Product DescriptionThis 1999 Grand Jury Prize winner of the Sundance Film Festival tells the intense and humorous story of Mark Borchardt’s obsession to make his horror film, Coven. Genre: DocumentaryRating: RRelease Date: 23-MAY-2000Media Type: DVDAmazon. com essential videoStruggling filmmaker Mark Borchardt is the subject of American Movie, and he may also be the most determined man you’ll ever meet. The straggly haired, fast-tal. . . More >>
If you loved Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show, this movie was made in the style of both. However, bad acting and silly lines will having you wondering who thought this was funny. Save your money and check out a Christopher Guest film instead. Two thumbs down!
Rating: 1 / 5
This has to be one of the most wildly overpraised movies I’ve run across in some time. It should of been cut down to an hour — however, I admit, some of the texturing in the relationships in the film would of probably been lost, and that is probably the movie’s strength, since in a sense it is a movie about community. And the community, in its own American way, rallies around the young film maker, and that’s a good thing, but also, ultimately, a boring one. I’m tired of seeing film making packaged as reality tv shopping trips and awkward silences in trailer living rooms! There are a number funny moments, but not laugh out loud ones. More like the bring a smile to your face type. It isn’t long before you find yourself longing for a real slasher flick, no matter how bad, as opposed to a movie about making one. At least those flicks have movement and action. “American Movie,” is more a great idea that doesn’t work, and it certainly does not compare with the Christopher Guest efforts (“Best in Show”, “Mighty Wind”), though clearly that’s what is being attempted. Still, I wouldn’t mind seeing “Coven” (the movie that is trying to be made), since it captures the grainy gritty spirit of Romero’s Living Dead movies or perhaps The Blair Witch Project.
Rating: 2 / 5
This piece of “poor taste & judgement” (insert your word here) isn’t worth the plastic it was burned on. I just can’t believe it was critically acclaimed. It makes me ashamed to be from Waukesha County WI.
Rating: 1 / 5
I bought this DVD because the movie got 5 star average rating and was critically acclaimed. What a mistake! If you love the Blair Witch Project and similar movies, go ahead and buy it, otherwise don’t bee fooled by the reviewers. The movie is not particularly funny at all (hilarious according to several reviewers). Some reviewers were suggesting Oscar nomination for best documentary, I have seen much more interesting and better documentaries of ordinary people, this wasn’t very interesting. Perhaps you have to be an American (or grow up in the USA) to see the funny in an american movie with the american dream that unsuccessfully is trying to make films and doesn’t succed with his life?
Rating: 1 / 5
I heard good things about this movie. . . critics thought it was unique and clever, so I decided to rent it. We waited for the good part. . . 20 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour. . . managed to get through the whole movie but it was a chore (of the four adults watching, one fell asleep and one left!). The people in it are not particularly interesting, the movie-about-making-a-movie conceit has been done before, and better. All I could think is: this is someone I wouldn’t even want to have a beer with, let alone spend over an hour listening to him (and goodness, if you want to make a film entitled “COVEN” you should really learn to pronounce the word!) The only sympathetic person in the film is the poor old fellow who ends up financing the movie (Mark’s uncle I think?). Someone obviously thinks this Mark Borchardt has. . . what? guts? spunk?artistic vision? but I can’t see it.
Rating: 1 / 5