Viewed in
2005
Premise
The biography of Harvey Pekar, as told and illustrated by Harvey Pekar.
Who should watch
Anyone who enjoys great, artsy films.
Thoughts
This film was weird, funny, unique and just plain awesome.
Pretty much every great film requires a great story. Here, it displayed Harvey Pekar's unique life and personality. On top of that, the story also had a cute and realistic love story about two dysfunctional, anti-social nerds. The great story and dialogue helped make the acting great. Paul Giamatti deserved to be nominated for his awesome job as Harvey. He was dead on. How do I know? Read the next paragraph.
What made this film so unique and crazy was that the filmmakers totally obliterated the fourth wall*. There were absolutely hilarious scenes of the real Harvey narrating the film, with the camera pointed at the real Harvey, and Paul Giamatti (in costume as Harvey) walking from the movie set into the recording studio that Harvey is in. Even Harvey's real-life family and friends get involved in the madness. This obliteration perfectly fit the tone and humor of the story and enhanced the film experience to levels of greatness.
*There is an acting term called 'knocking down the fourth wall'. In most cases, characters in a story are not aware of a camera looking at them, as if all four walls of their room are solid. Occasionally, that fourth wall comes down, and the characters talk and interact with the camera or audience.
What I would change
Nothing.
