American Movie

Rating:
Summary: He Wants to Make Films in the Worst Way!
Review: American Movie

Reviewed by Bruce Cantwell (a-movie-to-see.com)

Mark Borchardt wants to be a filmmaker, to tell the story of what it means to grow up a poor working (or unemployed) stiff on the Northwest side of Milwaukee. He speaks passionately about hanging out with his friends who drink too much, trying to deaden the nagging thoughts of a bleak future. His film Northwestern will show this bleakness to reveal a glimpse of the human goodness that shines through even the toughest circumstances.

But to make his masterpiece, he first needs to sell 3000 copies of a direct-to-video black & white horror movie short entitled Coven. And before he can finish making Coven he has to pry $3000 out of his crotchety, cynical, trailer-living Uncle Bill who's tighter than his Poli Grip seal.

Chris Smith's documentary about "the making of" a low budget schlock horror movie is the kind of screwball comedy that Hollywood wishes it could make. Steve Martin tried earlier this summer: Bowfinger (which wasn't bad), just nowhere near as good.

Mark Borchardt, a cheesehead scarecrow with a look right out of the early seventies isn't your typical leading man, but he's a hell of a lot more interesting than a Brad Pitt or Keanu Reeves.

Smith captures the dynamics of Mark's complex relationship with Coven's 82-year old executive producer Uncle Bill.

Coven's score composer, Mike Schank, Mark's former drinking buddy (now sober) explains his involvement in this convoluted enterprise. He likes Mark and because Mark makes movies, he ends up making movies too. Mike's first love is the Wisconsin lottery.

Other friends, family and cast members find themselves putting up with Mark's insane, unfocused ambition not because they have any thought of personal gain but because they know it means the world to him.

His brothers admit that he has a gift for gab if nothing else. His actors add that he's persistent (Coven takes three years to complete, Northwestern has been in pre-production since the '80s). No one but Mark thinks that he'll be a success.

Smith records the film making mishaps with a sense of timing out of This is Spinal Tap but anyone whose been involved with coordinating the logistics of even a class project video will vouch for their veracity.

Strictly speaking, American Movie is a tragedy because its protagonist doesn't (and probably never will) make the movie of his dreams. On the other hand, his film about the underlying humanity of Northwest Milwaukee's set-upon residents has already been made. This is it: all the friendship and love and support a man could ask for are demonstrated in this film. On that score, Mark's a lucky man.

If you like this, try:

The Big Picture Christopher Guest's (This is Spinal Tap) hilarious take on the Independent film scene.

Living in Oblivion Steve Buscemi (Fargo) plays a Borchardt-esque director.

20 Dates another "documentary" about an ambitious film maker.

Rating:
Summary: An Oscar Worthy Documentary
Review: A very intriguing documentary follows a native Wisconscinite determined to make a horror movie. The film follows two years into his life as a guy who moves from job to job with two dysfunctional parents, a drugged up best friend, and an elderly uncle reluctant to give his money to the man. A real taste of life for a guy who just wants to get a movie made. The film has shots from old horror films he made as a kid, interviews with cynical family members, and the man dwelling in his small town while obsessing with horror movies.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant and Hilarious
Review: This is one of those movies that you see only one copy of at the video store, and it's usually always available. You'll find that sometimes these are the best movies out there, and "American Movie" proves to be one such diamond in the rough. Mark Borchardt and his dream of becoming a huge filmmaker are the subject of this riotous documentary that follows him on his journey to complete the low-budget horror film "Coven". Along the way, filmmakers Smith and Price shed light on almost everything we could possibly know about Mark and his friends. Most of the time, you'll find yourselves laughing at the characters (the heart-of-gold former drug addict Mike and the eccentric, penny-pinching uncle come to mind) rather than with them. Nonetheless, you ARE laughing at this slice of life shot in smalltown Wisconsin. You may question Mark's goals and priorities and you may question his logic (trying to make it big by filming low-budget horror flicks? ), but in the end you'll realize he's just a man with a dream who will let nothing get in his way. After that's the American dream and this is truly an American movie. Any aspiring filmmaker should see this as well as anyone with a sense of humor.

