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Summary: A Review Haiku by Todd Marrone
Review: Stranger than fiction,
these guys are inspiring
and downright funny.
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Summary: Inspiring, humorous, and meaningful documentary
Review: American Movie is ostensibly about Borchardt's quixotic quest to complete his independent film, Coven. However, the movie covers far more ground than just filmmaking. Interwoven with the plot are the existential themes of meaning, purpose, death, and life. Borchardt, whether he knows it or not, confronts major philosophical questions with a mix of sheer idealism and raw courage during his soliloquies that are fueled by 6 packs of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. Throughout the filming of the movie Borchardt encounters one "test" after another and bears his soul for all to see. His determination to overcome any obstacle is humorous at times and thoroughly inspiring. Whatever you do, don't give up on this film-watch it to the end. Even after considering all of his flaws, I believe the world needs more men like Mark Borchardt-men whose dreams may at times be flawed, but are committed to following them nonetheless.
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Summary: The Volume Does Not Go to Eleven
Review: In the amazon review, this movie was compared to the excellent Christopher Guest mocumentaries Waiting for Guffman and Spinal Tap. However, unlike the latter featuring our dim-witted though endearing British heroes, this is not a top-notch film. What we see here is a depressing reel trying to capture the forever elusive "American Dream," whatever that is today. While watching the characters, you may get the sense that our 'dream' is simply an aggressive way of grabbing success by its expensive tie and feeding its insides to the public. The central character, Mark Borchardt (and central seems to be a fitting word, seeing as how the entire making of his independent film Coven revolves around him, and sometimes his stoner buddy) is not merely a character but an accurate portrayal of self-indulgent American wrecks. There is scarcely anything redeemable about this film, save a few amusing moments. Even the most likable person involved, Mark's tolerant-beyond-necessary mother, can't save this waste that is the American Movie. Save your time, and money, for the Tap.
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Summary: A Masterpiece
Review: This documentary is one of the best indies I have ever seen. I found myself empathizing with Mark and laughing with Mike and Bill (RIP). Mark's persistence and determination are very inspiring. Especially when his mother is asked if she thinks Mark will ever make a great film, she answers, "No." Then, at the end when "Coven" premieres, you can tell she is proud of him. Definitely a must see.
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Summary: Just Brilliant
Review: This is one of those films you can watch many, many times and not get bored with.Mark Borchardt is a regular Joe who likes to make horror films, unfortunately events always seem to transpire against and he barely gets by on stubborn determination. There are some very funny scenes in this movie and yet you never feel that you are laughing at these characters, its hard to know why that is, I am laughing at anothers misfortune and this is REAL misfortune, not something made up yet you never feel slack torwards these wonderful people. This movie is ultimately about everyones right to tell a story, regardless of natural ability or resources, and this is reflected in the title, the American Dream is egalatarian, anyone and everyone can achieve the American Dream with lots of hard work and a little luck, and this film is about everyday people struggling to tell their stories, this is reflected when Bill, Mark's Uncle, recites his poem right at the end of the film, his swan song, technically its no great piece of writing but its real and delivered with such utter conviction as to make it moving as any great piece of literature. Mark Borchardt doesn't finish making Northwestern but does get to realise his American Movie by making a 30 minute film called Coven (featuring a brilliant cameo by Bill), and the filmmakers themselves get to realise this as well by making this respectful and brilliant film. I would recommend this film to absolutely anybody, it has all the elements of a great movie, a beginning middle and end (which alot of documentaries I've seen lately haven't had), it's funny, it's sad, it's a wonderful journey, it's uplifting and it's just plain great.
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Summary: He comes from the land of the ice and snow...
Review: This is a splendid documentary. Don't be put off by the fact that it's not a real movie. It has the right elements itself to make great entertainment. It's about a guy named Mark in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, who has had the bug to make films since he was a teenager. He had set out before to accomplish this goal, but never quite got anything substatial to completion. So he enlists his friends and family in helping out with the production or by loans. He gets volunteers from the neighborhood to help on on production and he tests and hires local actors to play the parts. The cast of characters here is what makes this so entertaining. He goes out to his crotchety old uncle Bill's trailer home and badgers him into loaning him $3000, telling him he'll make him executive producer. His best friend Mike is like his assistant director and soundtrack musician, but can hardly put cognitive sentences together because of prior alcohol and drug abuse. Another assistant had to be picked up from jail. One of the actors is a flamboyant, prissy older man, and one has to wonder what his life is like in Wisconsin. His family humors him and they act like this is just another hair-brained idea of his that he takes to the extreme. His determination and passion for creating a movie are admirable. You end up rooting for him, against all odds. He's like the Packers. They're out there on the gridiron in the ice and snow, fighting with all they've got. Only he's doing it behind the camera and in the cutting room. There are many laugh-out-loud moments in this. Most are unintentional and the result of everyone acting like they've got half a brain. It could be scary, if one thought about it. Imagine riding in the backseat of an old beater with your old bone-headed friends you've known since you were kids, all piled in, jostlying for more room, and you have a camera and your taping all of the lunacy. Well that's the feeling you get while watching this; you're just one of the guys, hanging around, rooting for the Packers. This is an inspiring movie, has moments of melancholy and hilarity, and ends with a touching moment. You can't help but be proud of their effort. Highly recommended.
