Okay, so I'm a sucker for a good documentary, particularly where it tells a modern-day Don Quixote story. A caveat: I met Mark Borchardt in the winter of 1995/96 while he was still working on Coven. But I'll save that story for later. American Movie, which commenced production not long after, accurately portrays the person that I knew, although in greater depth than I expected or believed existed. This is simultaneously a very funny and very sad film, and is brilliantly executed. Mark comes across as his own worse enemy: his childlike ambition and optimism -- which I admire -- is undermined by his apparent artistic ineptitude as well as his bizarre fiscal expectations. But he's also a charismatic guy. His loyal Sancho Panza sidekick is equally likeable: loyal, if frazzled, to the core. Like Don Quixote, American Movie presents an often-ignored inefficient aspect of freedom -- that people will be drawn toward professions to which they are not particularly well-suited, irrespective of repeated failure. It is a great film.
156 Reviews
Mark Borchardt: Independent Wanna Be
caspian197812 December 2003
After seeing American Movie, you either hate Mark Borchardt or you understand him. If you are a struggling film maker trying to be the next George Romero, John Cassavetes or Alfred Hitchcock, you will understand Mark's determination and where he gets his talentless motivation. The audience that makes up American Movie is just that. Struggling film makers or die hard fans of Troma. Either way, they are all members of the club of hard knocks and non-union independent feature film. The moral of Mark's story is something short of following your dream. It's more and less than that. Whether you relate with Mark in more ways that one, Mark is living a lot of people's reality. Because of that, American Movie is important and should be watched by every film student in America.
Life, but not as we know it...
rooneyterence17 April 2006
For me, the best & most memorable movies are often those which on first viewing I know nothing about. American Movie is a perfect example of just such a gem. Watching TV late one evening, I spotted the one & only good review among the dross - thankfully I settled in for a real treat. American Movie is a documentary following the unforgettable Mark Borchardt (pronounced "orchard", I believe), a highly articulate & charismatic Wisconson lad, as he struggles to write, direct and produce "MidWestern", a gritty, low-budget Horror movie on which he has been working for years. In Mark we discover a young man filled with contrast. His appearance is of the classic trailer-trash stereotype - skinny, bum-fluff mustache, '80s heavy metal styling, mullet hairdo, etc. To camera however, Mark reveals startling wit & insight as he philosophizes upon life, love, movies & the American way. As the movie unfolds, it sadly becomes clear that Mark's lack of discipline & heavy drinking are relentlessly sabotaging his creative efforts. American Movie is a charming watch, filled with hilarious moments & vivid characters. Chief among these is Mark's lovable buddy Mike Schank, a soft-spoken reformed stoner who, having conquered an addiction to scratch cards, is now dependent on soda pop. I absolutely loved American Movie. It generates real empathy between the viewer & principal characters, and provides hilarity without feeling exploitative. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone.
Just watched it again.
RCamp4884529 April 2004
I just watched this again the other night. It's probably the ninth or tenth time I've seen it, and I think it gets better every time. Contrary to what some people are saying, I don't think the makers of this film are laughing at and ridiculing Mark. Sure, some of the humor in the film is of the car-crash can't look away variety, but I feel underneath that they really admire the guy and his dogged tenacity. Another thing is I think Mark does show some skill as a director. Remember he has zero money shooting this stuff, and Coven was conceived as a money-making venture so he could make Northwestern. I think some of the samples they were showing from Northwestern actually looked very good. Now I don't think Mark writes the best dialogue in the world, but looking just at his photographic eye I'd say if the guy had any kind of schooling he might be shooting movies for someone right now. And finally, I think some of the people making negative comments about this movie need to look in the mirror and think about themselves a bit. OK, you don't like the movie, that's fine. But I've seen enough smug, superior, comments on here to make me want to puke. I love how as long as you're a poor, lower middle-class white in America people love to throw around terms like "white trash", "redneck", and other such pleasantries. I believe some scribe from Orange County at the beginning of the reviews even called them "inferior". I'm sure most of the people making the comments consider themselves liberals too; as if they have any concept of what that word means.
This is the best documentary ever made.
TiffanyBartok23 August 2003
This documentary is the most hypnotizing film I have seen in a long while. I must have had it on for an entire day. The selected material included in the piece flow amazingly well and develop three characters that are impossible to ever forget. The different layers of these people peel back to make an oddly moving film about perseverance, loyalty and determination. These characters ended up suprisingly fascinating and the film is unforgettable.
My all-time favourite film.
josephpace9 January 2002
Looking for proof that real life is more entertaining than fiction? You just found it. This superb documentary about an aspiring feature filmmaker (Mark Bortchart) who refuses to admit defeat is the funniest film I have ever seen -- probably because it's also one of the most tragic. Oddly enough, the more I watch the film the more inspired I become.
