Crumb

Rating:
Summary: One of the strangest and most compelling movies I've seen.
Review: This is one of the strangest and most compelling movies I have ever seen. It draws you deeper and deeper into underground artist Robert Crumb's head, until you ultimately see the world from his weird and troubling vantage point. You meet his crazy brothers, and you get a much closer look at that fine line between genius and madness. The purpose of this film is not to glorify Crumb, it is merely a clear window into his world. It's not necessary to be an avid fan of Crumb in order to appreciate this film; it's enough to be curious about what drives the alienated artist and satirist. Be warned: The subject matter is strong and adult, but it did not strike me as gratuitously so. Some will be offended; some will find it pointless to delve into the psyche of such a strange individual. But for those who appreciate this kind of thing, this movie is as good as it gets. END

Rating:
Summary: THE GREATEST FILM EVER MADE......IN MY OPINION!
Review: I've seen alot of movies and have had favorites on and off. I was compelled by A Clockwork Orange, The Godfather, Rivers Edge, Pulp Fiction and Fargo. But above all these favorite films of mine, comes Crumb. This extremely haunting and disturbing documentary is about Robert Crumb, and not only that, we get to meet his family. Terry Zwigoff compellingly reveals Crumb by asking other people what they think of him, and that is a bold move. This is without a doubt a real gutsy film that went un-noticed at a "special" award ceremony and wasent even nominated for best documentary. I never even knew who crumb was until I saw the movie in 1996, and now I idolize him. Its really a wonderful film. See it, love it and just tell people its a spectacular film because thats exactly what it is. Its a beautiful film.I don't think I'll see a better film this generation.

Rating:
Summary: To the dude from Sedona...
Review: ....sounds like you're reviewing the PERSON rather than the FILM.

I share R's love of old time blues and big band music and, like many others, I view R. Crumb as a somewhat twisted and self-serving individual.

Having said that, this movie is a brilliant portryal of Crumb, warts and all, and deserves its 5-star rating.

Rating:
Summary: not a bad movie if you like dysfunction, greatness
Review: What can you say about the iconclastic artist r. crumb, profane, sexist, racist,pervert, a genuis, this movie explains why in more ways than one his brother is sucidal who had a crush on jimmy driscoll (who ends up acheiveing his goal)his other brother is a hermit and women like him despite his attitudes. This is a good introduction to an artist who is as anti-social as he is gifted and what made him create Mr. Natural, Fritz the Cat and other characters in the Zap Comics universe the only two people who come off human is is youngest daughter and wife Arline (and not by much)Zwigoff (who has done two other great offbeat movies (ghost world, bad santa)shows him with all his warts.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best documentaries in years...
Review: I'm no huge fan of R.Crumb the artist.It's not that I'm offened by his work or that I think it's terrible,I just don't get into it that much. I've read his stuff and bought a few comics after seeing the film but I've found nothing in his art that packs the punch that Crumb the film did. That's just me. The film is a fascinating look at how the artist came to be.It dives into how his troubled childhood effected him, how his sexual preocupations were born and how it all came together in his art.The film,much like Crumb's work, really strikes pay dirt when it touches on the lonliness and bittersweet aspects of his life.The interviews with his friends and family members (particularly those of his messed up brothers and odd mother) really help flesh out Crumb.The film cativates as it bounces from his strange childhood(with the help of weird comic books the boys created),to his time spent among the 60's underground, through his strained relationships up to the time the film was shot. He's a complex and eccentric man to be sure, the vivid portrait the film paints lets us know that repeatedly(name me another artist who has disowned most of their most famous works).It also gives us compelling portraits of his family. You can't ask much more than that from any film,the viewer gets a number of fully realized characters.Plus you get many truly memorable moments:Crumb sketching strangers,the brothers unsentimentaly nostalgic revisiting of the old comics,the post script written on the screen after the film's final shot and Crumb rebuffing an autograph seeker to name a few.The film has moments of humor,disgust,pain and awkwardness. If you are easily offended or upset-steer clear.This is an uncompromising look at sometimes very difficult subject matter(most notably extreme family dysfunction and the controversial subject matter of Crumb's work).If you like a challenge,interesting characters,a fascinating story and enjoy well made documentaries-Crumb is for you.Here the old cliche rings true, truth is stranger than fiction.You leave this film amazed that Crumb escaped the fates that befell his brothers.

