American Movie

Rating:
Summary: American Movie
Review: This is probably the funniest movie I've seen in the last three years. It's an actual documentary, but the subjects are so eccentric and bizarre that some of my friends mistook it for a mock-umentary. Mark, the dreamy filmmaker whom the film is about, could not be written any wackier. Yet, you grow to respect, admire, and root for him as the movie progresses.

Rating:
Summary: Touching and tragic at the same time
Review: One of those films that didn't get the nomination for best documentary, "American Movie" is one of the best films of the year. Mark Borchardt, the subject of the film, is a struggling filmmaker whose been making movies since he was in elementary school. The film follows two years in his life as he attempts to finish a short horror film he started a few years back. Touching, in the sense that viewers are treated to the human side of Mark as he's a father of three trying to make things work. His parents, friends, and family all give interviews about Mark as a person and as a filmmaker. Tragic in the sense that, some of the interviews ridicule Mark, particularly one of his brothers. It's depressing, it's bleak, and it's truthful as Mark is determined to finish his movie. It's a portrayal of American life with one guy doing what he does best: making films. The DVD is particularly delightful offering a bevy of deleted scenes, a commentary with the director, producer, Mark, and best friend Mike Schank. Also on the DVD is the short film Mark made that is also one of the centers of the documentary. A must rent for people. Some will like it, some will dislike it.

Rating:
Summary: Just about the perfect documentary
Review: Mark Borchardt is my hero, although I pray to god that I never end up like him. I think that I have some things in common with Mark, we both dream of making movies, we both want to do nothing else in life, we both love horror movies, and neither one of us has ever actually directed a feature film. The only problem for Mark is that he has been trying to for a very long time. American Movie documents the process of mark trying to make Northwestern, his epic indie horror film. In the process we get to meet a lot of interesting characters and see a lot of interesting sights. We get a bit of a glimpse into the genius that is Mark Borchardt.

The DVD is especially great because it has Coven as a special feature. The short film that we see Mark finish during the documentary. American Movie is hilarious, heartwarming and at times heartbreaking. I know that I will be first in line to see Northwestern if it ever shows at my local theatre.

Rating:
Summary: Ours Goes to "11"
Review: All I kept thinking while watching this was, "These Guys Are For REAL!!" What at first glance may appear to be tragic view of a man with a vision, the bottom line is that the only people who could possibly think this movie is mean spirited are elitists who look down on Mark Borchardt and Mike Schank.

I don't watch this movie with derision or condensation -- I feel for Mark. Although I am not a movie maker (just a movie fan) I appreciate and empathise with Mark and all of his innumerable obstacles -- scheduling extras, arranging financing, and a vision that no one around him always shares, or even always appreciates.

GO MARK GO!!!

Rating:
Summary: fun low budget movie
Review: Sombody asked: yes this DVD is full screen aspect ratio, yes it is in mono. That is how the film was shot... low budget!

These guy's problems, and the resulting "Coven" short film remind me a lot of what my friends and I went through and came up with one summer after high school when we decided to slap together a little horror film of our own (on an even lower budget, using a rented camcorder and video editing machines in the local county college library).

Fun stuff, though "hilarious" may be overstating it.


Rating:
Summary: The Great American Movie
Review: American Movie is a film like no other you have seen or will ever see again. A colorful, insightful and enormously entertaining documentary about an independent filmmaker from any town U.S.A and his dreams to make the great American Movie.

Mark Borchardt is a fast talking, hard working, (and hard drinking) everyman, who also happens to know something few of us know. He knows how to keep trying, how to find a way to keep believing and he knows how to be very, very entertaining - even if he's not trying to be. He's the kind of guy you talk to over the fence in your backyard, the guy who never seems to run out of interesting things to say, or interesting ways to say them. You can't help but feel a strong affection for him, and you want him to succeed at all costs. You hurt when he hurts because he struggles like we all struggle - against societal conventions. Despite the fact that so little seems to be going right in his life, he seems to be more content and driven than all the "Rat-Racers" he rebels against...and for that I envy him greatly.

Mark's colorful cast of friends (who have been there since childhood), are very loving and supportive, the kind of friends one hopes will never vanish. They seem to know the filmmakers very soul like a book they've read a thousand times. Mike Shank - the guitar virtuoso, lottery addicted but recently sober buddy assists Mark during every single production ..... and he's more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Uncle Bill, the filmmakers elderly bankroll man is lovable and tragic. He draws strength from the energy and passion he absorbs watching Mark struggle with his various film projects. Like myself, I get the impression that Uncle Bill envies Mark as well, not because he's younger and healthier, but because he still believes that there is something great around every corner.

This film will make you re-evaluate what's important in your life, make you wish you didn't lay that passion down so many years ago. It's inspiring, it's refreshing and most importantly it's real. I can't recommend this film enough, and it bears many, many repeat viewings.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious documentary.
Review: This is truly one of the funniest documentaries out there. At the same time the patheticness of Mark is not only very real, but very depressing.

Its a story about an alcoholic wanna-be film-maker, who, in spurts, gets moments of inspiration and strives to complete his first movie. The problem is Mark is a screw up. He's unmotivated the majority of the time, broke, a drunk (an angry drunk at that) and just generally doesn't have things go his way. We all know someone like this; thats why you can really connect with him and feel sorry for him but at the same time laugh at his misfortunes.

Another reviewer compared American Movie to the mockumentaries of Christopher Guest, I'm not sure that he gets the fact that this movie is about a real guy. Sure if you want straight up laughs, Christopher Guest has hilarious movies! The greatness of this movie is that its real.

True, real, comedy goldmine.

Rating:
Summary: One joke movie
Review: This has to be one of the most wildly overpraised movies I've run across in some time. It should of been cut down to an hour -- however, I admit, some of the texturing in the relationships in the film would of probably been lost, and that is probably the movie's strength, since in a sense it is a movie about community. And the community, in its own American way, rallies around the young film maker, and that's a good thing, but also, ultimately, a boring one. I'm tired of seeing film making packaged as reality tv shopping trips and awkward silences in trailer living rooms! There are a number funny moments, but not laugh out loud ones. More like the bring a smile to your face type. It isn't long before you find yourself longing for a real slasher flick, no matter how bad, as opposed to a movie about making one. At least those flicks have movement and action. "American Movie," is more a great idea that doesn't work, and it certainly does not compare with the Christopher Guest efforts ("Best in Show", "Mighty Wind"), though clearly that's what is being attempted. Still, I wouldn't mind seeing "Coven" (the movie that is trying to be made), since it captures the grainy gritty spirit of Romero's Living Dead movies or perhaps The Blair Witch Project.

Rating:
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.