My hatred for Kevin Smith is palpable. His mugging, formless face creeps into my nightmares … the words he speaks in interviews cause me to grind my teeth in agony.
I’ll give the guy some credit; he managed to make it in Hollywood by accident. The one film in his “collection” deserving of any substantial mention or praise – CLERKS, of course – was a foul-mouthed series of talking-head scenes that managed to find an audience due to its ultra-low budget. Smith did it just before video cameras and computers made it possible for anyone to do it, which is what made his achievement special while making what you and your friends filmed in your backyard just some home movies.
Which is precisely my point: nothing in CLERKS by itself achieved greatness, except that it was made on a shoestring. The acting is horrible, the direction is beyond artless, the sound is barely recorded, and the screenplay (the film’s most celebrated quality) is self-consciously trying to shock. Nothing in the film transcends, other than the inspirational backstory of a bunch of losers who cobbled a film together with pocket change and made it.
Since the success of CLERKS, Smith has run the festival circuit several million times, talking and talking and talking about himself and his opinions. Meanwhile, he has released a series of films that demonstrate a serious lack of vision or artistry. Every film has taken place in some corner of hell Smith self-referentially refers to as the “Askewniverse”, which contains ever-present characters like Jay and Silent Bob. These characters are shoe-horned into his films despite the fact that they do not belong in the film (did Jay and Silent Bob really need to show up in MALLRATS, CHASING AMY, or DOGMA??) because Smith needs such audience-recognition to shorthand his limp, uninspired writing. Why create new characters and situations when you can just lazily fall back on previous characters??
With the success of the Judd Apatow films – a fact that apparently rankles Smith a little bit – Smith has decided to try and replicate the mainstream success of films like THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN and SUPERBAD with the publicity-baiting ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO. In this interview with First Showing, just listen to Smith talk about the “creative” direction he took for this latest film:
FS: One thing I’ve realized is that this movie has a much more mainstream appeal.
Kevin Smith: Yeah, it does have that feeling, yeah.
FS: Is that something you rationally thought about?
Kevin Smith: No. I just think it has to do with, when you remove Jay and Silent Bob from the equation, when you remove references to the other movies from the equation, even something as simple as taking it out of New Jersey, suddenly makes it more open to other people, which is strange to me. I never thought Jersey was something that was necessarily holding us back, but I’ve seen a few people comment on the fact. They’re like “thank god it’s not in Jersey, because the movie takes a whole different feel.” And I’m like, “Really?” Because we could’ve shot in Jersey. It’s not like we don’t get snow in fucking Jersey just as bad as they get in western Pennsylvania, but, for some reason, removing it from that removes it from the Askewniverse. It helps that the lead is the biggest comedy star of the moment. That kind of makes it more mainstream as well. But I don’t know. It wasn’t a conscious effort of, I’m going to do this in a way that a mainstream audience can get into. It’s just, other elements falling away and then adding elements, like Seth. Suddenly, it becomes little more mainstream.
Why on earth does Smith insist on using words like Askewniverse to describe his films?? Oh yeah … because it helps sell shit on his website. To me, it sounds more like that dorky kid in high school who would only refer to himself by his Dungeons and Dragons name. I am not Kevin, he bellows through the halls, I am Lord Of The Askewniverse!!!
Whatever.
The shocking revelation in the above quotation attributed to Smith is how very little invention goes into what me makes. To Smith, creative challenges in his films involve moving the film’s location to someplace outside of New Jersey. WOW!!! Way to stretch yourself as a writer and director, Kev!!! And apparently Smith, after eight or nine films, has finally managed to not rely on an appearance by Jay and Silent Bob in a film. AMAZING!!! It must have been tough to actually write something else after fifteen years in the business!!!
Imagine if Spielberg, after the success of JAWS, just kept making horror films about deadly ocean creatures for the following decade. Kevin Smith is simply a low-rent George Lucas, pathetically swimming in the same shallow baby pool while adamantly insisting that they are creative and worthwhile forces in film. He’s a less-talented M. Night Shyamalan, forever tied to the shocking twist of his initial success. Hell, even Scorcese managed to do something besides crime films with De Niro.
