So well-regarded was the documentary Crumb (1994) that the failure of it and of the same year's equally acclaimed Hoop Dreams (1994) to result in Oscar nominations caused a media furor which forced the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to revamp its documentary nomination process. Robert Crumb is a respected but controversial underground comic book artist and writer whose creations include the popular "Keep on Truckin'" and Fritz the Cat (1972). Crumb's adult subject matter includes
weird sexual obsessions, social criticism, and personal, confessional observations about abnormal human psychology. The genesis and meaning of Crumb's work is explained through a series of interviews with his colleagues, former lovers, and especially family members, which reveal a horrific upbringing that has crippled both Crumb and his siblings -- but has also fueled the artist's groundbreaking work. A long-time friend of the film's subject, director Terry Zwigoff followed Crumb (1994) with another comic book-related project, Ghost World (2000), a drama based on a story from the anthology series "Eightball" by Daniel Clowes. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
Crumb's sense of humor is his saving personal grace and the movie's insurance policy against total immersion into the morbid. But just so you know, Crumb fully earns its most revealing screen credit: 'David Lynch Presents.'
(An) offbeat and often uncomfortably revealing portrait of the legendary underground comic book artist Robert Crumb and his brothers, Maxon and Charles...
A balanced and insightful portrait of a fascinating artist, a wrenching and unvarnished depiction of a tragic family, an incredible statement of friendship, and one of the most inspired depictions of the creative process I've ever seen.
This brilliant docu is not just a portrait of a compulsive artist, but also a deep inquiry into the mysteries of art, creativity, mental illness and family bind.
Zwigoff's biography of Crumb is both absorbing and repellent, and it may be one of the best documentaries to make the connection between creativity and craziness.
As biographical documentaries go, this one holds our attention from start to finish. It ropes in obviously reluctant participants, it offers a nice balance between private and public moments, and it provides plenty of the cartoonist's illustrations.
I have a hard time recommending this. The film is a typical talking head doc about comics artist Robert Crumb, with all the traits you'd expect -- childhood, interviews with family and friends, examples of his work. It's definitely interesting, and the guy is a talented artist to be sure. But his style of art, his
subject matter and just his general oddball personality make me uncomfortable. This is a man I would not like being stuck in an elevator with.
You have probably seen Robert Crumb's images somewhere, be it on a comic book, a set of mud flaps, or in your mind at night. Crumb's documentary is an examination of what led him to what could have been a lucrative existence as a 1960's icon that he shunned. Yes, Crumb is one of the few people with a little artistic
credibility. What's interesting about the life of Crumb is how much of an influence his brothers were on his career and the fact they both appeared to have derailed in their lives with his older brother Cahrles committing suicide when the
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