Nothing he has done even comes close to approaching how well, and how interesting that film was. Ben Affleck actually has a very good performance! Jason Lee is very good in a supporting role, and Joey Lauren Adams puts in a moving and courageous performance.
Posts: 177 | Location: Mercer County, NJ | Registered: 22 May 2004
I haven't seen Jersey Girl, but I can't imagine it being any funnier than Clerks. I seriously fell out of my seat laughing about six times when I saw it in the theaters. And I was sober.
Posts: 64 | Location: sf, ca | Registered: 16 August 2004
I have enjoyed all of his films, although I have not seen Jersey Girl and don't particularly intend to. My favorites would be Dogma and the much maligned Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Jay and Bob probably appeals to me most because of it's focus on stoner comedy which is directly aimed at my lifestyle of booze and weed, plus I have never watched the film in a state of sobriety! Dogma's subject matter is the most interesting to me. Chasing Amy is a wonderful film, but like Clerks and Mallrats, multiple viewings have dulled their brilliance in my eyes. I like Kevin Smith and what he brings to cinema, there are very few writers or directors out there who do anything similar to him.
"If it were beneficial, their father would produce children already circumcised from their mother. Rather, the true circumcision in spirit has become profitable in every respect." -Jesus, from the Gospel Of Thomas
I have to agree with one of the above posters. Chasing Amy is probably his best movie, although Clerks is much funnier.
But, now that I think about it, the Darth Vader scene from Amy is probably the funniest scene in cinematic history.
Hooper: Check this shit. You got cracker farm boy Luke Skywalker, Nazi poster boy, blond hair, blue eyes. And then you got Darth Vader, the blackest brother in the galaxy, Nubian god! Banky Edwards: What's a "Nubian"?
Hooper: Shut the fuck up!
Hooper: For years in this industry, whenever an African American character, hero or villain, was introduced - usually by white artists and writers - they got slapped with racist names that singled them out as Negroes. Now, my book, "White-Hating Coon," don't have none of that bullshit. The hero's name is Maleekwa, and he's descended from the black tribe that established the first society on the planet, while all you European motherfuckers were hiding out in caves and shit, all terrified of the sun. He's a strong role model that a young black reader can look up to. Cause I'm here to tell you, the chickens is coming home to roost, y'all. The black man's no longer gonna play the minstrel in the realm of comics and sci-fi fantasy. We keepin it real, and we gonna get respect by any means necessary.
Holden: Ah, come on, that's a bunch of horse shit! Lando Calrissian was a black guy. You know, and he got to fly the Millennium Falcon, what's the matter with you?
Hooper: Who said that?
Holden: I did! Lando Calrissian is a strong role-model in the realm of science fiction/fantasy.
Hooper: Fuck Lando Calrissian! Uncle-Tom n-----!
Hooper: And Jedi's the most insulting installment. Because Vader's beautiful black visage is sullied when he pulls off his mask to reveal a feeble, crusty, old white man! They tryin' to tell us that deep inside we all wants to be white!
Banky Edwards: Well, isn't that true?
(Hooper pulls out a gun and begins shouting; room clears)
Posts: 1137 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 19 May 2006
For me Kevin Smith is a mixed bag. I think CLERKS is still his best film, but CHASING AMY is a close second. I flat out disliked DOGMA and didn't bother to see JERSEY GIRL, MALLRATS or JAY & SILENT BOB.
His last work, the CLERKS sequel, was actually pretty good. I liked it more than I thought I would.
His films are convoluted (not in a positive, dense manner), that is, he focuses on copious lessons of life, with never clarifying his true intention. In the recently released Clerks 2, it is never visible if he supports the idiocy of America through being clerks, janitors, and flipping burgers. Or whether he supports becoming a millionaire through the process of utilizing your mind. (A 32 year old employed at a fast food restaurant?) Or whether he expects the viewer to observe the scenario personally. (If so why create the ineluctable finale?)
His films are composed of one-dimensional characters ranting, and when the denouement arises the moral of his movie is superficial. His films are pretentious pieces, that many critics are convinced possess originality. He would be a fantastic scriptwriter and director, since admirers of theatres usually prefer dialogue, and superficial morals. He is not a true filmmaker, since he does not utilize the beauty of cinema. (Sound, costumes, imagery, symbolism) He is though, an auteur, who has made a consistent effort in creating and manipulating viewers. All of his films are interesting, but never evolve out of that zone.
It is difficult to compare his films to any other comedic auteur such as Anderson, who is both intellectually superior and utilizes cinema to his advantage.
An enjoyable film of his that has depth to it (the only one) is Chasing Amy.
Dogma had an interesting storyline and the acting was superb in my opinion. Some of the best moments were created using Loki. One in the beginning in which he explains to a nun his philosophy on religion. The scene where Loki and Bartleby are on the bus watching two people show affection and the totally random end result on that. And of course the Mooby board meeting.
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back comes in a close second.
Jersey Girl is not a movie I sat down to watch given all the bad reviews even by Kevin Smith himself. Besides the movie not having his usual style.
I don't feel his humor is decreasing. What I do notice is he is trying his hand with different projects as not to stay stale maybe. He's reaching out to different audiences and his creative side is showing more.
My overall general impression of him is that he is hilarious.
Snooch to the nooch? Maybe it means, let's get this party started.
I love Clerks and Clerks 2 was also amazing, but I would have to say Mallrats is my favorite Kevin Smith film. Jason Lee's performance in that movie was classic. He is so funny!
Clerks 1&2. I almost died from laughing so hard while watching Clerks 2. The scene where Jay acts like Buffalo Bill from Silence of Lambs was sooooooooooo funny!!