Fascinating, hilarious, sad, inspiring documentary about the American dream
tnrcooper22 March 2011
This movie, about supremely untalented American film-maker Mark Borchardt and his attempts to make a short film in order to make a small amount of money which will launch him into fame and fortune as a film-maker, is riveting. As they say, fact is stranger than fiction. That is certainly borne out by this picture. Borchardt uses his friends, family, and assorted local actors to try and complete this picture.
Borchardt is a character who could drive a novel or inspire cult members. One sometimes wonders why so many of the folks who people his film work for as long as they do, with him. But in truth, it's not hard to tell. Borchardt, however misguided, has vision. He doesn't have much talent and he has a drinking problem, but he has a vision. He has determination and perseverance that others can only dream of. He has charisma. It makes him a compelling leader, but unfortunately he is devoid of many great ideas. His lack of focus and alcoholism extend the length of the production almost indefinitely. He does complete "Coven" and even gets a premiere in his hometown theater, but it takes him a long time.
He never makes the movie "Northwestern" which he dreams of making. Perhaps he didn't have the vision to bring that movie to fruition, but he did want to make epic films and leave the everyday grind of life in the US. He had his dream. Unfortunately, he didn't have the vision to bring his dreams to life but he had an awful lot of determination. If people take potshots at Borchardt for his supposedly being "white trash" then I hope they are living lives of total sophistication and order because if they aren't, they're total hypocrites. Yes, Borchardt might exhibit characteristics of being "white-trash", but the purity of his belief in getting out from under the life he had, is absolutely inspiring.
Borchardt is a character who could drive a novel or inspire cult members. One sometimes wonders why so many of the folks who people his film work for as long as they do, with him. But in truth, it's not hard to tell. Borchardt, however misguided, has vision. He doesn't have much talent and he has a drinking problem, but he has a vision. He has determination and perseverance that others can only dream of. He has charisma. It makes him a compelling leader, but unfortunately he is devoid of many great ideas. His lack of focus and alcoholism extend the length of the production almost indefinitely. He does complete "Coven" and even gets a premiere in his hometown theater, but it takes him a long time.
He never makes the movie "Northwestern" which he dreams of making. Perhaps he didn't have the vision to bring that movie to fruition, but he did want to make epic films and leave the everyday grind of life in the US. He had his dream. Unfortunately, he didn't have the vision to bring his dreams to life but he had an awful lot of determination. If people take potshots at Borchardt for his supposedly being "white trash" then I hope they are living lives of total sophistication and order because if they aren't, they're total hypocrites. Yes, Borchardt might exhibit characteristics of being "white-trash", but the purity of his belief in getting out from under the life he had, is absolutely inspiring.
Im in the UK, but i feel that i am with them.
harryclemas6 May 2018
It's clear to me in reading the negative reviews that those people really missed the point of what this whole film was about. To this day, this movie remains one of my favorite documentaries of all time. The more you watch it, the more you realize that there is a little Mark Borschardt in all of us, a wild-eyed dreamer. While the realities of his life are stark and his relationships with his family and children seem dysfunctional, he is an entertaining figure with idealism that is larger than life.
Sad, but Frequently Funny
RobertF8723 May 2005
This is a film which people seem to either love or hate, the same as it's subject wannabe-film-maker Mark Borchardt. The film follows Mark as he attempts to make his first feature film (called "Northwestern") and complete a short horror film called "Coven". He makes films with his friends and family using any equipment and money that he managed to get his hands on, in particular from his elderly Uncle Bill.
The thing about Mark is that he is certain that he is one of the great film-makers of our time. He is also certain that he will be successful. However, the chances are that he won't be. This is what makes the film moving. The thing is that, judging by the clips from "Coven", the man is not without talent. He certainly has a good eye, and could probably make a career in film-making, if he gets the chance. He certainly appears genuine in his desire for success.
there are some hilarious scenes though, for example, where they are trying to get an actor's head to come through a cupboard door. Also Mark's friend, Mike Schank, is hilarious.
The thing about Mark is that he is certain that he is one of the great film-makers of our time. He is also certain that he will be successful. However, the chances are that he won't be. This is what makes the film moving. The thing is that, judging by the clips from "Coven", the man is not without talent. He certainly has a good eye, and could probably make a career in film-making, if he gets the chance. He certainly appears genuine in his desire for success.
there are some hilarious scenes though, for example, where they are trying to get an actor's head to come through a cupboard door. Also Mark's friend, Mike Schank, is hilarious.
Painful Realities
givnaw7 October 2002
I enjoyed this one, because I can relate to it.
