Kevin Smith - Big, but not clever.

K

knightsam20

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I was suckered in with the 'Clerks' hype around the indy film circuit of the early nineties, perhaps Smith approximated great scriptwriting with 'Chasing Amy' and his one-man shows contain delicious anecdotes only a man who Trojan Horsed his way into Hollywood could deliver.
I would argue, however, that Judd Apatow and Mike Judge have delivered funnier and cleverer than Smith has produced. Jonathan Ross delivered a scathing, but accurate appraisal of 'Clerks 2', while Smith has been chased out of 'serious' moviemaking after the debacle of 'Jersey Girl'.
Time for him to retool and come back - or has he rejoined the queue, at the bottom, with his new effort 'Zack and Miri make a Porno'?
 
Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back was a great comedy. Also An Evening with Kevin Smith is also a masterpiece not to mention his book Silent Bob Speaks, which has bought a smile to my face eachtime I have read it.
 
I love Kevin Smith's films, and imo Clerks 2 is one of his best films, i'd actually go as far as to say i actually prefer it to the original. Screw Ross and his "review".
 
Smith makes funny, dumb, geeky films. Other than the sublime Chasing Amy, he's not made much nearing "greatness" - but isn't that the point? For a guy who claims to have built his career on "dick and fart jokes", he's nothing if not honest about what he does (and does with aplomb). He's far from the genius the slacker generation paint him as, but there are far less talented guys playing with much bigger budgets in Hollywood right now. He has has place, he knows it, and so long as he keeps making people laugh, the I'm more than happy for him to stay there.
 
I agree there's a lot of blind hero worship for him, but I loved Clerks when that came out, and thought Clerks 2 was absolutely marvellous. Not seen Jay and Bob Strike Back yet, but thought Mallrats was disappointing after Clerks. Dogma was an okay bit of fun, but thought the script for Chasing Amy was awful and embarrassing. Found it hard to watch and take seriously after a while.

So he's a mixed bag for me. Don't much care for Ross's opinion on anything, but I don't worship Smith either. Sometimes you do get the feeling he's coasting a bit for sure. Must try harder!
 
Believe it or not, I actually think Jersey Girl is one of the sweetest films ive seen in a long time.

But hey it was "cool" to hate on anything related to Benifer a few years back.

Grow a spine and actually form your own opinions instead of jotting down notes about what Mr Ross has to say.
 
He's never made a brilliant film, just a couple of half-decent ones and a lot of dross. If the commentary for your film is funnier than the actual film I think you've got a problem really.
 
Jonathon Ross thinks Adam Sandler films are amazing.

that says it all for me...

I like the guy (if on the TV far far too much), but he's an awful film reviewer.
 
Chasing Amy is one of my all time favourite films - and I loved Clerks 2 as well. I've watched it loaRAB of times.

In my most humble of opinions, Kevin Smith is actually god :)
 
Has anyone got a link to the classic News of the World review where Wossy told us to forget Citizen Kane and Casablanca because Batman Forever was the greatest movie ever made?:D
 
clerks 2 was an un-holy shit pile. desperate and forced.

every other film he's made has varied from good to great, though.

and yes, ross is clueless.
 
Wouldn't go as far to say terrible, but agreed he's a far superior writer to director. I'd say he was a "functional" director.
 
I'm a big fan of Kevin Smith's films (Chasing Amy is probably one of my all time favorites), but I have to say since I read 'My Boring Ass Life' I've started to go off Kevin Smith a bit and I don't exactly know why that is, he just comes across a little too cocky in that book.

His next 2 projects will be interesting though, especially his 'horror' film Red State. Actually, I've just checked out his wiki page, theres another 2 projects in the pipeline (as well as RS & ZAMMAP)!!
 
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