Rating:
Summary: Turned it off after 20 minutes
Review: I really looked forward to seeing this, so a friend and I rented the tape a few nights ago. Somehow, it just didn't fly for us and we turned it off after twenty minutes and watched something else. Listening to Mark, the principal subject of the documentary, spell out his dull, crackpot ideas scene after scene became tedious and even a bit depressing. So many people truly like this film and I certainly don't want to give their opinion short-thrift. I may even try watching this again at some point in the future, but the humor simply didn't hook me the first time around.

Rating:
Summary: If only more of us had Mark's determination
Review: I hadn't heard of American Movie until Amazon.com recommended it to me. Good call. I've seen a lot of documentaries, and this one is in my top 5.

We all have dreams, but few of us try as hard as Mark Borchardt to make them come true. His struggle is both funny and sad, and in the end you walk away feeling inspired. There were times when I thought the film had to be a set-up because it was just too funny. There were times when I thought it had to be true because you can't make up stuff like that. Now I don't care - I just want to make sure all my friends see it.

Rating:
Summary: If you like smart movies, this one is great!
Review: This movie is hilarious! This guy is the biggest loser/hollywood hopeful ever!The old man is so funny, you need to see this movie. If you are one of those stupid people who needs to be told when to laugh then this movie isn't really for you, but if you are a real movie fan then this movie is AWESOME!

Rating:
Summary: Excellently Packed
Review: This is one great movie, not only is it a great movie but it is crammed with extras! The heartfelt struggle of Borchardt to obtain his dreams borders on obsession. Shank is simply loveably simple in his performance, very talented in his musical aspirations and gentle in his manner. The extras are what really make this movie very valuable, the entire short film "Coven" is presented along with many deleted scenes, the commentary is just as enjoyable. Overall a great value and a great movie.

Rating:
Summary: There's something to live for! Jesus told me so!
Review: This movie is quite great. I thought it was very funny and touching at the same time. Bill Borchart (the uncle) is one of the funniest and heartwarming characters ever (not really a character since this is a documentary). This movie gives hope to those who have none, concidering what this guy goes through to go after the American dream. Watch this NOWWWWWWW...

Rating:
Summary: This is addictive
Review: Tell me that this isn't real. This is just too weird. I watched it twice to make sure it wasn't candid camera or a total put-on. Sadly, you feel for the participants and hope against hope that somewhere, somehow, there will be some magical force that intervenes. It is like watching a car crash. The language is tough, the quality of the images is okay. But more than anything else it is the insight that this movie gives to the dreams of some average, regular folks that can creep you out.

Rating:
Summary: He's got that "long-strand DNA."
Review: So Mark Borchardt is a booze-addled career newspaper delivery boy with a fierce will to succeed as an American film auteur...or die trying to rationalize why he hadn't. At first it seems like a real-life "Waiting for Guffman"--a purely ironic view of a hopelessly incompetent artist trying to make his way to the bigtime despite relentless misfortune. The first half of the film works so perfectly as parody that eventually I started to doubt that it was real. But that's a trick of "favorable" circumstances and fantastic editing. Eventually, it settles into a kind of poignant groove, becoming a portrait of the failed artist as a young man, with interesting narrative undercurrents from the reluctantly supportive supporting cast.

The DVD provides not only a couple dozen extra scenes (all worthy of inclusion, but edited out for time), but also commentary by the directors and the subjects themselves. After viewing the film for the first time, it was disconcerting to hear the cast's commentary, since the movie succeeds primarily as a parody of them and their efforts. But the voice-overs and deleted scenes really are value-adding. They offer more of Mark's soliloquies (including the "long-strand DNA" defense), more of Mike's burnout banter, some good context from the directors, and a better perspective for future viewings. There were two films being made, after all--the subject matter and the documentary about that subject matter, each with their own tragedies and comedies, and there was an involved relationship between the directors and all of their subjects. In the end, this film succeeds more than Guffman or Spinal Tap could precisely because it is *not* scripted humor. It's too good to be untrue.