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Robert Hughes, Robert Crumb, Aline Kominsky, Charles Crumb, Maxon Crumb

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 th... read more read more...e 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

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88% liked it

8,261 ratings

Critics

95% liked it

41 critics

R, 2 hr.

Directed by: Terry Zwigoff

Release Date: May 19, 1995

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DVD Release Date: March 9, 1999

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Flixster Reviews (643)

  • webalina
    July 5, 2009
    webalina
    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... read more 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.
  • sononothing
    January 23, 2009
    sononothing
    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 ... read morethe 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
  • Stinger839
    September 29, 2008
    Stinger839
    A bold and unflinching examination of an (socially edgy) artist and his equally talented but more troubled male siblings. Deserved its Grandy Jury Prize at Sundance
  • drago25
    May 8, 2008
    drago25
    Crumb is Terry Zwigoff's quintessential documentary about legendary underground artist Robert Crumb, famous for his unique, highly strange and sexualized style, and for revolutionizing the comic and art world with it. I was vaguely familiar with the man before seeing this, but no... read moret as much with his art, but luckily Crumb is a very good introduction to the man, as well as a wonderfully constructed, very entertaining examination of Robert and also his more troubled but also talented brothers. Zwigoff leaves no stone unturned and really gets to the root of the matter, and by the end one has gained a great understanding and appreciation for the subject matter, which is generally the purpose for a documentary of this nature (about an artist or a particular body of work). To my understanding, this was a very well received film critically and won an award at is premiere at Sundance or some major festival, and I can see why. I would put this on a list of essential documentaries.
  • tsigur
    August 9, 2007
    tsigur
    Does anyone else find Crumb's brothers terrifying?
  • KLFilmmaker
    November 1, 2011
    KLFilmmaker
    R.Crumb is a great subject. Must see documentary!
  • mustardnoize
    May 15, 2011
    mustardnoize
    This film is a real conundrum; it's an absolutely superior documentary about a controversial and markedly uncomfortable subject. Zwigoff does a fantastic job with this film, and utilizes a practically-unheard-of intimacy with its subject (that of famous/ infamous underground comi... read morec artist Robert Crumb, whose meticulous artwork is often simultaneously lauded and hated) to create a documentary like no other. However, it is problematic to recommend this movie on a wide scale due to the rather scandalous nature of both Crumb (and especially his bizarre family) and his collected works, which is rife with callipygian women, misogyny, racism, and fetishistic depictions many claim are tantamount to pornography. But however you feel about his artwork, you are certainly likely to gain some insight as to why Crumb developed his talent in the manner that he did, i.e. as a coping mechanism for dealing with his highly unusual familial situation (and unusual it truly is). If Crumb's work disturbs and/ or angers you to a high degree, you may wish to stay clear of this film. Otherwise, if you'd like to see an expert documentarian practice at the height of his craft about a subject for which it is almost impossible not to have strong feelings, and/ or are curious as to what could possibly make this profoundly unique artist tick, then do yourself a favor and check this movie out.
  • cacutshaw
    February 8, 2008
    cacutshaw
    Fascinating doc. I thought the film was going to be about underground comic book artist Crumb's work and how it revolutionized the comic world, so I think everyone was shocked when viewing the life of his very disfunctional family. Robert Crumb art itself is a great subject mat... read moreter but when his whole background and family are added it becomes a classic documentary far outdoing what could have been a fan film. One of the best documentaries ever.
  • threefolddado
    August 13, 2007
    threefolddado
    It really is funny and fascinating.
  • kingmob6
    December 7, 2010
    kingmob6
    Gave this a re-watch in honor of the Criterion Blu-ray release, Such a great film.

    A fascinating bio of a legendarily eccentric misanthrope, Zwigoff's film follows Crumb as he prepares to leave the US for a new life in France. He visits his family and a few ex-girlfriends and w... read moreives who fill in history on the man, along with extensive interviews in which he showcases his work as well as the various inspirations and tragedies behind it.

    Highly recommended.

View All Crumb Reviews

Critic Reviews

Mike Clark
January 1, 2000
Mike Clark, USA Today

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: ...

R. L. Shaffer
October 14, 2010
R. L. Shaffer, IGN DVD

Crumb may be rough around the edges, even occasionally tedious, but what Zwigoff manages to uncover is honest, captivating and strangely visceral. Full Review

Sean Axmaker
August 11, 2010
Sean Axmaker, MSN.com

(An) offbeat and often uncomfortably revealing portrait of the legendary underground comic book artist Robert Crumb and his brothers, Maxon and Charles... Full Review

James Kendrick
August 10, 2010
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk

an absolutely disarming documentary and one of the very best of its kind Full Review

Christopher Long
August 7, 2010
Christopher Long, Movie Metropolis

Filled with haunting images, only a few of which are created by the hand of R. Crumb. Full Review

Stan Hall
July 1, 2010
Stan Hall, Oregonian

Among the all-time great American documentaries. Full Review

Stefan Birgir Stefansson
March 11, 2008
Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is

interesting

Emanuel Levy
June 6, 2006
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

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. Full Review

David Nusair
May 6, 2006
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

Sporadically intriguing but ultimately overrated... Full Review

Thomas Delapa
May 5, 2006
Thomas Delapa, Boulder Weekly

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. Full Review

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Crumb Trivia

  • What was the name of the rat-like creature that Jabba the Hutt maintained as a pet in Return of the Jedi?  Answer »
  • What actor played the characters Buck Russell, Harry Crumb, and Chet Ripley?  Answer »
  • Who's Harry Crumb?  Answer »
  • I was in Howard the Duck, Transylvania 6-5000, Beetle Juice, Who's Harry Crumb, Ravenous, Sleepy Hollow (1999) and, my voice can be found in some Invader Zim episodes. Who am I?   Answer »
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