American Movie Review

        Always good to be back to talk about my favorite visual medium in motion. This month will be different since I’ve tapped out on talking about some of the best holiday movies. So instead of digging through a subpar list of Christmas films, I’ll talk about the films that came out this year. Specifically, the under the radar ones that didn’t get people talking. While I’ll start that off next week, as of now I’ll be taking a dive with another documentary. 

1. Making a Film

        Like most things, I think my first exposure to this documentary was through a Family Guy visual gag. When Quagmire comes out to chastise Meg, two guys follow suit holding the camera and boom mic. It went over my head like lots of the jokes that have appeared in the show. Next was when I watched the YouTube series, The Angry Video Game Nerd. Within the episodes he would pepper in a reference, and I always thought that it was his own words. 

        Time passed and inevitably the same Youtuber put out a video about the documentary. At that time, it never drew me in and much like most things it wasn’t an interest. Earlier this year, I had a chance to watch the documentary in full and I can safely say that it’s probably the best documentary I’ve seen. Just the subject matter is interesting to see just how far we see this one prospective filmmaker try and film his movie. 

        With all that, we follow Mark Borchardt along with his friend Mike Schank trying to make the former’s film. Problems arise from the production where he pivots to making a short film to restart his feature film. I’ll get to the problems in the next tab, but I’ll say that the overall presentation certainly has that grit to it. Just seeing and spending time with Mark shows just what he goes through.

        I think the most important thing for a documentary to do is duh, shoot what’s happening and then make a story out of it. With this one, it’s making the seemingly boring task of filmmaking into an interesting topic to see. I think the caveat of personal life adds itself to just how much Mark tries to make his movie and juggling his responsibilities. It’s endearing and at the same time sad. 

        Not to say that the documentary is a depressing one, it is in some regards, but it shows just how much of a unilateral challenge it is just to make a film. And how much of an accomplishment it is to see it be realized. Mark’s not alone when it comes to help, his trusted friend Mike helps him power through with making his short horror film. Mike is the trusted humble friend who helps Mark with everything. And be someone to talk to when we have those moments where it’s seemingly Mark just by himself working on the shot footage.

2. The American Dream

        With the title like American Movie, it’s mostly about that ever-elusive phrase of The American Dream. What I mean by that is Mark’s dream is to make a movie and make a name for himself. Considering just how much of a crappy situation that we see him intersperse with him shooting his movie. As I mentioned earlier, aside from seeing him shoot his film, we see his personal life. Part of it in a narrative works since he juggles with being a Dad and making a movie. 

        I think the one scene where he helps bathe his own Uncle says a lot about Mark. He takes his own time to help his one family member where others are seemingly dissmissive of him. We see his other family including his parents and brothers but mostly all of them say that Mark is doing something where it’s not going to get him anywhere. It be one thing where they lie, but they’re honest seeing just how much he’s going through where that dream of his isn’t viable. 

        And I think that’s why the documentary works when seeing it play out from beginning to end. We see earlier snippets of Mark’s work and are told that he hasn’t finished them. And it’s one of those things where it’s alluded to that if he finished with one, then he has no purpose left. So just him doing this short film is a way to delay that nightmare that he has. It’s relatable on just how tough it is to sacrifice with what you want. Especially having loyal friends or family members help. 

        Lastly, as far as how it’s presented, it’s raw with nothing fake or inauthentic for the sake of making a good documentary. I just like the style where everything is happening, and the camera never stops recording for the any sense of break. Moments when Mark is frustrated or inebriated is real since we see just how frustrated he gets when nothing goes right. It manages to capture the hilarious and depressing moments so succinctly where no dramatization could ever recreate it. 

3. Overall

        American Movie is a relic of the late 90s, it shows just how one man and his friend go above and beyond to help and make an independent movie.