Rating: 
Summary: The real life adventures of Jay and Silent Bob
Review: Had never heard of this movie when a friend rented it. Small budget documentary with no narration, the real-life characters pretty much do all the talking and a script couldn't have done it better. I honestly didn't know whether to laugh or cry sometimes because the honest portrait of these lives are so incredibly sad but also hilarious. Mike Shank is the most memorable character I've seen on screen in a long time, you gotta love him and wish this simple man will get some good luck. The film maker, Mark, is more manipulative and so driven by his film that one has to wonder about his motives whenever he deals with anyone, especially his ailing (but very funny) uncle who reluctantly funds the movie. It's rare to glimpse so deeply into someone else's life and this documentary does an incredible and loving job at it. Highly recommended.
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Summary: One of the funniest (and touching) films of all time
Review: There are few movies today that are worth seeking out. American Movie is one of them. With a completely true story (very loosely describal as "Ed Wood" meets "This is Spinal Tap" meets "Crumb"), filmmakers Chris Smith and Sarah Price have captured and perfectly presented a slice in the lives of some truly memorable characters. By the end of the film, the audience is not only enormously satisfied and entertained, but feels as though they truly have met new friends. The audience I saw this with went wild, particularly during Mike Shank's (you could not write a funnier or more endearing character) screaming scene. Those who want to enter filmmaking for a living should be required to view this, as it shows Mark Bochardt persisting through pitfall after pitfall to finally complete his horror opus "COVEN" (I would buy the DVD just to see this short film). We can only hope that his dream project "Northwestern" will one day see the light of day. "American Movie" has drawn comparisons to "Roger & Me", though I find the former far funnier, as Chris Smith wisely allows his subjects to do all the talking (whereas Michael Moore's film relies on his narration, while quite amusing, for much of the laughs). Indeed, we only hear Smith perhaps a half dozen times through the film, as Bochardt is never at a loss for words. It's not very surprising that "American Movie" was not even nominated for the Best Documentary Oscar, neither were the best "fiction" films of the year (in my opinion), "Being John Malkovich" and "The Straight Story". It's just further evidence in the case that the Oscar doesn't mean jack. "American Movie" is all ready a classic, however, and will continue to have a special place in film history. It's a shame that this film didn't get the kind of wide release that Adam Sandler movies get, because I truly believe that once word spread audiences would flock to see it. Anyway, I have planned well in advance to purchase the DVD, as it is a film to be cherished by all those who love movies.
Rating: 
Summary: Mandatory
Review: American Movie is an absolutely enjoyable and strangely fascinating documentary by the filmmaking team of director CHRIS SMITH and producer SARAH PRICE. It's a story about following your dream. The subject of the film is a young, fiercely dedicated, self-defined filmmaker Mark Borchardt. Borchardt, who was born and lives in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin and who has, since the age of 14, been trying to fulfill his dream of becoming a successful Hollywood feature film director . . . in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, is one of the most genuine and interesting documentary subjects you could imagine. "But I've never heard of him," you say. I know. He's not yet famous but he's still fascinating. In this delightful and thoroughly honest film, you'll see how this young man, now 30-something, continues to pursue his "impossible dream" despite his parents' wishes that he get a job in a factory, his lack of any serious financial backing, and many years of dreaming and drinking when, as he says himself, he should've been working on his films. In this very intimate film you'll see some of his work and follow very closely as he pursues capital investment ($3,000) from his very tight-fisted and colorful uncle, enlists his mother to be an extra as she explains that she really needs to go shopping instead, and shoots and edits his film with the constant and loyal support of his long-time friend, Mike Schank. Mike has been his friend since childhood. He's a musician, a guitarist, and admitted drug abuser (though he's been clean for the last four years.) He's a kind of real-life "Reverend Jim" from TV's Taxi. He has definitely been affected by all the various drugs and alcohol he's drunk, sniffed, swallowed, and whatever over the years. But he's a kind and loyal friend--someone we can't help but like. The characters are very interesting and well worth watching. I found this non-fictional documentary more interesting to watch than many fictional films I've sat through. CHRIS SMITH has captured his subject with affection, respect, and honesty. He has been able to get so close and intimate that it seems as if no one is even aware that there's a documentary being made. This is a really insightful look at the American Dream as it's experienced at the grassroots level. I think this is going to become a documentary classic and that the two main characters, Mark and Mike are going to become cult and cultural icons.
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Summary: Mike Schank is a Beautiful, Beautiful Man
Review: I have a confession: I rented this on video as soon as it came out back in 1999 & I hated it. In fact, my friend & I turned it off in the middle of the film... Actually, I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but the real reason is b/c we didn't know we were watching an actual documentary... Looking back on it, I feel like one of those stupid people who went to see The Blair Witch project, threw up, & thought it was real... So I eventually watched this again in one of my film classes. Yes, by now I know it's real, I just never felt like giving it that 2nd chance. But upon a second viewing this film is amazing!! I can't believe how stupid I was to give up on it before!
