In A Nutshell: Paul Giamatti plays underground comic book demi-god Harvey Pekar in a hilariously grubby biopic from documentary maker Shari Springer Berman.
Why You May Have Missed It: Aside from a show-stealing turn as Kenny ‘Pig Vomit’ Rushton in Private Parts, Giamatti would arguably have another year to wait before really becoming a household name with his lead role in sleeper boozing hit Sideways.
Many assumed the ground had been pretty well covered by Crumb, a similarly themed study from a decade earlier.
Why Missing It Is Mad: It’s hilarious. Giamatti is flawlessly cast as the cranky, neurosis-crippled Pekar, and the whole project is shot through with charming visual flourishes that bring his world of nerdy, down-at-heel losers - as drawn to perfection by the aforementioned Robert Crumb - so vividly to life.
Comes across like a less self-consciously kooky-hip Ghost World, and arguably trumps it in the process.
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Comments
Hadouken76
Dec 11th 2009, 15:39
id like to add that zatoichi, twilight samurai, dirty pretty things, in search of a midnight kiss, dead mans shoes to that list and even though it came out in 1998 i still think legend of 1900 is an underated gem
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sjsmith88
Dec 11th 2009, 18:28
I didn't miss You and Me and Everyone We Know, I caught it. Wish I hadn't. Following your 4-star review I had it in my head that I was in for a pleasant little indie. Instead it was your run-of-the-mill pretentious art-house rubbish. Dreadful.
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skinjob
Dec 12th 2009, 8:38
I'd like to add taxidermy - not a pleasant film to watch by any stretch of a twisted imagination but worth watching for the second and third acts on its own and the climactic scene is one that will stay wih me for a long time! if swallowed - do not induce vomiting!!
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namedropper
Dec 13th 2009, 14:24
We call them Neds and not Chavs up our way and I thought Sweet Sixteen was mainly set in Greenock and not the Port! Anyway I'd like to add Dear Frankie as a movie also set in the same area. Cracking performances from all concerned but especially the child playing Frankie. Will bring a tear to your eyes! Still hoping that Gerard Butler and Emily Mortimer will get together at some point!
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domduck
Dec 14th 2009, 11:21
The Year of the Dog should be in here - and Waitress. The perfect hangover double-bill.
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