Review of Crumb (1995) by Jeff L — 26 Sep 2010
The life of 1960's comicbook artist Robert Crumb is so damn unusual. This 1994 documentary checks in on him just before Crumb, now 51, his wife and daughter leave San Francisco to emigrate to southern France.
I've never seen his works before until I saw this documentary in 2010; they come across as racist, sexist and misogynistic, to put it mildly.
The documentary peels the layers of Crumb's life and family, but unlike an onion, it will leave you with a greater understanding of this unlikely star.
Crumb's dad was a tyrant and bully who broke Crumb's collarbone when young. His brother, Charles, has been on medication for depression for 20 years. Another brother, Max, a sexual predator and thoughtful painter, now meditates on nails and eats a string to clean his intestines.
Crumb's cartoons will shock first-time viewers. It's obvious that he compartmentalises women into headless sexual objects who have big boobs and asses.
Two art critics will present a positive and negative critique of Crumb's works and the documentary lets you be the judge of his works, and of him.
This review of Crumb (1995) was written by Jeff L on 26 Sep 2010.
Crumb has generally received very positive reviews.
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