American Splendor

This film tells the story of Harvey Pekar.

Harvey Pekar made himself a comic book hero. The film switches charmingly from documentary style out-takes with Harvey himself to Paul Giamatti playing the various sequences from his story. The film also manages, very casually, to put Harvey and Paul in the same frame without there being a loss of thrill in the narrative or a breaking of any illusion. (A bit like in Annie Hall when he pulls that filmmaker in from the side) It's quite a strange film, and catches you slightly off guard with how delicately moving it becomes.

Harvey is still writing comics and is involved in a web-based publication which is quite interesting. It seems he's still Harvey. And there is something reassuring about that.

http://www.smithmag.net/pekarproject/