durdencommatyler wrote:Man, I really have no real understanding of the wider perception of Kevin Smith.
As a former hardcore Smith fan (I'm talking '94-'99), here's my take:
He did some great work with Clerks and Chasing Amy. Two great examples of a filmmaker working within a very modest budget to make some really compelling films. But now his ear for dialogue is dated, and he lacks any visual prowess whatsoever. Ultimately, his greatest contribution to film will be in proving that one can foster a dedicated fanbase and exist outside of the studio system, and make the films one wants to make. But his movies now mostly suck (I appreciate his attempts at horror, even if they're not great), he's a burnout and a bore, and he has diarrhea of the mouth.
He's made three films that I like more than Clerks that you didn't even mention. Still, interesting to hear your (and others') thoughts on this. I had no idea he'd faded and worn out his welcome so much to the broader public. That's really interesting to me.
What are those three movies? I like Mallrats and Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, but wouldn't put them above Clerks or Chasing Amy.
Dogma is rubbish.
Jersey Girl was unfairly maligned, but it's not like it's a great movie.
Clerks II and Zack & Miri were both quite forgettable.
Cop Out was just sort of there.
Red State is a solid movie, and I'd qualify it as a successful experiment.
I couldn't get through Tusk or Yoga Hosers.
Mallrats, Dogma, and Red State are the three I was talking about that I like more than Clerks.
Mallrats and Red State I can totally understand. I will never understand when people say they liked Dogma. Some good ideas on paper, but the execution gets a big F from me.
I liked it. The original script was better than the final film, though. I will say that. Still, really dig Dogma.
Jay & Bob Strike Back is fun. Not a great film. But a fun movie if you like the Askewniverse in general and a fun way to put those characters from and center.
I haven't seen Jersey Girl, Clerks 2, Zack & Miri, Cop Out, Tusk or Yoga Hosers.
durdencommatyler wrote:Man, I really have no real understanding of the wider perception of Kevin Smith.
He is a bit like The Offspring in my head in that he was instrumental in getting me into movies when I was 12, I was a huge fan all the way through high school, and now that I'm older I find myself vexed and exasperated by his artistic choices while also realizing how not-actually-that-great his early "lauded" work is.
The ones immediately preceding and following that one were top-notch films. Clerks and Chasing Amy bookend a pretty damn good trilogy. He started getting full of himself with Dogma and then it all pretty much went off the rails after that.
Let me tell you, Homer Simpson is cock of nothing!
- C. Montgomery Burns
The Argonaut wrote:When was the last time you guys saw Chasing Amy? It's a terrible movie. Completely juvenile backwards thinking
It gets mid-20s male sexual insecurity and cluelessness fairly right, I think. But I haven't seen it in years
knock ten years off that age and qualify that you're talking about the world 20 years ago...maybe. but in today's world, it's basically a hate crime
Remind me what is so objectionable about it
From what I recall the whole point is that Ben Affleck's character is scared, insecure and oblivious. I don't think the film casts any judgement on the girl's adventurousness. If that's what you mean
Anders wrote:I do not have a «neoliberal assessment of geopolitics», so please stop writing that I do.
The Argonaut wrote:When was the last time you guys saw Chasing Amy? It's a terrible movie. Completely juvenile backwards thinking
It gets mid-20s male sexual insecurity and cluelessness fairly right, I think. But I haven't seen it in years
knock ten years off that age and qualify that you're talking about the world 20 years ago...maybe. but in today's world, it's basically a hate crime
Remind me what is so objectionable about it
From what I recall the whole point is that Ben Affleck's character is scared, insecure and oblivious. I don't think the film casts any judgement on the girl's adventurousness. If that's what you mean
Maybe you're right, I don't remember it too well. Perhaps it is at worst only mildly homophobic. But "you are not a virgin so I cannot love you" is not a concept to build a movie around. Maybe that's something he could struggle with for like four minutes, but not a whole movie. Especially when the movie treats it like it's an actual problem.
spoiler that sh*t, bro
And they say that a hero could save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
