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Actors: Mark Borchardt, Mike Schank, Bill Borchardt
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about American Movie |
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This 1999 documentary is a gem. Two independent filmmakers followed around an even MORE "independent filmmaker" -- by all appearances a loser named Mark Borchardt who works as a custodian at a Wisconsin cemetery and wants to make a short horror film called "Coven" to raise money for his dream movie. We see his problems with alcohol, dysfunctional family, slacker friends who seem to have done too much drugs, and his odd relationship with his principal backer, crusty Uncle Bill. Extras fail to show up for shooting on the horror film, and he cajoles his Mom away from shopping to participate. At first "American Movie" seems to have us laughing at Mark and his acquaintances, but steadily we grow to laugh with him, and his unsinkable drive and optimism grow to seem moving, inspiring, even noble. His best friend Mike, who comes across initially like a total burnout joke from Saturday Night Live, ultimately provides a wonderful testimony to friendship (and provides the pleasant acoustic guitar soundtrack). A highly entertaining true story.
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of American Movie |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Comedy, primarily
Yes
Time/era of movie:
- 1980's-1999
Job/Profession/Poverty Story?
Yes
Job:
- artist
Poverty story?
Yes
Poverty plotlets:
- coping with poverty (general)
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) very skinny
Events of movie makes character more...
- happy
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Body type
- (man) fat
How much in movie?
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Midwest
Small town?
Yes
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- very happy
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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