American Splendor

Hollywood has a mixed record on adapting alternative comics. Terry Zwigoff’s two offerings—the documentary Crumb and the Daniel Clowes-written Ghost World—were critical achievements. Alan Moore’s From Hell and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen received mixed reviews and box-office returns. American Splendor chronicles the story of nebbishy Harvey Pekar, a Cleveland file clerk who captured his tortured existence in comic books drawn by various artists including R. Crumb, Drew Friedman, and Doug Allen. Paul Giamatti, character actor du jour (take that, Luis Guzman!), plays the beleaguered Pekar. An animated Pekar, as well as the real Pekar, are also featured. It’s fun to write ÒPekar.Ó American Splendor won the 2003 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize, and might be the best comic-book adaptation on the screen this summer. Uptown Theatre, 2906 Hennepin Ave. S., (612) 925-6006, http://www.landmarktheatres.com