Harvey Pekar finds Oscar true to form and the Independent Spirit Awards misnamed.

My trip to California for the 2004 Academy Awards was full of emotional ups and downs. I arrived Friday Feb 27, strung out from the long plane ride and retreated to my hotel room for a few hours rest. That night, HBO threw a party at which I was reunited with some of the people who created the American Splendor film, including director/writer team Shari Springer Berman and Bob Pulcini, and actors Paul Giamatti and Hope Davis. They were all up for some Independent Spirit Awards, given to “independent” artists supposedly overlooked by the big corporations who control the Oscars.

The reunion was a happy one. My wife and I had kept in touch with American Splendor people over long distances about non-film matters. Giamatti and I, both avid book collectors, gave each other tips about where to find obscure volumes. I was sick for much of the film’s post-production, and Bob and Shari were constantly calling me, checking on my health. I hope we can stay in touch.

The Independent Spirit Awards on Feb 28 were the low point of my trip. American Splendor had been nominated for five awards, but the film had only been shown in art houses. Not enough viewers had seen it for it to receive much voter backing. Beyond that, everybody was thrilled with Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation which indicated that the House Of Coppola would continue to flourish. The film’s star, Bill Murray, had a big following and AS had no stars in it, although Giamatti and Davis were superb performers.

But American Splendor might not have won anything anyway - maybe it was too far out, too innovative, what with its multiple casting and mixing of genres. In any event, it went 0 for 5 at Independent Spirit while Lost In Translation cleaned up.

Something else that bothered me about these awards was that the Independent Spirit people might not be so independent. Why was Tom Cruise, a good Hollywood company man, Independent Spirit’s honorary chairman? Why was Harvey Weinstein, often identified as a scoundrel who browbeats directors and writers, so prominently praised?

And was American Splendor really an independent film? It had a very small budget and was shot in less than a month, but it also received financial backing from HBO. It’s been argued convincingly that big corporations are taking over promising independent films and squeezing profits from them.

On Feb 29 we went to the Academy Awards. These were dominated by The Lord Of The Rings, part three. People were going crazy voting for it. It even won best original song with a pretty bland tune. Unfortunately, in the only Academy Award category American Splendor was up for (Best Adapted Screenplay), we were pitted against LOTR. Guess which one won? Who could compete with the special effects, and all that action and moral simplicity?

Host Billy Crystal moved events along smoothly and amusingly. It was the usual industry celebration show, but more honest and less self-righteous than the Independent Spirit programme.

When everything was over, I went to a party where a number of people I didn’t know told me they liked American Splendor a lot. This was just what I needed to stop feeling sorry for myself. Now I’m taking a plane home, writing this and exploding with purposefulness. Harvey Pekar 05 March 04