So I saw American Movie a long time ago, and always believed it to be a legit documentary. This friend of mine tells me it is not so, and that it's a mockumentary, with Mark and his buddy playing characters (think Spinal Tap).

Anyone got any info either way?

I looked it up on IMDB, found a thread similar to this, and everyone seemed to agree it was real.

I've always been under the impression that it was real.

Exactly. However,this friend of mine's a pretty smart guy (or maybe he's a dumbass and this is the first indicator?), so I wondered if there's some validity to his statement.

I don't know. I saw that guy on Letterman and he was exactly the same. I'm pretty sure it's real.

I think I saw that too. Where would my friend have gotten this crazy idea?

American Movie not real?

Is it really that hard to believe people like Mark Borchardt really exist in the northern midwest?

One of my close friends always talks about doing a movie about our hometown. I tell him that no one would be interested in watching a bunch of small town rubes, but now I'm thinking I might be completely wrong about this.

Real or not, it was entertaining. You know that even if his story isn't real, there are thousands of people just like him. Making the "Great American Movie" is a common dream. Some persevere and finish, many just fall through the cracks. Regardless of what I thought about him, he did finish.

I got the biggest kick out of his best friend though...

Yeah, I loved the part where they show him editing film. When they showed footage of him as a child it was heartbreaking. Definitely a reason not to do drugs.

Well, I care because I like being right, and also, if I don't find out, conclusively, one way or the other, it'll bug me forever.

Well, I care because I like being right, and also, if I don't find out, conclusively, one way or the other, it'll bug me forever.

If you wan't to know the truth, check out www.scarememovie.com and contact Mark directly.

I've seen "Coven" and if it is a hoax, they sure put a lot of work into it. One of the first things you'll recognize, besides the fact that its a really bad movie, is that the actors are noticably younger in the beginning and older at the end. Since the main premiss of "American Movie" covers Mark taking so long (7 years?) to make the film, I think "Coven" proves that this was an actual documentary.

I've always assumed it to be real as well.