Wednesday, April 14, 2004
MOVIE OF THE WEEK A critical hit during its limited theatrical release in late 1999 and early 2000, AMERICAN MOVIE has since disappeared into the cinematic ether.
But Chris Smith's film deserves the kind of attention garnered by cult documentaries like CRUMB and, more recently, SPELLBOUND.
The story of Mark Borchardt's quixotic efforts to complete the short film that he believes will launch his movie career, AMERICAN MOVIE is a fascinating study of what happens when inexhaustible ambition slams up against an unforgiving reality.
The movie was criticized by some for judging Borchardt and then laughing at him. But that criticism misreads Smith's subtle, noble project here.
