American Movie

1999

Comedy / Documentary

9
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 90% · 51 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 90% · 10K ratings
IMDb Rating 7.8/10 10 20959 21K

underdog obsession wisconsin beer ambition

Plot summary

American Movie documents the story of filmmaker Mark Borchardt, his mission, and his dream. Spanning over two years of intense struggle with his film, his family, financial decline, and spiritual crisis, American Movie is a portrayal of ambition, obsession, excess, and one man's quest for the American Dream.

Director

Chris Smith Photo
Chris Smith

Top cast

Billy Crystal Photo
Billy Crystal as Academy Awards EmCee
Dean Allen Photo
Dean Allen as Props / Special effects
Mark Borchardt Photo
Mark Borchardt as Filmmaker
Cliff Borchardt Photo
Cliff Borchardt as Mark's Dad
720p.BluRay 1080p.BluRay
966.11 MB
960*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 44 min
Seeds 3
1.75 GB
1440*1080
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 44 min
Seeds 29

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by harryclemas 9 / 10

Im in the UK, but i feel that i am with them.

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.
Reviewed by rooneyterence 8 / 10

Life, but not as we know it...

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.
Read more IMDb reviews

4 Comments

Be the first to leave a comment