American Movie

Name: American Movie
Genre: Documentary
Released: November 5, 1999
Duration: 107 min
Rating: 84
Cast: Mark Borchardt, Mike Schank

1999

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 29 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 40 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 40 Ratings

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American Movie

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: November 5, 1999 | R

Starring: Mark Borchardt, Mike Schank

Summary: The story of Mark Borchardt, the ultimate independent filmmaker from Wisconsin, who attempts to raise money to finish "Coven," his short film, in order to have the funds to produce his next vision. Borchardt relies on his best friend and his mother to fill many roles in the process including acting and camera operating, and he evenThe story of Mark Borchardt, the ultimate independent filmmaker from Wisconsin, who attempts to raise money to finish "Coven," his short film, in order to have the funds to produce his next vision. Borchardt relies on his best friend and his mother to fill many roles in the process including acting and camera operating, and he even convinces his old Uncle Bill to invest in his film.… Expand

Director: Chris Smith

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: R

Runtime: 107 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Janet Maslin

The rare documentary that combines a wildly charismatic subject with an elegant structure...not-to-be-missed. Read full review

100

Roger Ebert

A very funny, sometimes very sad documentary. Read full review

100

Edward Guthmann

That's why American Movie cuts so deep: It's about the American dream, about not giving up, about being true to yourself. Read full review

Shawn Levy

But this is pretty honest and true filmmaking, nonetheless; try as you might, you can't detect the leer of the satirist.

TV Guide Magazine Ken Fox

Wildly entertaining and quite poignant. Read full review

Film.com John Hartl

A chronicle of the exasperating circumstances that yield cinema gold -- or lead. It almost doesn't matter which; it's the process that counts here. Read full review

Jay Carr

It seems more a geek show than a slab of marketing wizardry. Read full review

SEE ALL 29 REVIEWS

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User Reviews

MilwaukeeJoe1

Sep 20, 2005

Hilarious and tragic. More funny than any hollywood fabrication. Tender at times and crass at others. I love that the Super Bowl bound Packers provided a subplot to this classic. Pabst became cool here. or was it blue velvet?

0 of 0 users found this helpful

staubin

Oct 21, 2011

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 inIt'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.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Davlip

May 1, 2014

This movie starts out slow but before you realize it you are engrossed a true slice of life reality show. Coming away from this movie you feel you know these people and would love to share a beer or two with them. They let you into their lives as if they didn't know they were beingThis movie starts out slow but before you realize it you are engrossed a true slice of life reality show. Coming away from this movie you feel you know these people and would love to share a beer or two with them. They let you into their lives as if they didn't know they were being filmed......unlike most TV "reality" shows where the characters are obviously playing to the camera.....There are some things that are hard to put into words, and American Movie is one of them.

If you let yourself get past the first few minutes you'll be hooked… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spt24

Oct 2, 2022

An all-time classic. Real people. Great movie. It doesn't get better than this.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RobertBrogan

Sep 27, 2015

For me, American Movie lost a bit of its charm since I saw it years back when indie films were in fashion. It is mockumentary-ish in places, which takes away from the film more than it adds. Nonetheless, it is interesting and has comedic value, and I would still recommend it to fans of indie films.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AdamS.

Aug 28, 2005

Made me feel sick inside. Extremely depressing.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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12	#12 Best Movie of 1999
75	#75 Most Shared Movie of 1999