At one time in my life I was trying to make films, and experienced many of the same problems Mark Borchardt did in trying to make HIS film. And I also went through a protracted period of self-absorbed arrested development, where I refused to grow. But then, miraculously, I got married, and had kids. I realized that being a struggling filmmaker was, in all likelihood, not going to feed my family. So I got a decent job and did what I felt I needed to do to make that happen. That is what an mature, responsible adult does.
Mark hasn't faced up to that reality as yet, and so, in that sense, he is a retarded adolescent. For this reason, there is a hopelessness about him. Like Don Quixote, he seems so inept and self-deluded that he doesn't realize how bad off he really is. The viewer feels a sense of superiority and pity for him and his circle. Mark has kids and an ex-wife and bills to pay, but the film depicts him caring basically only about pursuing his "artistic vision".
Despite this, Mark comes across in the film as a likeable individual, surrounded by a very interesting family and group of friends. Unfortunately, Mark lacks many of the things necessary to be successful both in life and in a career: maturity, responsibility, education, knowledge, life experience, prioritization, financial clout, etc.. Yet he trudges on, much like Ed Wood, apparently without any semblance of a clue.
I guess we are supposed to feel encouraged by the spectacle of the "never say die" attitude of this noble individual, struggling against the odds. And man, what odds there are! Kiefer Sutherland, Colin Hanks, Tori Spelling and Angelina Jolie are all offspring of big-time film or TV people; no doubt, they will all want to direct some day, if they aren't already. How much room is there for an independent like Mark? It's like watching a guy hit himself in the head with a board, over and over again. Come to think of it, that is pretty close to what happens to one of Mark's actors, with the kitchen cabinet door, in one of the funniest scenes I have ever seen in any movie.
Despite these misgivings and seeming criticisms, I truly enjoyed this movie, and would heartily recommend it to anyone. Uncle Bill is amazing. I have a friend who met both Mike and Mark and he told me that, in real life, these guys are just exactly the way they appeared in the movie.
At one time in my life I was trying to make films, and experienced many of the same problems Mark Borchardt did in trying to make HIS film. And I also went through a protracted period of self-absorbed arrested development, where I refused to grow. But then, miraculously, I got married, and had kids. I realized that being a struggling filmmaker was, in all likelihood, not going to feed my family. So I got a decent job and did what I felt I needed to do to make that happen. That is what an mature, responsible adult does.
Mark hasn't faced up to that reality as yet, and so, in that sense, he is a retarded adolescent. For this reason, there is a hopelessness about him. Like Don Quixote, he seems so inept and self-deluded that he doesn't realize how bad off he really is. The viewer feels a sense of superiority and pity for him and his circle. Mark has kids and an ex-wife and bills to pay, but the film depicts him caring basically only about pursuing his "artistic vision".
Despite this, Mark comes across in the film as a likeable individual, surrounded by a very interesting family and group of friends. Unfortunately, Mark lacks many of the things necessary to be successful both in life and in a career: maturity, responsibility, education, knowledge, life experience, prioritization, financial clout, etc.. Yet he trudges on, much like Ed Wood, apparently without any semblance of a clue.
I guess we are supposed to feel encouraged by the spectacle of the "never say die" attitude of this noble individual, struggling against the odds. And man, what odds there are! Kiefer Sutherland, Colin Hanks, Tori Spelling and Angelina Jolie are all offspring of big-time film or TV people; no doubt, they will all want to direct some day, if they aren't already. How much room is there for an independent like Mark? It's like watching a guy hit himself in the head with a board, over and over again. Come to think of it, that is pretty close to what happens to one of Mark's actors, with the kitchen cabinet door, in one of the funniest scenes I have ever seen in any movie.
Despite these misgivings and seeming criticisms, I truly enjoyed this movie, and would heartily recommend it to anyone. Uncle Bill is amazing. I have a friend who met both Mike and Mark and he told me that, in real life, these guys are just exactly the way they appeared in the movie.
Engaging, but a celebration of mediocrity
gbill-7487710 September 2020
The passion we see here is inspiring, and some of my favorite moments were some of the black and white shots Mark Borchardt captured for his indie film effort, rather than the comedic moments of pathos. It seems he had a real eye for framing and aesthetics, and it's a shame he wasn't on a better path than partying and then the army. If he had in the end produced a work of genius or gone on to big things this documentary would have been more interesting to me. I was pulling for him and smiling over the eccentricities of all these people, including his crusty old uncle, mentally slow but loyal burnout of a friend, sweet and patient mother, and his brutally blunt brothers. It's authentic but began to feel a little bit like a circus, where the sadness of these lives are there for our entertainment, or a celebration of mediocrity. I was engaged throughout though.
The Untold Story, Here For The Telling!
myrrth_sicopath28 October 2003
What gives this movie its personality is the knowledge, in the end, that it is all true. While it is a compelling and humorous documentary that does border on mockumentary in some parts (are they staged or is it really happening humorously?), it does seem to get a bit long towards the end.
