plastic, anti-bullshit way of making art and telling stories. He’s so anti-establishment as a creative – but the kind of person he is makes me uncomfortable. Harvey seems like the kind of guy who very few people could bear to be around.
His inspiration to start making his own comic book is a cool sequence. The annoying old Jewish lady at the supermarket – and old Jewish ladies in general, and how much they piss him off.
Harvey Pekar – catalyst for the comic book’s answer to the beat generation. Unfortunately, this is a story that doesn’t really go anywhere. And we don’t get to see the inside of his creative process or how the maker-process works.
This is a miserable movie about a miserable man, who for some reason can’t make ends meet, but is a successful comic book creator. In a word – depressing. Harvey misses a vital lesson with Alice Quinn (Maggie Moore). “Just keep on working and something’s bound to turn up.”
That mentality is mistaken. It is possible that life will throw you a bone eventually, however unlikely. The key to fighting loneliness seems to be to not give up on a potential friendship just because it provides no sex, money or food.
The more people you know, the more chances you have to find people that you can get genuine connection with, even if that still doesn’t provide you with sex, money or food – though it usually will.
This is key – You should especially not turn down a potential relationship with someone you truly connect with, just because they’re married or otherwise neutral to your seductions.
The social game is hard work but it pays off quicker than merely hoping. And it’s even more difficult if you’re a fucked up loser, but not impossible. Maybe you don’t have to lower your standards, or maybe you should be more realistic. Or perhaps, that married woman who likes you, she knows a bunch of nice people who can help you forget for a while that you’re lonely.
Maybe there are people out there who are a perfect social match for you – can give you as much as you have to offer a relationship, but because you’re a lazy bastard, you’ll never connect to them. Sometimes you need to make a proactive material and emotional investment in your social life. Or get used to being alone.
Or maybe Harvey Pekar is right – keep on working and maybe something will turn up.
The movie is about an artist, but the movie itself is not a work of art. It feels artificial, perhaps even silently pretentious. Joyce (Hope Davis) is a bit cute and as a gift from fate might be a sincere hookup for Harvey. Despite the inevitable constant wave of explosive arguments, attacks and sulking fits – more material for his next comic book.
Most people would consider this kind of relationship to be negative baggage. Not Harvey, to him it’s an asset. The film is funny, but not satisfying. It leaves one wishing there was more of it, not a longer story, just more meat.
I would have liked it to explore more truthfully the mind of the neurotic – through writing or acting, rather than superficially as a character’s flaw.
The jazz soundtrack is a little mundane and sleepy.
Harvey attacks movies the way I do – I love that about him.
Harvey is a hero for the man against a home-life dominated by women. He is a hero because he speaks his mind, no bullshit. And when he makes a stand he is stubborn like an ass. He won’t take bullshit from anybody.
A fascinating, yet terrible film.
Possibly Paul Giamatti’s most interesting role. Though he doesn’t quite nail the absolute ordinary of Harvey Pekar.
2 stars
the joy of eating and the folly of thinking 