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American Movie (1999)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
13 April 2000 (Australia) morePlot:
A hapless amateur filmmaker struggles to produce his latest horror film, "Coven." full summary | add synopsisAwards:
2 wins & 3 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(66 articles)
Movie Poster of the Week: "Hausu" (From The Auteurs. 6 November 2009, 7:00 AM, PST)
The Many Meanings of Chris Smith's "Collapse"
(From IFC. 4 November 2009, 12:04 PM, PST)
User Comments:
American tale more (131 total)Cast
(Credited cast)| Mark Borchardt | ... | Filmmaker | |
| Tom Schimmels | ... | Actor in 'Coven' | |
| Monica Borchardt | ... | Mark's Mom | |
| Alex Borchardt | ... | Mark's Brother | |
| Chris Borchardt | ... | Mark's Brother | |
| Ken Keen | ... | Friend / Associate Producer | |
| Mike Schank | ... | Friend / Musician | |
| Matt Weisman | ... | Casting director | |
| Bill Borchardt | ... | Mark's Uncle / Executive Producer (as Uncle Bill) | |
| Cliff Borchardt | ... | Mark's Dad | |
| Tom Beach | ... | Production manager | |
| Joan Petrie | ... | Mark's Girlfriend / Associate Producer | |
| Robert Richard Jorge | ... | Actor | |
| Dean Allen | ... | Props / Special effects | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Tommy Dallace | ... | The Movie Star | |
| Miriam Frost | ... | Actor in 'Coven' | |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for language and some drug content.Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
107 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorSound Mix:
StereoFun Stuff
Trivia:
The movie theater featured in the end of the film is the Times Cinema in the Washington Heights neighborhood on Milwaukee's west side. It specializes in obscure and independent films and is Milwaukee's sole surviving independent movie theater. moreQuotes:
Mark Borchardt: Do you think this is a little bit cathartic for you?Friend/Musician: Uh, very cathartic, Mark.
Mark Borchardt: Do you know what cathartic means?
Friend/Musician: No.
more
Soundtrack:
The Remains of Children's Brains moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (131 total)
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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.