This movie is funny in places it needs to be, and flows relatively well. Reminiscent of Christopher Guest's movies, if you liked those or Adaptation then I recommend you keep a look out for this one.
B+
This movie is funny in places it needs to be, and flows relatively well. Reminiscent of Christopher Guest's movies, if you liked those or Adaptation then I recommend you keep a look out for this one.
B+
More depressing and long, than funny and enjoyable
smakawhat18 November 2000
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Mark Borchardt dreams about becoming a famous film maker. He is trying to produce a low budget horror flic, using whatever he can at his disposal (friends, frustrated family members, etc..). Problem is Mark, has great ideas but can't seem to focus on one thing as his mind races at 500 miles an hour. Enlisting his zombie druggie friend he tries to produce 'Coven' (which Mark continualy pronounces KO-VEN instead of CU-VEN), in order to make his dream.
This documentary is BIZARRE! Mark's ambition is totaly blind to the fact that he is totaly in debt, has 3 kids to support, trying to make a film to get him on the road to the 'American dream'. His family and his zombie friend in particular, produce a lot of laughs, but the film is also sharp in showing the problems Mark faces. The camera is there when he's fighting with his ex-girlfriend, when he's trying to borrow money (again) from his uncle, and so on.
A lot of reviews have called this a riot of a film, but even though it has some very funny moments, most of the film is bleak. It's funny seeing Mark taking one of his actors and slamming his head through a cupboard door, over and OVER again, then realising he's actualy broken his moms kitchen and has to repair it, yet, I kept feeling really bad for Mark and at times became very depressed watching his failures. But the movie is full of hope, as he is DETERMINED to get this film done so he can get make something better of his life. But that's what the chase for the American dream is all about. As a documentary its pretty slow paced compared to others I have seen, but it is OK.
Funny Note: Mark's zombie friend, plays guitar, and a lot of times the film has his music playing in the documentary. The key one that keeps playing over and over is his rendition of Metalica's 'Fight fire with fire' acousticaly. That was a riot.
Rating 6 out of 10.
This documentary is BIZARRE! Mark's ambition is totaly blind to the fact that he is totaly in debt, has 3 kids to support, trying to make a film to get him on the road to the 'American dream'. His family and his zombie friend in particular, produce a lot of laughs, but the film is also sharp in showing the problems Mark faces. The camera is there when he's fighting with his ex-girlfriend, when he's trying to borrow money (again) from his uncle, and so on.
A lot of reviews have called this a riot of a film, but even though it has some very funny moments, most of the film is bleak. It's funny seeing Mark taking one of his actors and slamming his head through a cupboard door, over and OVER again, then realising he's actualy broken his moms kitchen and has to repair it, yet, I kept feeling really bad for Mark and at times became very depressed watching his failures. But the movie is full of hope, as he is DETERMINED to get this film done so he can get make something better of his life. But that's what the chase for the American dream is all about. As a documentary its pretty slow paced compared to others I have seen, but it is OK.
Funny Note: Mark's zombie friend, plays guitar, and a lot of times the film has his music playing in the documentary. The key one that keeps playing over and over is his rendition of Metalica's 'Fight fire with fire' acousticaly. That was a riot.
Rating 6 out of 10.
Different, but lead (Mark) was a turn-off...little charm, etc. Limited vocabulary was irritating.
JulMel3 January 2000
I enjoyed the humorous aspects, found the characters steeped in pathos; the limited vocabulary ("Man" this and "Man" that), esp. the repetitive four-letter word(s) detracts from what little drama was attained. The depiction of those sweet children as potential manipulators like their father depressed me. I'm a Granny, I care about how children are "trained" and I was not amused by Mark's immature nurturing skills.
American tale
Dubs16 November 1999
At several points in "American Movie," would-be filmmaker Mark Borchadt is forced to confront what compels him on a trail with seemingly few rewards. A constant refrain is heard in his answers. He doesn't want to work the forgettable life of a newspaper boy; he wants to achieve celebrity. Why? Though Mark doesn't quite know, his volumnious collection of scripts and tomes underscores his simple love of film.
Yet "American Movie" is brutally honest in its treatment of Mark. While it allows his dreams of making "the great American film" to fly free on film, it also captures a life filled with lower-class constraints and realities. Despite all of Mark's desire, his motivation is frequently lost in a life gush with alcohol. Hence, the making of Borchadt's film, "Coven", goes from 6 months to 3 years and the movie suffers a bit from being drawn out.
"American Movie" is rife with memorable supporting characters and Mark is an able lead. This film is really the story of two filmmakers, the one in front of the camera and the one behind. Director Chris Smith has already received his plaudits, and once "American Movie" makes the rounds of the indy circuit, Mark Borchadt will also have his share of fame. Maybe then he'll know what to do with it.
