Jekkyl This is a fun and funny documentary I recommend checking out. The two friends are great and loyal and say what you want about their dream, they do get it done and have a nice premiere screening.

shadow_blade-89459 "American Movie" (1999) is a documentary from the perspective of aspiring filmmaker Mark Borchardt as he attempts to achieve the American dream. The film follows Mark as he enlists friends and family to help him create his first major feature film when an unforeseen hiccup throws a monkey wrench into his production and causes him to rethink his plan and priorities. He must decide whether to scrap everything or reenergize and refocus. The story is a rollercoaster of emotions as the viewer tries to decide whether to root for this underdog, hate this aggressive, seemingly uneducated jerk, or feel sorry for the trials and tribulations of him. The film is very well put together for the era and budget.The pacing of this film has moments that feel like they are dragging on, but not with out purpose. Every shot and edit coincides with what Mark is experiencing. It is slightly difficult to comprehend the specific point of this film. It could be just a story of a man with big aspirations or the understanding of the difficulty behind making a film. I, however, believe the point of this film is to show what can be accomplished with true determination. The payoff presents equal parts of positive and negative emotions. Every success story has a level of undisclosed consequence imbedded unseen to the naked eye, but this film presents both. Overall, I am not a huge fan of the movie, but it is not due to story or production. If you can get past heavy character flaws, this movie is a wonderful success story of determination and heart worth at least one viewing.

Murder Slim 'American Movie' is a documentary about Mark Borchardt and his attempt to make a movie about growing up in Milwaukee ('Northwestern'). Filming isn't going so well, and he's strapped for cash, so he returns to his old horror movie project, called "Coven". His plan is to hit the independent horror market, sell a bunch of videotapes and then sink the money into finishing 'Northwestern'.The director, Chris Smith, could have just played the movie for laughs. And there are moments when the movie is laugh out-loud funny. Borchardt isn't the brightest guy in the world, and it's quickly obvious he's not much of a filmmaker. Borchardt's got the Milwaukee drawl they play off in 'Fargo', and he refuses to accept that "Coven" isn't pronounced "Cove-Ann". His best friend Mike is a more friendly version of Beavis complete with "huh, huh, huh" laugh. It's hilarious when Borchardt tries to ram his lead actor's - Tom's - head through a cupboard door. It takes a lot of attempts to get this money shot for 'Coven', while Tom's head steadily gets softer on top.Yet that cupboard scene moment is actually a good indication of why 'American Movie' is a real good 'un. Tom takes the repeated bashes on his head with good humour. There's a real sense in the movie that people are pulling together to try to make a film. Borchardt is a bit of a jerk when he's drunk, but he's got a dream and he's going for it.But the star of the movie is Uncle Bill, a curmudgeonly 83 year old who fronts the money for 'Coven' and occasionally busts into a song about his life: "Goodbye dear, hope you're in heaven where you belong / I was wondering if they had cigarettes in heaven, I don't think so / I still love you, I'll visit your grave every day / Not every day, but I'll visit it sometimes if I ever find it".And... you know what... Borchardt tries to look after Bill too. He cooks Thanksgiving dinner for Bill and washes his clothes, and behind all that bravura he seems like a nice guy. And, maybe off the back of that deep-seated charm, 'American Movie' is a great, fascinating documentary. Sadly, 'Coven' is terrible... but please don't let that put you off 'American Movie'.

Rob-O-Cop This movie is a work of art. At first I thought it was like a spinal tap look at a hopeless film maker and that Mark was the butt of his own joke but then the other layers of this film came through. Mark's admirable drive to make something of himself, regardless of his talent, at least he tried with all he was capable of. And he's not without skill and knowledge, be it half known knowledge at times. It was inspiring to see him clawing his way to the finish line using everything he could to achieve his goal, getting his mum, friends, his girlfriend and his kids to be the camera operator, sound, actors etc. The stuff with his uncle Bill were complex too. Firstly it seemed he was just trying to milk his aging uncle for cash for his project but then there was a real affection and caring, and wanting to include him, draw him out of his trailer. And that's one of the things that inspires most about Mark. He is a catalyst a hapless doer that motivates his dead end world to something more. On one level you can laugh at this guy and his friends, but there's so much more in this story than incompetent nobodies. This is an uplifting film about struggle. I love it and am moved by it.