American Movie
Friday, November 15th, 2002The Independent Film Channel played the wonderful documentary “American Movie: The Making of Northwestern” last night. I’ve seen it twice already, but I don’t believe I’ve yet recommended it to you. I caught it about halfway through, and now I’m tempted now to go rent again this weekend.
It’s the story of Mark Borchardt, a deadbeat from the lower middle class suburbs of Milwaukee, and his dream to make the great American horror flick, “Northwestern.” Actually, the movie documents his making of a short film called “Coven,” which he hopes will sell about 3,000 copies, which would give him the finances he needs to make the feature-length “Northwestern.”
The film first smacks of the Christopher Guest “mockumentary” genre — in the same vein as Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show. I spent the first half hour of the movie trying to figure out whether or not it was real. It is.
And once you know that Borchardt and Mike Schank are real people, that Borchardt really does have three kids he barely supports, that he really does hit up his almost-dead uncle for his life’s savings to make what is from the start an obviously horrible movie, once you realize that all of these people really do lead these barely-noticeable, miserable lives, it’s tough to discern whether or not the movie is funny or terribly tragic; whether it’s optimistic or pessimistic; whether it’s a validation of the American dream or scathing repudiation of it.
The film’s creators Sarah Price and Chris Smith play coy from start to finish. They never really reveal their intentions. Are they making fun of Borchardt? Or is this social commentary on life straddling the poverty line in Midwest America?
The movie was a critical smash. Behind the celebrity power of co-producer Michael Stipe, it won acclaim at film festivals across the country.
After American Movie’s mass release, the story of Mark Borchardt took on a surrealist twist. He became something of a cult hero. Fans of American Movie wanted their own copies of the singularly awful “Coven.” To date, Borchardt has sold almost 5,000 copies, and he’s begun production on “Northwestern” with the windfall.
Here’s a guy who was doomed to spend the rest of his life in the trailer parks of far-suburb Wisconsin — who’d probably have gone bankrupt chasing his dream of becoming a world famous movie director — mainly because, well, he hasn’t the slightest idea how to make a movie. Along comes a professional documentary team. They shoot a film of his plans to make a film: an honest, brutal documentary that portrays him in all his unsavory, white-trash, deadbeat glory.
And because of that unflattering documentary, Mark Borchardt is today living out his dreams. “Coven” was shown at Sundance. He’s hobnobbed with the stars. He’s a minor celebrity himself. He’s sold far more movies of “Coven” than reality would ever have otherwise allowed. He has all the gloss and glow of a serious filmmaker.
Except that no one takes him serious as a filmmaker.
And the joke goes on. Today Mark has a website for his coming movie “Northwestern.” He’s posted casting calls and openings for crew positions. By all appearances, the guy is still oblivious to the real reason he’s famous. On the one hand, I kind of feel sorry for him. What happens when the cult status wears off? When Northwestern flops? And I wonder, are Price and Smith exploiting him?
But then, this guy would have nothing if not for “American Movie.” He’s living out a little piece of his dream. So what if it’s for all the wrong reasons?
And that’s where American Movie merits all the plaudits it’s won. The movie itself was a delicious debunking of wide-eyed idealism — it turned the concept of the American Dream on its ear. What makes the movie brilliant is that the debunking has spilled outside the confines of the film it’s printed on. Throughout American Movie, we laugh at Mark Borchardt’s foolish visions of grandeur. We humor him, because we’re entertained by him. We wait for the day that it all comes crashing down on him.
But the “crashing down” never happens in American Movie. It ends with Coven’s premiere. Surrounded by friends, Borchardt’s never confronted with just how awful Coven really is. And now that it’s sold 5,000 copies, now that Mark Borchardt is a cult celebrity, bumping elbows with Steven Soderberg at Cannes, we’re still waiting for the “crashing down” to happen.
Maybe Mark Borchardt’s the genius, here. Maybe he’s taking all of us for a ride.
Go to Blockbuster and rent it.
TheAgitator.com

Back when American Movie was first released, the website used to post the phone number for Mike’s Basement. My buddy called it one night from my phone and asked Mike to call us back when he got in that night. Mike didn’t call and I kinda forgot about it.
A few months later, out of nowhere, I get a phone call asking to speak to Jeff (my buddy) or myself. On the other end is Mike. He apologized for taking so long to call back and proceeded to tell me a story about how he was back on the coke and drinking again and how he “took a dump” in his guitar on New Years 2000 and then smashed it to bits. We briefly talked about his return to substance abuse and ended the conversation.
The entire thing was very surreal. I was never sure if it was not a buddy of mine pulling a gag on me (which he swore up and down it was not when I asked him about it later), or if it really was Mike, whether he was messing with me. He said some outrageous stuff with a very sincere voice. I tended to believe him, but that creeped me out even more. He didn’t really seem like he wanted to get off the phone, nor did he have much to say.
I was a little disappointed to hear that he had smashed his guitar. The Movie is about Mark making this movie, but throughout the whole thing, I was of the impression that Mike was the only one with some genuine talent. His guitar playing was really pretty good. Too bad it was shat on and then smashed. Maybe it is a fitting metaphor. I’m sure that is why he did it.
I own it…. and have watched it a couple of dozen times…. it serves as a reminder for me… that everyone has a dream, everyone is striving for that dream, and it is that search for completion of the dream that propels most of us through life. I adore any movie that is 100% REAL human experiences.
