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American Movie

American Movie

Documentary · Comedy · 1999

American Movie documents the story of filmmaker Mark Borchardt, his mission, and his dream. Spanning over two years of intense struggle with his film, his family, financial decline, and spiritual crisis, American Movie is a portrayal of ambition, obsession, excess, and one man's quest for the American Dream.

Movie details

American Movie

1999 Documentary · Comedy 1h 44m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.5 / 10

Community rating

American Movie documents the story of filmmaker Mark Borchardt, his mission, and his dream. Spanning over two years of intense struggle with his film, his family, financial decline, and spiritual crisis, American Movie is a portrayal of ambition, obsession, excess, and one man's quest for the American Dream.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over American Movie?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Chris Smith

Mark Borchardt

Mark Borchardt

Filmmaker

Mike Schank

Mike Schank

Friend / Musician

T

Tom Schimmels

Actor in 'Coven'

M

Monica Borchardt

Mark's Mom

A

Alex Borchardt

Mark's Brother

C

Chris Borchardt

Mark's Brother

K

Ken Keen

Friend / Associate Producer

Court is in session

Put American Movie on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.