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American Movie

American Movie

List Price: $27.95
Your Price: $25.16
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Don't Need Hollywood Anymore
Review: File under: thanks, Rob Reiner, we don't need another mockumentary, thanks Steven Spielberg, we can do without another silly plastic package wrapped around a ride on a war machine. This film is brilliant, stunning. It leaves you feeling well fed even though it is a damned dark little kaleidescopic world it reveals. It's funnier than Spinal Tap and in parts as dark as Salesman. It's also so out that it makes fiction look feeble. The first scene where the guy is trying to think up makework for his 'crew' to do, noting that the devil finds work for idle hands is hysterical and bizarre. There is a funny pointlessness to it all, and yet a playful sense that they all know how pointless it all is. The uncle being rousted and hustled repeatedly to fund the productions and his nasal monotone W.S. Burroughs-like voice pleading just to be left alone is priceless. Ultimately, it is quite stunning how well the maker of this film captured his subject. It will further convince you that personal cinema, in which the 'auteur' is not trying to flick your nose with each ridiculous brush stroke, is possible, and it serves as the best way to see just how little is added to most films by their well-heeled, well-greased authors.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Truly a must see
Review: If you liked movies such as "Best in Show", "Waiting for Guffman" and "Spinal Tap", you will love this movie as well. It is very similar to Christopher Guest's movies in its presentation, only this movie is a true documentary, unlike Guest's. But it is the startling realization of this movie's authenticity that makes it that much more ironic and endearing. Truly a must see.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: the best film i ever saw or am likely to see
Review: "American Movie" is quite simply the best film ever made. Anyone that disagrees with me is just wrong.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the best American films in the last 5 years
Review: I absolutely love this film. When it came out in the UK a year or so ago it was a real struggle to find a cinema that was showing it. Thankfully, after plenty of hunting around, my friends and I found a small 'Arts Theatre' that showed films such as this. Never, NEVER have we laughed out loud so many times and for so long! Was it for real? Was it a spoof? We weren't sure at times, but we loved the characters and we loved the films heart. It truely does orbit its own weird little planet. By the end of the film we were standing on our chairs clapping our hearts out as the credits rolled (NOT a common sight over here in the UK).

The only thing that bugs the hell out of me is that it isn't available to buy on video over here in the UK!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Who'd want to spend time with this guy?
Review: I heard good things about this movie...critics thought it was unique and clever, so I decided to rent it. We waited for the good part...20 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour...managed to get through the whole movie but it was a chore (of the four adults watching, one fell asleep and one left!). The people in it are not particularly interesting, the movie-about-making-a-movie conceit has been done before, and better. All I could think is: this is someone I wouldn't even want to have a beer with, let alone spend over an hour listening to him (and goodness, if you want to make a film entitled "COVEN" you should really learn to pronounce the word!) The only sympathetic person in the film is the poor old fellow who ends up financing the movie (Mark's uncle I think?). Someone obviously thinks this Mark Borchardt has...what? guts? spunk?artistic vision? but I can't see it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Mark Borchardt is a Winner
Review: "American Movie" is funny from beginning to end. Sure, its sad that the main character is a loser who is getting old, living in a nowhere town, and under the false impression that he is going to be the next big horror film director, but it is the fact that, even though it is totally obvious to the viewer (and even the main character's family members) that there is no hope in this man ever leaving his home town and achieving his dream, he refuses to see that his efforts to become a famous film director are futile. This film is just GREAT on so many different levels: You can laugh with and at the people in this film, and at the end, despite being depressed for Mark Borchardt, you've gotta love this guy's drive and energy, and the fact that his head is permanently in the clouds. In a way, I actually admire the guy.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "It's great that things work out like that sometimes..."
Review: I agree with every positive review of American Movie, so I won't waste your time here telling you again how amazing of a movie it is.

But I just have to point out that for all the memorable lines in the movie ("Pretty damn cathartic, Mark" "Jesus tooooold me so..." "That was wicked, man!" etc.), there are tons of equally great lines in the DVD's deleted scenes ("There's lots of giraffes here at the zoo," for starters). I'd agree with a previous reviewer in saying that the deleted scenes alone are worth the price of the DVD.

The commentary featuring Mark, Mike and the filmmakers is excellent as well. Granted, Mike only says about two sentences during the whole thing, but something that happens in the middle is priceless, though I won't spill it here.

Anyway, if you've seen and appreciate the movie, you definitely need to see the deleted scenes on the DVD. It makes me wish they'll make a sequel.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: American movie
Review: I bought this DVD because the movie got 5 star average rating and was critically acclaimed. What a mistake! If you love the Blair Witch Project and similar movies, go ahead and buy it, otherwise don't bee fooled by the reviewers. The movie is not particularly funny at all (hilarious according to several reviewers). Some reviewers were suggesting Oscar nomination for best documentary, I have seen much more interesting and better documentaries of ordinary people, this wasn't very interesting. Perhaps you have to be an American (or grow up in the USA) to see the funny in an american movie with the american dream that unsuccessfully is trying to make films and doesn't succed with his life?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the all time great documentaries.
Review: I don't know how helpful this review will be because I love this documentary so much, I don't even know where to begin. It's one of those movies you walk away quoting, even though it's a documentary. You can watch this one countless times and never get bored. Maybe it's because I'm from the midwest, but I feel like I know these guys pretty darn well. This is truely a heartbreaking work of staggering genius. The extras make it worth about 10 times the price you pay.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Amazing
Review: This DVD has it all. A huge number of out takes. Chris's origial movie. You name it, its on here. Not only that, but the movie its self is a true work of art. I can't say enough good things about this movie. Every time I watch it, I see something new or different. From the touching bathroom moment with his uncle to Mike explaining why he had to get sober. A great film!


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