American Movie (1999)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Chris Smith

Release Date:

13 April 2000 (Australia)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

A hapless amateur filmmaker struggles to produce his latest horror film, "Coven."

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Gambling | Cinematographer | Milwaukee Wisconsin | Beard

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

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'

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some drug content.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Canada:14A | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #36811) | Spain:13 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, USA

Company:

Bluemark Productions

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.

Quotes:

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "100 höjdare: Världens skönaste land - Del 7 (#6.7)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

The Remains of Children's Brains

American tale

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.