I loved when Harvey writes back to Joyce for the first time and his pencil goes through the paper, interrupting his inner monologue.
"Dear Joyce, thanks for the let - " [pencil goes through paper; Harvey takes out another sheet and resumes] "Dear Joyce, thanks for the letter...."
My favorite moment in the film was when Harvey ponders 'What's in a name?', when he was walking around and talking about the other Harvey Pekars he found in the phonebook. I really loved it. It's so sad and so profound.
I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?
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Obviously the best is Hope Davis' line: "Why does everything in my life have to be such a complicated disaster?" When she finds out that the special comic book issue No. 88 of "American Splendor" had been already sold -- and she was anticipating it so much.
This leads to her writing the comic book's artist, Harvey Pekar to ask for his help in getting another copy ASAP (because it would take too long to get it through the magazine distributor.) When Harvey gets Joyce's letter....he realized that this was one chick he just had to meet....and voila...romance.
I don't just have one favorite. Besides the "many Harvey Pekar's out there" I love the beginning when he's pleading with his wife/girlfriend to stay while loosing his voice. Then, there's when he sits with his friend telling him that he's getting married and makes off with the guy's fries. I also love when Hope Davis meets him for the first time and wonders what he might look like.
shareI really enjoyed the real Harvey and real Toby discussing jellybeans on the set, and Paul Giamatti in the background chuckling.
shareMy favorite is when he wakes up panicked from the dream, repeating, "I got a job. I got a job."
We used to dream together, but now I drink alone
I like it when Harvey asked Tobey if one can eat lentils during Lent.
Tobey replies, "I don't know. I will ask Sister Mary Ed"(cant remember the name)
And Harvey says, "Sister Mary Ed, huh? Is she good-lookin?"
And Tobey answers, "HARVEY, She's a NUN!"
I love the way he says "nun". Love this film.
I like the scene near the end where Clarissa (the little girl) doesn't hold Harvey's hand. He grumbles that she's embarrassed by him and doesn't want to hold his hand. Then Clarissa says, "No, Harvey. It's just that when you hold my hand you squeeze too hard." Harvey is too much of a crusty, curmudgeonly guy to express much tenderness. But you can just tell; he appreciates the girl's explanation. Wonderful moment.
SPOILER: I don't guess it's too big a spoiler really. But the very final scene at the end is of Harvey's retirement party with soft jazz in the foreground. We see Harvey share a moderate hug with Joyce and Clarissa. Then we see a shot of the comic "American Splendor: Our Movie Year". Music fades, closing credits began. Perfect finishing moment for a wonderful movie. Can't think of any way I would have improved it.
I'm not usually a sucker for tender moments. But the fact that these are so sublte and understated is what makes them all the more powerful.
I just loved when Joyce said to Harvey, "We're going to get through this. I understand illness. I know how to handle these things." Maybe it's just because I've worked for the Cure Drive, but that line gave me a thrill.
shareMy favorite moment is the scene whether the real Toby is in front of the camera, the actors are in teh background, and Toby's voiceover begins "Loneliness can feel so bad. 'Cause sometimes, it was just me and my grandmother..." and then he talks to Harvey about how he deals with loneliness. I lost it the first couple times I saw the film. I had to pause it to compose myself so I could hear the movie. Really affected me profoudly.
shareI'd have a hard time picking a favorite moment in this film. I love this movie, can't stop watching director's comments. So inventive, honest and pure joy. Can't figure out why none of my friends like it.
shareI enjoyed the whole film very much. I watch it every couple of years. If I had to pick a favorite moment, it would be when the real Harvey is talking about Paul Giamatti portraying him, and says something like, "This is the guy who's supposed to be me. He don't look nothing like me, but what the hell."
shareThe diner scene when R. Crumb is reading Harvey's stuff and he's nearly impossible to read. Harvey is just sweating it out, waiting for something - anything and his friends finally something like "These are....really. Gooood."
You can almost feel the weight fall of Harvey's shoulders. Remember: Ordinary life is pretty complicated stuff.
My favorite moment or scene is when Harvey first meets Joyce in person at the airport and the first thing he says is "So are you Jewish?" and follows it with telling her he got a vasectomy.
And all this without looking her in the eyes.
I thought that was brilliantly funny and sweet.
tuomas: He doesn't say "So, are you Jewish?" He says "So, are you Joyce?"
WOW.
Really? Wow, I have to re-watch that part then, I must have totally misheard him.
However that doesn't change my mind about the scene, it's not really about what he says but how he says it, it was a very nice scene.
The scene when R. Crumb asks if he's into Jay McShand and Harv instinctively moves the album from one arm to the other.
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