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American Movie
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American Movie (1999) More at IMDbPro »

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American Movie (1999) -- A hapless amateur filmmaker struggles to produce his latest horror film, "Coven."
American Movie (1999) -- A hapless amateur filmmaker struggles to produce his latest horror film, "Coven."
American Movie (1999) -- A hapless amateur filmmaker struggles to produce his latest horror film, "Coven."

Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   6,523 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 6% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Chris Smith
Contact:
View company contact information for American Movie on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 April 2000 (Australia) more
Genre:
Documentary more
Plot:
A hapless amateur filmmaker struggles to produce his latest horror film, "Coven." full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
2 wins & 3 nominations more
User Comments:
American tale more

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'
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for language and some drug content.
Runtime:
107 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Sound Mix:
Stereo

Fun 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. more
Quotes:
Mark Borchardt: [to cast with covered faces] You guys gotta look menacing! Can you be more menacing? more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Horror Business (2005) (V) more
Soundtrack:
The Remains of Children's Brains more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
21 out of 22 people found the following comment useful:-
American tale, 16 November 1999
Author: Dubs from Philadelphia

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.

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Now on youtube RKO13
Source of a million one-liners junglefighter25
How is American Movie a comedy? boognish123
I bag Mark's groceries. Paper or plastic? AmyJoLadick
quotes Marshwiggle88
Mark and Mike’s Night of the Living Dead Commentary Online! bigblobb
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