Crumb (1995)

The critic calls the film amazing and in a class of its own as a portrait of a dysfunctional family. Zwigoff's focus on Robert Crumb's brother Charles and use of old-time music are singled out for praise.

Turan finds the film riveting and haunting, like a Diane Arbus photograph, highlighting how horrific family conditions nurtured Crumb's singular artistic sensibility as the most functional member of his troubled clan.

Ebert calls it one of the most remarkable and haunting documentaries ever made, centering on how Crumb's art served as a coping mechanism from a deeply dysfunctional family background marked by abuse and his brothers' severe mental struggles.

The critic calls it a balanced and insightful portrait of the artist and a wrenching depiction of a tragic family, praising its compositional skill in moving between verité revelations, art criticism, and shifting tones from comedy to despair.

The critic highlights the film's queasily intimate access to Crumb's family and psyche, exploring how his art allowed him to escape the despair that defeated his brother while entertaining debates about the work's satirical versus pornographic qualities.

Rafferty deems it a brilliant, scary movie—the best American film of the year so far—for its unsparing yet sympathetic examination of Crumb's family trauma and the artist's detached, misanthropic creative process.

Holden describes the film as a riveting, unguarded portrait of Crumb and his dysfunctional family that reveals how his psychic wounds fueled his satirical art while probing intimate family details.

McCarthy praises it as an excellent countercultural documentary that intimately explores Crumb's personality and extraordinarily dysfunctional family, explaining the sources of his twisted, satirical comic art.

The critic praises Zwigoff’s documentary for its honest portrayal of Robert Crumb’s skepticism toward consumerism and capitalism, highlighting the film’s creative use of Crumb’s art and its enduring relevance.

The critic finds the documentary provocative and fascinating despite its flaws. Zwigoff's portrait of the cartoonist and his dysfunctional family is candid but poorly structured, with notable omissions.

The review describes the film as an outstandingly interesting portrait of obsession and genius, noting its fascinating look at Crumb’s family but criticizing parts that veer into a prurient freakshow.

The film succeeds thanks to the laconic charisma of its subject. It is a darkly sad picture that ends on a cautiously upbeat note, as Crumb has fashioned a warm, strong and very real family life.

The critic praises the documentary for providing a full, unvarnished portrait of Robert Crumb that respects his uncompromising integrity as an artist while confronting his personal demons and controversial elements. It highlights the film's contrast between Crumb and his damaged brothers as a key strength, noting its relevance amid shifting cultural ideas of authenticity.