Rating:
Summary: We'll Take The Crumbs.
Review: Robert Crumb is SO anti-social, that you almost want not to praise him or the film, as it would most likely elicit only contempt and disgust from him at your pathetic interests. But he's such a talented, not to mention twisted (I mean that as a compliment) artist, that you have to admire him. While his style, and his hysterical, irreverent characters, are not for everyone, his honesty pervades all his work. He's famous, but deplores the celebrity, phoniness, and notoriety that fame brings. While not exactly surly, he begrudgingly acknowledges that some people like his work, the work being created for basically his own amusement. That the work pays for his treasured relative anonymity and elusive privacy is a bitter irony. I love good documentaries, though there's not that many, and this is one of my favorites. It's just a very intrusive but irresistable visit into Crumbs little world, where his art and beloved records of the 1920's and 30's are his obsessions (along with sex), the materialistic, vulgar society that he's forced to co-exist with of little interest to him. You also get to meet his bizarre family who probably isn't really any more bizarre than many others. I especially get a kick out of his refusing to sign autographs in the movie, as I have a treasured copy of his "Zap" comix, which he inscribed to me. This is a must see film for anyone who's a fan of the creator of "Fritz The Cat", "Zap Comix", Janis Joplins "Cheap Thrills" famous album cover, etc... His "R. Crumbs Coffee Table Art Book " is a great accompaniment to this movie, his dialogue that accompanies his comics hysterical and sometimes too familiar. A great glimpse into a very interesting, unique talent. Some people work hard to appear "eccentric", but he's the real thing, though he still gives off a gentleness and likability. Admire the man, just leave him alone.

Rating:
Summary: Great Documentary
Review: Wow! I knew R. Crumb was off-beat, but I had no idea how much so. And his family is really messed up, much worse off than Robert Crumb. His siters refused to be interviewed forthe film, but his two brothers should be institutionalized. If you question your own weirdness and sanity, take a look at the Crumb family in comparison; It may cheer you up. Something totally worthwhile is the scene where Crumb is going through his older brother's comics and notebooks. Want to "see someone go insane?" Here you go. Warning, R. Crumb, and his friends and family's honesty is commendable yet some viewers may not appreciate the talk of masturbation, racial slurs, and gender roles.

Rating:
Summary: Disturbing, shockling funny, and eerily hypnotic
Review: Robert Crumb is well known as one of the pioneers of the underground comic book era of the 1960s, and his "Keep On Truckin'" logo is still well-known today. His comics were (and still are), bizarre, outrageous, shocking, and often offensive. But the story of real-life creator of such psychedelic highlights as Zap Comics and Fritz the Cat is so weird and unusual in itself, you'll remember it for a long time to come. (Robert Crumb describes the Church of the SubGenius as the only religion he could consider joining.) Terry Zwigoff's masterful portrayal of Crumb is presented in such a manner that even as you're shocked at some of the things he draws (e.g. Mr. Natural in "A Bitchin' Bod"), you see that compared to the other people in his family, he looks almost normal. It's presented in a modest, low-key style that you can't tear your eyes away from after you start watching it. The scene of Crumb's brother Max eating cloth while sitting on a bed of nails is strangely entrancing.

Rating:
Summary: Keep on Truckin'...
Review: "Crumb" is the sad and funny documentary of a damaged man who happened to find a beautiful and reasonably lucrative outlet for his peccadilloes. It's also the brutal portrait of two men - Robert's brothers - who were not so lucky.

"Crumb" offers amazing access to R. Crumb and his family, but the man himself remains an enigma - an entertaining and fascinating enigma, but an enigma nonetheless. Still, Zwigoff's probing camera gets behind the man and his art, his fans and detractors, and delivers a wonderful portrait of the man and a great appreciation of his work - even his most off-putting, misogynistic work.

But it's when Zwigoff talks to Robert's family that we see the true effects of a horrible, and horror-filled, childhood. Both of his brothers are intelligent and considerably talented, but they were unable to find a healthy outlet to escape a tyrannical father (his abuse is only hinted at in the movie), and their stories are deeply affecting - and difficult to watch.

So "Crumb" is either life-affirming or terribly depressing. I vote for the first option, which is why I'm the proud owner of the DVD. You wont find a much better documentary, or a more powerful drama, than "Crumb."

Rating:
Summary: On behalf of Charles...
Review: I own this film and I must say that I like Robert Crumb's taste in the blues and I share a lot of his views about the shallowness of American culture. He's a purist, creatively brilliant, and holds to his artistic values. Nevertheless, I couldn't help feeling that I would like to have seen him have the presence of mind to "lower" himself enough and get paid outrageously enough to do a lousy album cover every once in awhile so he could have perhaps helped his brother Charles to get the mental health care he needed and out of that gawd awful home environment with that crazy mother of his. Of course, if he had he probably wouldn't have been Robert Crumb with his all-consuming eccentricities and self-preoccupation with the female anatomy and big butts. Still, considering he was quite aware of being raised in a twisted family, it didn't seem to occur to him that he might have been in the position to help his two brothers reclaim their lives by throwing some major financial resources their way so they could have a better chance to overcome their sadistic father and demented upbringing. In his own way, Charles had his own genius and needed psychiatric care. Maybe RC tried and it just wasn't portrayed in the movie. On the other hand, I never got the impression the thought ever crossed his mind, because there's little evidence he thought about anything other than himself, his art, his immediate family, and outlets for his never-ending sexual obsessions -- or so it seems. If he had, I think I'd have more respect for him as a person than just as a supremely gifted artist.