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Information

Year
1999
Runtime
107 min.
Director
Chris Smith
Genres
Comedy, Documentary
Rating *
7.9
Votes *
13,216
Checks
3,490
Favs
369
Dislikes
25
Favs/checks
10.6% (1:9)
Favs/dislikes
15:1
* View IMDb information

Top comments

  1. bodoni's avatar

    bodoni

    It's alright, it's okay, there's something to live for... Jesus told me so! 13 years 4 months ago
  2. Siskoid's avatar

    Siskoid

    American Movie (subtitled The Making of Northwestern) is a documentary that could well pass itself off as a mockumentary. It follows aspiring filmmaker Mark Borchardt's attempts to make a serious film by first completing a low-budget horror short he's been hammering at for years, and presents a cast of comically sad "characters" who help Mark in his doomed endeavors. It's Ed Wood in the 1990s' northwestern United States. Not to say what Mark makes is bad, but the whole enterprise is fraught with problems, most of them due to inexperience and lack of resources. But the one resource he has plenty of is people who, often grumbling all the way, are ready to support his dream. They're just a little clueless, that's all. According to IMDB, appearing in this documentary helped Mark's career, but it didn't help it TOO much. Some interesting personalities to discover here. 8 years 8 months ago
  3. johannez1's avatar

    johannez1

    For about 10 to 15 seconds, man, I just stared at somebody's shit, man. And to be totally honest with you, man, it was a really, really profound moment, 'cause I was thinking "I'm thirty years old, and in about 10 seconds I gotta start cleaning up somebody's shit, man."

    This movie is incredibly entertaining, while at the same time being incredibly sad at many times. Anyone interested in filmmaking should definitely watch this.
    6 years 2 months ago
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In 5 official lists

  1. This movie ranks #25 in The New York Times's Book of Movies
    The New York Times's Book of Movies's icon

    The New York Times's Boo…

    25
  2. This movie ranks #30 in Scott Tobias's The New Cult Canon
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    Scott Tobias's The New C…

    30
  3. This movie ranks #35 in The Guardian's 1000 Films to See Before You Die
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    The Guardian's 1000 Film…

    35
  4. This movie ranks #163 in Sight & Sound's The Greatest Documentaries of All Time
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    Sight & Sound's The Grea…

    163
  5. This movie ranks #314 in TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films: 1001-2500
    TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films: 1001-2500's icon

    TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest F…

    314
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