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American Movie
EMAILPRINTSony Pictures Classics

Universal acclaim
Based on 29 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 13 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Documentary
Written by:
Directed by: Chris Smitih
Release Date:
Theatrical: November 5, 1999
DVD: May 23, 2000
Running Time: 107 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: R for language and some drug content
Starring Mark Borchardt, and Mike Schank
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 even convinces his old Uncle Bill to invest in his film.
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database View The Trailer Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
San Francisco Chronicle 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 >New York Daily News Jami Bernard
Smith's gleeful, touching documentary records the agony and the ecstasy of realizing your dream, and intangible ways that such dreams help keep people alive.
Read Full Review >TNT RoughCut Sara Raskin
Near-perfect editing, and cleverly poignant dialogue.
Baltimore Sun Ann Hornaday
A revealing, intimate, quirky and generous portrait of nothing less than the American Dream.
Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan
As quintessential a story of American ambition as Welles' own "Citizen Kane."
Read Full Review >The New York Times Janet Maslin
The rare documentary that combines a wildly charismatic subject with an elegant structure...not-to-be-missed.
Read Full Review >Film.com Ernest Hardy
Though a little long, the film takes us right inside both the creative impulse and the margins of American life. Its triumph is to show those two things as being deeply, wonderfully connected.
Read Full Review >LA Weekly Manohla Dargis
This unassuming, insistently entertaining documentary has the virtue of a great subject.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle Russel Smith
A revealing, heart- and mind-engaging insight into a uniquely American character type many of us may have known.
Read Full Review >USA Today Mike Clark
This thorough original is a wall-to-wall exercise in gallows humor, a movie whose full funny/sad effect doesn't hit until you reflect upon the subject and the cast of characters.
Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington
Of all the many documentaries that take you along on a movie shoot, one of my all-time favorites is this delightfully scrappy, sometimes poignant, often hilarious show.
Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy
But this is pretty honest and true filmmaking, nonetheless; try as you might, you can't detect the leer of the satirist.
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 >Mr. Showbiz Michael Atkinson
Brilliant, mind-boggling.
Newsweek Andrea C. Basora
Like its subject, American Movie works entirely on its own quirky terms.
Read Full Review >Chicago Reader Lisa Alspector
Often coming across as simultaneously out of control and self-possessed, Borchardt can't have been an easy target, but the filmmakers seem to have nailed him.
Read Full Review >Slate David Edelstein
As I watched American Movie, a lot of it struck me as untranscendent misery. But in hindsight it seems less hopeless.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum
A tacit auteur-to-auteur endorsement of the inalienable right to make movies--regardless of talent or sobriety or adult responsibilities--is what gives American Movie its uneasy kick.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas
Although overly long at 107 minutes, American Movie is an incisive, largely absorbing work and a far more mature effort than Smith's "American Job."
Read Full Review >Village Voice Amy Taubin
Although I don't begrudge Borchardt his year of fame, what he doesn't seem to understand about his exploitation creeps me out.
Read Full Review >Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey
It's never entirely clear whether Borchardt is also an object of ridicule for documentarian Chris Smith.
New York Post Lou Lumenick
Frequently hilarious, if overlong.
Boston Globe Jay Carr
It seems more a geek show than a slab of marketing wizardry.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 7.5 (out of 10) based on 13 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Milwaukee Joe 1 gave it a10:
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?
Adam S. gave it a2:
Made me feel sick inside. Extremely depressing.
Michael K. gave it a10:
I would never want to share a drink or conversation with those giving this movie a "0" or "4." This film truly is hilarious and sad. Those that appreciate it might want to look at Crumb and Adaptation as well.
Bonnie E. gave it a 0:
I'm sure there are many GOOD God-fearing American people who have started out trying to make a movie with the same or worse obstacles than this guy has ever done. I got this movie not knowing the contents, thinking it was about a decent American vision. God forbid anyone thinks Americans are anything like the character(s) of these portrayed-vulgar, low-life, disrepectful to parents and family, even using his poor old uncle for his personal gain. Also showing drugs, alcohol, profanity, selfishness, rebellion, and trying to destroy the true family image which is vital for human survival. May God help him and all involved in this disgraceful way he has way he has sought to obtain his HYPOCRITACAL so-called American dream. (Not to mention how poorly it was done).
Yoon C. gave it a 5:
I readily sympathize with any passionate independent filmmaker but the subject of this documentary is an insipid, almost obnoxious young man who wants to make 3rd rate gore flicks. The only way you can appreciate any of this is thru condescension, by pretending that the hero is possessed of something like a primitive artistic spirit. I don't think so. The kid needs to grow up, read some books, watch better movies and realize that using the F word promiscuously doesn't make him a man, a free spirit, a rebel, let alone an auteur.
Josie P. gave it a 9:
An incredibly hillarious and heartwarming movie. I love Uncle Bill!!
Ryan M. gave it a 10:
A great and heartwarming documentary. Shot in 8mm film "American Movie" is a jolly great show. One of my favorites.