Yet "American Movie" is brutally honest in its treatment of Mark. While it allows his dreams of making "the great American film" to fly free on film, it also captures a life filled with lower-class constraints and realities. Despite all of Mark's desire, his motivation is frequently lost in a life gush with alcohol. Hence, the making of Borchadt's film, "Coven", goes from 6 months to 3 years and the movie suffers a bit from being drawn out.
"American Movie" is rife with memorable supporting characters and Mark is an able lead. This film is really the story of two filmmakers, the one in front of the camera and the one behind. Director Chris Smith has already received his plaudits, and once "American Movie" makes the rounds of the indy circuit, Mark Borchadt will also have his share of fame. Maybe then he'll know what to do with it.
The Intriguing Story of Someone Who Refuses to Let Go of a Pipe Dream
DarkCity6 January 2001
When we are young, we all pick out an ideal occupation for ourselves: artist, actor, writer, rocket scientist, etc.. While most of us grow out of our pipe dreams, the main character of American Movie, Mark, has yet to let go of his(and at a thirty-something age too): to become a wealthy acclaimed director. Despite the fact that Murphy's Law won't leave Mark alone and something always seems to go wrong, Mark is able to persevere during each deterring incident with an even greater drive to reach his goals. His desire to be a director so controls his character that he sees any person or thing in his life as something to exploit to reach the goal. While I noticed other IMDB commenters are lambasting Mark's selfishness, I think it's an almost justified sort-of selfishness because for Mark, not becoming a famous director is equivalent to death. He talks incessantly about leaving some kind of mark on the world, and he sees filmmaking as a way to do this.
Unfortunately any viewer of this movie picks up early on the fact that Mark has a near-zero chance of ever achieving his dream. Is he aware of this? No, not in the slightest, and none of his family or friends want to let him in on the secret(in fact even some of them believe in him). Strangely enough though, the disappointing future the viewer feels is sure to occur for Mark doesn't impede the ability to find humor in the film. This is a very very funny documentary. Most of the laughs come from when Mark is filming scenes for "Coven". There's a scene where an actor has to have his head break a cupboard, and it's just not working. Another scene has Mark's very old uncle Bill saying a few lines to the camera; needless to say, after 20 takes of a lot of headscratching and line-stumbling Bill finally decides he's had enough. A lot of humor sadly comes from Mark himself. His screenwriting, which he seems to think is worthy of a Pulitzer, is laughingly bad: "It's alright, it's ok, there is something to live for; Jesus told me so."
"American Movie" is, contrary to what people might think, a documentary that anyone can enjoy(even though my sister, who watched some scenes, seemed to think it was downright bizarre). The fact that Chris Smith can successfully bring to the screen a film that inspires both sadness from Mark's depressing lifestyle to hilarity with scenes with Bill(who unfortunately passed away before the film was released) says quite a lot about him. I wonder how the dreamer Mark regards this documentary. Does he realize that it casts him in a bad light? Or that it sets up to show him as a fool in many scenes of the film? Or does he see it as something that will be shown prior to his own A&E Biography segment? It's an intriguing subject of wonder, and I hope the latter comes true for him some day.
I highly recommend this movie: 9/10.
Unfortunately any viewer of this movie picks up early on the fact that Mark has a near-zero chance of ever achieving his dream. Is he aware of this? No, not in the slightest, and none of his family or friends want to let him in on the secret(in fact even some of them believe in him). Strangely enough though, the disappointing future the viewer feels is sure to occur for Mark doesn't impede the ability to find humor in the film. This is a very very funny documentary. Most of the laughs come from when Mark is filming scenes for "Coven". There's a scene where an actor has to have his head break a cupboard, and it's just not working. Another scene has Mark's very old uncle Bill saying a few lines to the camera; needless to say, after 20 takes of a lot of headscratching and line-stumbling Bill finally decides he's had enough. A lot of humor sadly comes from Mark himself. His screenwriting, which he seems to think is worthy of a Pulitzer, is laughingly bad: "It's alright, it's ok, there is something to live for; Jesus told me so."
"American Movie" is, contrary to what people might think, a documentary that anyone can enjoy(even though my sister, who watched some scenes, seemed to think it was downright bizarre). The fact that Chris Smith can successfully bring to the screen a film that inspires both sadness from Mark's depressing lifestyle to hilarity with scenes with Bill(who unfortunately passed away before the film was released) says quite a lot about him. I wonder how the dreamer Mark regards this documentary. Does he realize that it casts him in a bad light? Or that it sets up to show him as a fool in many scenes of the film? Or does he see it as something that will be shown prior to his own A&E Biography segment? It's an intriguing subject of wonder, and I hope the latter comes true for him some day.
