Reviews

Mark Borchardt is the subject of this riveting documentary. He's that kind of guy that you can't decide if it's genius or insanity. His focus is razor sharp, he knows exactly what he wants to do, exactly how he wants it done and you just know that NOTHING will stop this guy making his movie. The documentary follows Mark around as he postpones making his movie Northwest to make a movie he started 6 years earlier called Coven. His crew is made up of buddies. his financing is basically family, friends and scratch cards. Nothing is going to stop Mark doing what he wants. You grow to like him as the movie progresses and the dynamic between him and those around him is so soft and warm that you almost wish you had him as a friend. Coming from a background of drug abuse, alcohol abuse and many AA meetings Mark is the epitome of the human spirit. Obsessed with the American dream of wealth and good fortune he will succeed or he will die trying. Good luck to you Mark.

OK, I gave this 3 stars purely based on the fact that I stayed with it to the end. Like the horrifying car crash you can not look away from this movie, as bad as it is, has that element. You just have to find out what the hell's going on. The story doesn't make sense at all. Nothing seems to mesh, none of the elements come together and you sit there purely to say "Oh Hellinger? Yeah I saw that" hoping someone will pin a medal on your chest. The movie is lit so badly that if, like me, you watch it on your PC all you can see is your own stunned reflection looking right back at you. The sound is disjointed, the dialogue is none existent and the characters don't seem to fit with anything. Be aware, there is a brutal rape around the mid point which, again, seems to have no bearing on anything. Rape is a disgusting thing and I'm not sure what the director's message was in showing this but trust me, over and above the bad acting, the bad props and the total meaningless of the whole scene the rape thing was brutal. I wont even try and let you into the plot as I have no idea what it was. Pluck out your own eyes before viewing should be the subtitle of this thing.

Oliver Stone films usually have me hooked very early on. This one ..... not so much. I think your personal politics coming in will set the mood of this film for you. If, like me, you aren't a big fan of the Bush administration you expect more scandal, more satire, more outrage, more lunacy etc etc If, on the other hand, George was your man then you might find it more palatable. I found I was constantly waiting for the "Oliver Stone" moment and sadly it never came. We follow the trail of a rich kid constantly being bailed out by his father, floundering in his youth and eventually, due to the family connections ending up in politics. I think it could have been done a lot better.

Personally, if the day ever dawns where I decide to remake an original that has a cult following, I would do my utmost to at least keep the flavor purely out of respect. I think when the round table meetings for this remake started someone said - "hey the old series was awesome but - let's set out to ruin it". To list a few things WRONG with the new one: 1) James Caviezel 2) The desert 3) The premise change 4) The tone 5) The love interest 6) The lack of surreal.

In a nutshell - it was awful. Even had it stood on it's own as an original it would be classed as awful and forgettable. I know every comment ahead of mine has done the comparisons to the original BUT if you set out to remake something that obviously becomes your benchmark. James Caviezel was SO out of place in this it was painful. He looked as confused as the viewers. His personality is too weak and the lack of presence contributed to my lack of interest. The original show had guts and relied solely on its content to bring you back week after week. It wasn't crammed into 3 nights hoping you'd stick with it purely out of nothing better to do for 3 evenings. McGoohan was strong and you just knew he'd never crack under ANY circumstance. He was smart, daring and always in control no matter what. We trusted him, became attached, concerned ourselves with him. We even shared his air of arrogance and distrust. Caviezel ? Who cares ? This train wreck missed the mark and I want my time refunded !! "Be seeing you"