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Summary: American Movie is the money 0(+>
Review: man,,,, this movie is 2 funny
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Summary: One of my favourite movies...
Review: If you like Mike Leigh, and the like.. you will love this movie.. Great portrait of Americana...
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Summary: Buy it, you'll like it
Review: Hands down the funniest, most sincere movie/documentary I've ever seen. This DVD is something I could watch a thousand times and never get bored.
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Summary: The Rise And Menomonee Falls Of Mark Borchardt
Review: Mark Borchardt is a terrible filmmaker. He has no ear for dialogue, no idea how to tell a story, and can't frame a shot to save his life. When he gets in front of the camera, his acting is over-the-top, unreal, and uncomfortable to watch (not to mention unnecessarily profanity-laden). Besides a lack of talent, he's bereft of funds, equipment, and luck. The people he knows who have volunteered to be in his films are blessed with even less talent than he is. He'll never be a successful filmmaker, and should quit now while he's not-too-far behind Borchardt does have three things going for him, however. One is an unending supply of passion, which, without reasonable talent to back up, is useless. The second is an unstoppably low-key charismatic presence. And the third is a motormouth to end all motormouths. The first thing will only get him into the trouble, but the second and third make him entertaining to watch. Hey! Instead of making his own painfully bad movies, maybe a documentary team could follow him around for a year, and make that into a movie! Ah, but you've seen through my little ruse, haven't you? For Chris Smith already had this last idea. The result of which is an entertaining little gem called "American Movie". Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin is a town whose geographic landscape is composed of junkyards, forests, cemeteries, and it would appear not much else. Those looking for a good time would be best served by picking up a case of beer and turning on the Packers game. It is from this Midwest mecca for drunkenness and poverty that Mark Borchardt's American Dream grew. Armed with a passion for filmmaking and a desire to tell the story of his community, he writes a script for a movie to be called "Northwestern". But first, lacking funds, he decides to indulge his George Romero and Tobe Hooper fantasies by producing a cheapie direct-to-video splatterfest called "Coven". "Coven" will be his "Glen or Glenda", while "Northwestern" is his "Plan 9 from Outer Space". You root for Mark's success, because he's basically a good guy, with some extreme dreams, trying his darndest to make good. He buys into the American Dream with all his being, and that kind of passion can't be ignored. His darker colours, and believe me he has enough to go around, are only peripherally alluded to. A nasty break up with his first wife is portrayed in a long shot as the two of them bicker beside Mark's car. His three kids, who get a series of deliriously ignorant interview segments (from their manic twitching and bustling energy you get a good picture of what Mark must have been like at their age), are made to sleep on the floor for several nights in an editing bay, while Mark works furiously to get his film done on time (to his credit, Mark talks to his kids as the intelligent human beings they are, never in a condescending manner). And his family, consisting of a pragmatic father, a frustrating Swedish mother, and a couple of naysaying brothers, appear all but fed up with his antics, but still try their best to be supportive. However Mark is probably his own worst enemy, his predilection for alcohol ruining whatever thrust and energy he may have left. One of the most curious planets orbiting in Borchardt's galaxy is Mike Schank. Armed with an unruly mullet, ever-changing facial hair, and a little boy's voice weakened from years of drinking and drug abuse, Schank would seem an odd choice for the role of Mark's best friend. But as the saying goes, opposites attract, and Schank fits in beautifully. His beatific smile is enough to brighten Borchardt up after a depressing day, and his innocent recollections of partying days gone by will do the same for the audience. After a particularly grueling film shoot, where Schank was called on to bash an old car to smithereens with a baseball bat, he has this conversation with Borchardt: "Was that cathartic for you?" asks Mark.
"Yeah."
"Do you know what cathartic means?"
"No."
"It means... um... it means getting it out of your system."
"Yeah. That was cathartic. That was real cathartic." These two modern day Abbot and Costellos are a delight to watch, not just for the unintentional comedy of their moments together, but for the friendship and caring that they obviously share. And Schank, a man-child seemingly ill-suited for this world, also happens to be a gifted guitar player, ably crossing over genres as diverse as classical and metal. He is credited with "American Movie"s original music, a blend of melancholic melodies and power chord riffing, all played on his trusty acoustic guitar. Most depressing here are the scenes with Mark's Uncle Bill. Bill, who at once time was a "scholar... with all the answers", now is a man far from a sound mind in a painfully gaunt old body, living in a junk-strewn trailer park while $280,000 rots unused in the bank. It takes all of Mark's gusto and wile (and a promised Executive Producer credit) to secure a $3,000 investment from Uncle Bill. The fact that he does, given Bill's apparent apathy and distrust in Mark's abilities as a filmmaker, is one of the film's grandest miracles. And it is Bill's rambling, incoherent soliloquy on the American Dream that provides the film's most touching moment. Smith does a great job of slipping in and out of Borchardt's life, capturing the key moments on his road to cinematic infamy. He conducts several one-on-one interviews with Mark, providing subtle prompting for the riotous answers he knows Mark will give, but never intruding on the reality that is his life. How he found this guy, and his remarkable circle of friends, I'll never know. But just for the opportunity to get to know Mark, and feel his infectious passion, I'll always be glad he did.
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