I highly recommend this movie: 9/10.
Inspiration in it's purest form.
MrNefarious26 February 2003
After watching this documentary I felt like a new person. I always wanted to be a film maker. This documentary pushed me to the next level. I have been making short films with a friend of mine since I bought my first camera. It was a Tyco kids cam which only shoots black and white video with sound. Watching this documentary gives you the charge you need to do anything. It's pure inspiration. I highly recommend it to all.
Good movie. Seems like it might have influenced Trailer Park Boys
denzil-0943419 July 2019
Good movie. As a huge fan of trailer park boys I can't help but think that some of tpb was inspired by this. Different character elements are distributed differently but it's all there... all except Lahey. The protagonist has elements of Bubbles, J-Roc and Ricky. Or rather those characters are inspired by this real guy. It's a must watch.
One of the best gems I've seen this year!
Cornelus26 March 2002
At times, you may think this film was setup to be absurdly funny (like Spinal Tap), and yet Mark Borchardt's world is what you see on the screen, nothing more or less. An outstanding piece of work! One important note if you rent the DVD version ... watch the included short film "Coven" first before starting into the main feature of the documentary. You won't regret it, and it puts things into much better perspective as to why Coven (pronounced Coh-ven, rhymes with soaken) is the way it is, and how much work goes into even half-hour shorts.
Could've been more fascinating
mattymatt4ever21 January 2003
I deeply enjoyed the first 45-minutes-or-so, because I'm an aspiring filmmaker and it's both amusing and insightful to behold the mishaps that go on when making a low, low-budget film. But past that point, the movie drifts off, fixating on Mark Borchardt's family life, which isn't very interesting. Hell, neither is my family life, but you don't see me releasing my home videos for the whole viewing public to see. Borchardt's rantings are often funny (sometimes you're laughing with him, other times at him), but sometimes they get annoying. I would compare Mark to Ed Wood in his perseverance, but other than that (and the fact that both their films are beyond terrible) they're quite different. Mark is very paranoid, and if he doesn't get the shot the way he likes it, he throws a fit. Ed was very confident and if the first take would turn out halfway decent, he'd yell "Cut and print!" I mean, if you're gonna be a bad filmmaker, act like a bad filmmaker. Don't pretend like you're Stanley Kubrick. But those are my criticisms about Mark, and not the movie.
The movie isn't bad, but the first 45 minutes are the best and the rest is pretty much downhill. I don't care about Mark passing out on the couch watching the Oscars or watching the Green Bay Packers play on television while he sips beer like no tomorrow. In a way, documentaries are good, because they hold a mirror up to reality, and we don't see enough reality in mainstream film. But reality isn't always interesting. If you want to see a consistently interesting documentary, watch "Roger and Me," which contains a wide variety of characters who are each quirky and amusing in their own ways. All I really cared about was Mark's pursuit in making the great American movie, no matter how far from great it really is. So if the movie concentrated on that, and the running time was trimmed, I would've found it much more fascinating.
My score: 6 (out of 10)
The movie isn't bad, but the first 45 minutes are the best and the rest is pretty much downhill. I don't care about Mark passing out on the couch watching the Oscars or watching the Green Bay Packers play on television while he sips beer like no tomorrow. In a way, documentaries are good, because they hold a mirror up to reality, and we don't see enough reality in mainstream film. But reality isn't always interesting. If you want to see a consistently interesting documentary, watch "Roger and Me," which contains a wide variety of characters who are each quirky and amusing in their own ways. All I really cared about was Mark's pursuit in making the great American movie, no matter how far from great it really is. So if the movie concentrated on that, and the running time was trimmed, I would've found it much more fascinating.
My score: 6 (out of 10)
A must for fans of filmmaking.
pmtelefon8 December 2019
"American Movie" is a one of a kind movie. It is proof of the statement "you can't make this stuff up". This movie is very funny. There are more than a handful of laugh-out-loud moments. It's tells its story in a very interesting way. "American Movie" grabbed me right away and never let go. I need to watch this one more often.
Good filmmaking... sad lives
a2d_music13 June 2000
I didn't much enjoy American Movie. Not because it was a
bad film inherently, but I didn't much care for the people in
it. These aren't people seeking the "American Dream" --
these are depressed and *depressing* lives. And these
poor people are used by the documentary as comedic foil.
I felt bad for them. It felt like Jerry Springer took the camera
to his guests' homes. This is sad, not funny. Could have
been brilliant if it were made with that poignance in mind.
What should have been a serious look is used as a joke.
These LIVES are used for humor on film! Shame.
bad film inherently, but I didn't much care for the people in
it. These aren't people seeking the "American Dream" --
these are depressed and *depressing* lives. And these
poor people are used by the documentary as comedic foil.