As far as documentaries go, American Movie is near-flawless. It's got humor, sympathy, inspiration, old guys eating Polish sausage, you name it- it's there. No really, we laugh at the "characters," but there's actually a really inspiring & uplifting message to it all... plus it's funny as heck. It follows the life of one major film buff from Milwaukee who sets out to make a feature film (Northwestern) but becomes sidetracked with funding problems, so decides to finish up a short horror film (Coven) to sell for profits. The trials & tribulations of Coven's production make up American Movie.
As for the DVD, it's excellent. There are deleted scenes galore, many of which are GREAT! And they're not just throw-away junk scenes, which is always a plus. There are commentary tracks & trailers, but best of all, the mother of all extras is... COVEN. Yes, the 22-minute short film is included in its entirety. I can die happy now.
I saw my friend recently & told her that I not only watched American Movie again (which we vowed never to do), but that I loved it! She then told me how she was "forced" to watch it again for one of her film classes & that she loved it too!! So there's hope for all us imbeciles yet.
Do yourself a huge favor & see this movie if you haven't already done so. And if you watched half of it before & hated it, please give it a second try. Once you loved it, come back & purchase this DVD like me!
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.
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Summary: Great Documentary.
Review: It's amazing how much non-fiction films have changed. There were documentaries which spawned the popular mockumentaries, fictional movies filmed like a documentary. AMERICAN MOVIE is a strange hybrid of the two: it is a documentary that feels like a mockumentary. The film revolves around Mark Borchardt, a thirty-year-old man who has been making cheap 8 MM films since childhood. The film revolves around a 2-plus year journey to finish his horror masterpiece, COVEN (pronounced like woven). Connected through this story are several interesting people: such as Mark's best friend Mike Schank (a former drug addict), Mark's Uncle Bill (who has a fortune of around $250,000 and literally whithers away as the movie progresses), and Mark's Mom (a fiesty, yet supportive woman). Mark wants to finish COVEN so that he can finish his true film opus, a semi-autobiographical movie called NORTHWESTERN. Along the way, there are tons of challenges from the mundane (trying to pay off his phone bill) to the unusual (slicing together a missing frame in his movie hours before its public premiere). The film is both funny and heartwarming. I found it funny because real life is often funny and many of the people in AMERICAN MOVIE reminded me of people in my own life I have known and met. It's heartwarming because despite all that Mark goes through (huge amounts of debt, custody battles, etc.) he still keeps plodding away until his movie gets finished. AMERICAN MOVIE is one of the best and most enjoyable documentaries I have ever seen.
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Summary: You won't believe you're watching a documentary...
Review: Becoming a filmmaker takes much more than just passion. It takes hard work, supportive friends and family, borrowed money, headaches, lottery tickets, and a lot of beer. American Movie: The Making of Northwestern is an indie film about indie films. Director Chris Smith's documentary follows aspiring Milwaukee filmmaker Mark Borchardt as he pursues his life's dream - to produce a feature film called Northwestern. Unfortunately, this film isn't really about the making of Northwestern - because early in the film, Mark realizes that he doesn't have enough money to produce it. Instead, he decides to finish his short film, Coven, so he can sell copies (at least 3,000, he calculates) and earn the money to produce his feature film. American Movie is a hilarious look at the life of an independent filmmaker - beginning with the first movies he made as a kid (The More the Scarier 1- 3). Smith follows Borchardt as he tries to get funding from his reluctant Uncle Bill, talks his mom into doing camera work, bails his friend (and associate producer) out of jail, and drags his kids along (sleeping bags in hand) to the editing studio - always with his laid-back drinking buddy, Mike Schank, at his side. American Movie is surreal. You'll never believe that it's a true story about real people making a real movie - but it really is. I promise. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to make a movie, head to the nearest video store and pick up American Movie. It's a humorously educational film about making an independent film. It's about the hard work and the hardships that go into it - and if that doesn't scare you away from trying to create one of your own, nothing will.
Rating:
Summary: Need help people
Review: I was just about to buy this DVD, based on the recommendations here, but I noticed that the DVD is in Full Screen format. What's up with that? Was the film shot in TV aspect ratio? I'm not going to buy a widescreen film in Full Screen format.
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Summary: I can't believe it.
Review: I can't believe I'm the first to review this film. I watched it on DVD three times in two days. The first time I thought I was watching a mockudrama, like Best in Show, for example. Seen that way it was wonderful, but a bit dark at times. Second time through I understood I was watching a strange documentary, filled with wonderful people I'd like to know, but not too closely. Third time through I included the commentary and heard the odd background story. Now I want to find someone doing what Mark is doing so I can get involved. Humm. Maybe not Mark, though.
Rating:
Summary: ONLY IN AMERICA
Review: This is the funniest thing that I have ever seen! Just see the damn movie. Everyone else can tell you what it's about, all I'm saying is see this movie immediately! You won't believe that people like this actually exist out there. Oh my god take my word for it, you'll be a better person if you check out this movie.
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