AMERICAN MOVIE (1999)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
For anyone interested in the sheer level of desperation that a low-budget filmmaker sinks to, it would be wise for you to check out "American Movie." Not only does this documentary deal with the depths of desperation in filmmaking but also with the anxiety of trying to complete a project.
Mark Borchardt is such a filmmaker. His intent is to finish production on his short horror film, "Coven," so he can find the necessary budget to shoot "Northwestern," the story of his upbringing in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. It takes Mark more than three years to complete "Coven" (this is often the case with most filmmakers making short film debuts).
There are many funny and painfully difficult scenes in "American Movie" but its humor almost turns Mark into a walking buffoon, bereft of intelligence. Actually, I do think he is smart and knowledgeable (who can mock someone who equally loves "The Seventh Seal" and "Night of the Living Dead"?). Mark sometimes gives erroneous direction (he tells a group of masked actors to look "menacing"), and he is impatient with details in production. He also argues with his ex-girlfriend, and mounts several overdue credit card bills (as do most people).
"American Movie" doesn't just explore the fringes of filmmaking - it is also the profile of a 30-year-old man with aspirations to make it to the top. He works odd jobs, including a mausoleum and delivering the Wall Street Journal. Basically, we are talking about a poor Midwesterner who pays child support and plunders his discouraged Uncle Bill's bank account to finance his film. His friends and family are not very supportive, though they clearly see his ambition, his drive, his willingness to commit to making the film he wants to make. This is what drives "American Movie" forward with gusto and will mostly likely inspire other filmmakers who are faced with the common hardships of low-budget filmmaking. Mark is a role model for other filmmakers to follow, and "American Movie" comes as close to understanding the grass roots of filmmaking as any other.