I felt bad for them. It felt like Jerry Springer took the camera
to his guests' homes. This is sad, not funny. Could have
been brilliant if it were made with that poignance in mind.
What should have been a serious look is used as a joke.
These LIVES are used for humor on film! Shame.
sad and funny, awkward and heartwarming, an adventure into the stubborn, crazy beauty of the American dream
Quinoa198413 January 2010
Sometimes all you need is passion, or a need to keep working at something so that all of what you want the world to see is in the work. The so-called 'American Dream' is all about somebody trying to get out of the little world they're living in and make something of themselves, to be more than they are. In this case we have a filmmaker, very independent minded and determined through years of trial and tribulation, who wants to get his dream somehow. Which is not easy since the guy, Mark Borchardt, is an beer-guzzling factory/cemetery worker who has three kids with an ex-wife he barely sees, a mountain of debt, an executive producer Uncle who is half-senile and half never supportive (despite giving up the thousands for the film-making), and, obviously, gets very depressed. But it's a story, in spite of everything that happens, funny or tragic, is hopeful and inspiring about the future for Mark.
And it's also about something else, how making a movie takes time, and money, sometimes both in equal measure. Borchardt's movie he's planning is a feature-length exploration of his life and times in Minnesota, Northwestern, but he's having trouble getting it off the ground: not ready to direct, not ready with the script, no locations or a solid cast. So instead he goes back to a short film he started years ago, a psychological horror called 'Coven' (or CO-ven as he points out), which is a mere 40 minute movie that takes him more than three years of production. As he's making this movie we get to know who Borchardt is- or at least what Chris Smith gets to know him as or reveals- and his family and friends, including his old and not-all-there Uncle Bill, his friend Mike who is an ex drug addict turned gambling addict, and his colleagues and girlfriend who all comment about Mark's ways as an artist and as a human being.
A marker of a truly knowing and superb documentary is how close a filmmaker can get to the subject and make it into a story, make it into a story that is absorbing and true to something in the human condition, and can be just told well through the usual means of film-making itself. As Smith's film is about such a subject that he's making, one might think back to other documentaries on directors with a super (and I mean SUPER) passion for the story they're telling, almost to the point where they might not know when to let go (Herzog and Coppola docs come to mind like Burden of Dreams or Hearts of Darkness). But here we see a man who is a decent guy, though never truly professional. As one says, he's instinctual and primal, he knows his stuff, but whether he can finish his movie, and maybe finally get a catharsis from it (if only financially) remains to be seen.
His struggle isn't just one of being an artist and after something he needs time and money to find, but about the ways that a person goes about finding it his own way, and that's a big key to the success of the movie. We care about this guy, even if some of the things he does or comes across are, frankly, quite funny in the way that Borchardt goes about filming Coven, or directs (or mis-directs) his actors, or says he'll ship out 3,000 copies of his short film without a clear idea who his audience is. And Smith really captures the other people around him with a precise but tender accuracy: we understand who they are at first, but then that understanding deepens based on the circumstances they live in (i.e. the method of alcoholism among Mark and his friends over the years, vodka being a big component), such as his Uncle's disillusioned feeling about Mark's lack of success, despite his backing of the project and what he does. Watch the scene where Mark directs his Uncle in the ADR recording of a certain few lines and one gets a key moment: Mark will stop at nothing to get what he's after, even if all hope might be lost.
American Movie is a bittersweet experience. We want to root for this guy even if he is hapless and whose troubles might hit close to home for some, or may seem pathetic to others. He's not born into Hollywood royalty and didn't go to film school, but he'll keep on what he's doing just because, if nothing else, there is nothing else really except for the toilet at the cemetery full of feces. It's an entertaining parable, and a revealing portrait of truly independent film-making. Speaking of which, make sure to watch Borchardt's movie Coven on the DVD of American Movie - ultimately, when all is said and done, despite what the few clips in the documentary might suggest, he's a really good director. Sometimes, perhaps, humping the American dream in a small Northwest town is worth it.
And it's also about something else, how making a movie takes time, and money, sometimes both in equal measure. Borchardt's movie he's planning is a feature-length exploration of his life and times in Minnesota, Northwestern, but he's having trouble getting it off the ground: not ready to direct, not ready with the script, no locations or a solid cast. So instead he goes back to a short film he started years ago, a psychological horror called 'Coven' (or CO-ven as he points out), which is a mere 40 minute movie that takes him more than three years of production. As he's making this movie we get to know who Borchardt is- or at least what Chris Smith gets to know him as or reveals- and his family and friends, including his old and not-all-there Uncle Bill, his friend Mike who is an ex drug addict turned gambling addict, and his colleagues and girlfriend who all comment about Mark's ways as an artist and as a human being.
