The passion we see here is inspiring, and some of my favorite moments were some of the black and white shots Mark Borchardt captured for his indie film effort, rather than the comedic moments of pathos. It seems he had a real eye for framing and aesthetics, and it's a shame he wasn't on a better path than partying and then the army. If he had in the end produced a work of genius or gone on to big things this documentary would have been more interesting to me. I was pulling for him and smiling over the eccentricities of all these people, including his crusty old uncle, mentally slow but loyal burnout of a friend, sweet and patient mother, and his brutally blunt brothers. It's authentic but began to feel a little bit like a circus, where the sadness of these lives are there for our entertainment, or a celebration of mediocrity. I was engaged throughout though.

This is a film which people seem to either love or hate, the same as it's subject wannabe-film-maker Mark Borchardt. The film follows Mark as he attempts to make his first feature film (called "Northwestern") and complete a short horror film called "Coven". He makes films with his friends and family using any equipment and money that he managed to get his hands on, in particular from his elderly Uncle Bill.

The thing about Mark is that he is certain that he is one of the great film-makers of our time. He is also certain that he will be successful. However, the chances are that he won't be. This is what makes the film moving. The thing is that, judging by the clips from "Coven", the man is not without talent. He certainly has a good eye, and could probably make a career in film-making, if he gets the chance. He certainly appears genuine in his desire for success.

there are some hilarious scenes though, for example, where they are trying to get an actor's head to come through a cupboard door. Also Mark's friend, Mike Schank, is hilarious.

Okay, so I'm a sucker for a good documentary, particularly where it tells a modern-day Don Quixote story. A caveat: I met Mark Borchardt in the winter of 1995/96 while he was still working on Coven. But I'll save that story for later. American Movie, which commenced production not long after, accurately portrays the person that I knew, although in greater depth than I expected or believed existed. This is simultaneously a very funny and very sad film, and is brilliantly executed. Mark comes across as his own worse enemy: his childlike ambition and optimism -- which I admire -- is undermined by his apparent artistic ineptitude as well as his bizarre fiscal expectations. But he's also a charismatic guy. His loyal Sancho Panza sidekick is equally likeable: loyal, if frazzled, to the core. Like Don Quixote, American Movie presents an often-ignored inefficient aspect of freedom -- that people will be drawn toward professions to which they are not particularly well-suited, irrespective of repeated failure. It is a great film.