“whether it’s a validation of the American dream or scathing repudiation of it”
You’re hired!
I think American Movie is fantastic, but I feel compelled to write here in order to defend Coven. It’s definitely rough, and the low budget shows through, but for me the payoff at the end of American Movie was that Coven was definitely NOT “singularly awful”. It’s not great, but it’s certainly better than many, many other films made with over a hundred times more money. Maybe you’re just not a fan of horror movies in general?
I think you missed the point of American Movie, which was that this very weird (and very likable) bunch of fuck-ups actually succeded in the end in making a passable film.
Hank –
If the point of American Movie at all involves “Coven” being even a remotely redeemable movie then, yes, I missed the point entirely. It’s terrible.
Come on. It’s a complement to even use the word “movie” when discussing it. Coven’s more a collection of sorta’ spooky pictures. With lots of Ketchup.
I was surprised that there were some shots in Coven that were genuinely creepy and quite well photographed, but I’m with Radley on it not adding up to much of a movie. It committed the cardinal sin of just being sort of boring.
I preferred his short where his body just sort of self destructs on him.
I anyone hasn’t done so already, be sure to rent the DVD. There’s some deleted footage that’s absolutely priceless, especially of Mike.
“portrays him in all his unsavory, white-trash, deadbeat glory.”
Why the hostility? Though I’m sure you think that watching “American Movie” somehow gives you enough information to pass judgement, it seems that you’re harboring some sort of animosity towards him. Perhaps you’re jealous? What exactly makes him a deadbeat? His annual income? Maybe he should follow your example and write half-witted reviews pockmarked with misinformation and arrogance.
“Except that no one takes him serious as a filmmaker.”
And yet after the release of “American Movie” he has received numerous offers from potential investors as well as offers to work on other projects. In fact, 99% of the press concerning AM heralds Borchardt as the epitome of an independent filmmaker. Someone must be taking him seriously. But it’s irrelevant, because if what he says in his interviews and journal are true, it isn’t success or fame that matters. I believe him, personally, because if he were lying we would’ve already seen a big budget version of “Northwestern” with his name plastered all over it.
“By all appearances, the guy is still oblivious to the real reason he’s famous. On the one hand, I kind of feel sorry for him. What happens when the cult status wears off?”
It’s ironic that you feel sorry for him, because you seem like the kind of pathetic soul that would arouse sympathy in others for the plight of your shitheadedness. Of course he realizes that “American Movie” is the source of his pseudo-celebrity, he’s said as much in several interviews. He’s also stated that he couldn’t care less about the fame, because all he really wants is to fulfill his vision. That’s something that any human being can respect, with the exception of malign jackasses like yourself.
I feel obligated to defend Borchardt because your assessment of him is apparently inspired by a very limited amount of information, and contempt for anyone that isn’t as important as you. It’s a shame that we can’t all contribute stilted articles to a propaganda mouthpiece. Borchardt, and his pursuit of his dreams, represents the struggle of most decent human beings. Perhaps we’re all deadbeats then. At least we have the dignity of not being a giant fuckwad like yourself.
“his dream to make the great American horror flick, “Northwestern.”"
Actually, “Northwestern” has absolutely nothing to do with the horror genre.
“I’ve seen it twice already”
Next time you should actually watch the film. Do you put this much attention to detail in your writing?
“once you realize that all of these people really do lead these barely-noticeable, miserable lives”
Yet their “barely-noticeable” lives are the subject of a critically acclaimed documentary. I’ve watched “American Movie” several times, and I don’t remember Borchardt being particularly miserable. Or any of the other characters portrayed in the film.
“Are they making fun of Borchardt? Or is this social commentary on life straddling the poverty line in Midwest America?”
Borchardt said it best, “I’m responsible for my own actions on camera.” He wasn’t being exploited or insulted, he knew full well that they weren’t going to release footage of him in his calm, sane moments.
“After American Movie’s mass release, the story of Mark Borchardt took on a surrealist twist. He became something of a cult hero.”
What’s surreal about people being inspired by an individual who relentlessly pursues his dreams despite the mammoth obstacles before him? Maybe it seems surreal to you because of your tenuous grasp on reality.
“Here’s a guy who was doomed to spend the rest of his life in the trailer parks of far-suburb Wisconsin — who’d probably have gone bankrupt chasing his dream of becoming a world famous movie director — mainly because, well, he hasn’t the slightest idea how to make a movie.”
Trailer parks is an obvious jab at his economic class. He didn’t live in a trailer during the filming of “American Movie” nor does he today. Again, if you’d actually paid attention to the documentary, you’d realize that his dream was not “becoming a world famous director” and that was in fact the complete opposite of what he wanted to become. He says it repeatedly in the film - he only wants to complete “Northwestern” and fulfill his artistic visions. And since he obviously has no idea how to make a movie, what are your film credits? Oh that’s right, you did write, direct, and fill the lead role in “Cockmaster II: Cocksmoker”
“And the joke goes on. Today Mark has a website for his coming movie “Northwestern.” He’s posted casting calls and openings for crew positions.”
Again, why is it that someone who is working towards a lifelong goal amounts to a joke? Borchardt had been working on casting and preproduction long before Smith and Price decided to turn their cameras towards him.
“Throughout American Movie, we laugh at Mark Borchardt’s foolish visions of grandeur.”
And I laugh at your column twice a week, douchebag. Kudos on the domain name, cause you certainly are an annoying, agitating fuck, aren’t you?
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