A marker of a truly knowing and superb documentary is how close a filmmaker can get to the subject and make it into a story, make it into a story that is absorbing and true to something in the human condition, and can be just told well through the usual means of film-making itself. As Smith's film is about such a subject that he's making, one might think back to other documentaries on directors with a super (and I mean SUPER) passion for the story they're telling, almost to the point where they might not know when to let go (Herzog and Coppola docs come to mind like Burden of Dreams or Hearts of Darkness). But here we see a man who is a decent guy, though never truly professional. As one says, he's instinctual and primal, he knows his stuff, but whether he can finish his movie, and maybe finally get a catharsis from it (if only financially) remains to be seen.
His struggle isn't just one of being an artist and after something he needs time and money to find, but about the ways that a person goes about finding it his own way, and that's a big key to the success of the movie. We care about this guy, even if some of the things he does or comes across are, frankly, quite funny in the way that Borchardt goes about filming Coven, or directs (or mis-directs) his actors, or says he'll ship out 3,000 copies of his short film without a clear idea who his audience is. And Smith really captures the other people around him with a precise but tender accuracy: we understand who they are at first, but then that understanding deepens based on the circumstances they live in (i.e. the method of alcoholism among Mark and his friends over the years, vodka being a big component), such as his Uncle's disillusioned feeling about Mark's lack of success, despite his backing of the project and what he does. Watch the scene where Mark directs his Uncle in the ADR recording of a certain few lines and one gets a key moment: Mark will stop at nothing to get what he's after, even if all hope might be lost.
American Movie is a bittersweet experience. We want to root for this guy even if he is hapless and whose troubles might hit close to home for some, or may seem pathetic to others. He's not born into Hollywood royalty and didn't go to film school, but he'll keep on what he's doing just because, if nothing else, there is nothing else really except for the toilet at the cemetery full of feces. It's an entertaining parable, and a revealing portrait of truly independent film-making. Speaking of which, make sure to watch Borchardt's movie Coven on the DVD of American Movie - ultimately, when all is said and done, despite what the few clips in the documentary might suggest, he's a really good director. Sometimes, perhaps, humping the American dream in a small Northwest town is worth it.
This documentary is at once sad and funny
rommiej23 July 2000
"American Movie" is a satisfying documentary of a wanna-be filmmaker with probably more ambition than common sense. Mark Borchardt is 30 years old, lives with his parents, supports three children by vacuuming a funeral home, and has accrued something like $10,000 in debt without completing a single film project. His already dubious mental stability is exacerbated by the fact that he drinks too much beer, gets high often and is so focused on his "dream" that he willingly lets "American Movie's" documentary crew turn his life into a voyeuristic freak-show. It's a situation that I think worked more successfully in the independent/unreleased documentary "Driver 23" (essentially the same story, only this time the "visionary" wanted to be a heavy metal star), but the crackpot cast of people who populate "American Movie" (Mark's burnout friends, his emotionally distant parents and poor, pitiful uncle Bill) make it a hilarious and occasionally poignant film that's definitely worth a rental.
Ebert and Sundance loved it...WHO CARES
sore_throat25 July 2002
I love documentaries. They are among my favorite genres of film. Before seeing this film I hadn't seen one that I hadn't liked.
The premise for this film is a great one. The execution is well done. There were some times early on when I laughed and smiled. Yet as the film went on the more tedious and irritating it became. This could have been something special had the subject not been such an inarticulate, childish, inept putz. I appreciate his passion for film, but quit your whining. If you're short on funds, maybe you shouldn't have so many kids, or spend so much money on alcohol. Maybe you should have gone to film school, or at least graduated from high school. Maybe you should have lived life and gotten perspective and experiences that could add to your vision.
There are so many people out there with stories that are interesting, funny and poignant. To see this guy chosen over any of them is nothing less than crass. If you want to do a documentary on a film maker, why not do one on someone from China or Iran, a film maker with REAL problems?
Two final questions:
Who takes a little kid to see Apocalypse Now?
How many times did this guy say "man"?
The premise for this film is a great one. The execution is well done. There were some times early on when I laughed and smiled. Yet as the film went on the more tedious and irritating it became. This could have been something special had the subject not been such an inarticulate, childish, inept putz. I appreciate his passion for film, but quit your whining. If you're short on funds, maybe you shouldn't have so many kids, or spend so much money on alcohol. Maybe you should have gone to film school, or at least graduated from high school. Maybe you should have lived life and gotten perspective and experiences that could add to your vision.
There are so many people out there with stories that are interesting, funny and poignant. To see this guy chosen over any of them is nothing less than crass. If you want to do a documentary on a film maker, why not do one on someone from China or Iran, a film maker with REAL problems?
Two final questions:
Who takes a little kid to see Apocalypse Now?
How many times did this guy say "man"?
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