I think Smith is a good guy, and he’d probably be fun at a bar after watching a movie. But make no mistake: he is not a filmmaker in any way other than the barest technical definition. The guy needs to retire and spend his years lecturing festival geeks about the subtle differences between the prequel trilogy and ass raping.
Whatever … Kevin, please stop making movies.
21 Comments
I think you are probably right mate!
Wow. I’ve followed Kevin Smith films from the start.
And I find it impressive that after going to a film festival while working at a convenience store, he decided to make a movie that became a cult classic.
Instead of just claiming he could make a movie, he actually did it. He’s also never claimed his movies were great, but would open at $30 Million.
I really have enjoyed OWF.com because of all the inside scoops and regular updated news, but really can’t see how spewing ones hatred is beneficial to anyone…except for people who just like complaining.
This article is obviously just aimed at his film making and doesn’t talk about his writing in comics, his autobiography, and his script doctoring that he’s done on other movies.
Disappointing to see something here focused on hatred.
But, everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Write on.
Wow one more wannabe screenwriter busting Smith’s balls for making a bit of scratch. You say Smith sounds like the dorky kid in high school, well this article makes you sound like the artsy kid that hates any and all movies because he has nothing better to do. Oh, but by all means, continue to blow whoever the new, hyped, and completely useless obscure/indie director using a rough, grainy style is because I’m sure that’s real “film making” to you.
I don’t understand how one site that was so against Fanboys attacking Uwe Boll (http://www.obsessedwithfilm.com/movie-news/why-we-should-love-uwe-boll.php), can just go all Fanboy and attack another below average director. Sure, Smith doesn’t make the best films, but it’s not as if he’s going out there trying to win Oscars. And he does more than just direct comedies, let’s not forget, we would probably have never seen Good Will Hunting without Kevin.
Commenting on the content of the article, I agree Kevin has not stretched himself too much. Although I enjoy his works; Zack and Miri does not look like it will become his breakout mainstream movie but I will go see it. I think Kevin’s strong suit is his dialogue. Dogma and Chasing Amy are both deep films once you get past the sh.. monster and Chinese finger cuffs.
Kevin is a niche writer/director much list George R. or Wes Craven. Either you like the niche or your don’t. For me, it is a niche I enjoy.
Commenting on the tone of the Article… What is it with OWF lately. The tone of many articles is getting pretty negative. I always considered OWF an upscale AICN’s. The tone of many articles lately is that of a Rich Kid in a nice suit with a potty mouth.
I am not going to stop coming over a few articles. I actually like the features OWF is starting to run regularly, but I do with Matt would encourage the team to be a little more professional in their criticisms.
Now off to Fandango to pre-buy my Zack and Miri ticket.
Chasing amy was a wonderful flick. I didn’t like clerks though. bad acting yes. But the guy can write for sure.
M night shyamalan? i think he made a few bad movies but Signs had a tremendous build up. And unbreakable remains his best movie. A true gem.
But anyway, its about smith. I think zack and miri will suprise a lot of people (in a good way). But we’ll see. I know everyone has an opinion but this article is a bit too much.
I pretty much agree with the previous commentators on the tone of the article and the merits/lack of merits in kevin smith films. Hell, KS even admits he’s made a ton of money on dick and fart jokes.
Regardless, his movies make me laugh. That’s pretty much all that matters.
your a fucking idiot
What’s with you guys and the mudslinging? News must be really slow this season.
i enjoy most of kevin’s films. i even remember kevin saying something like “I am not a director, I just make the kind of movies that appeal to me.” his movies are entertaining, and are probably not meant to be looked at with the critical, serious lens that you are looking at it through.
@ JB – Very good point about Uwe Boll, and I can see your perspective. To me, Uwe and Smith began life as similar creatures … they both decided to direct a low budget movie.
In Uwe’s case, his films have made impressive box office despite their low quality. Despite the rejection of Hollywood and a large portion of movie fans, Uwe continues to make the films he wants independently. This takes a lot of sacrifice and struggle on his part, but he has been undeterred.
In Smith’s case, he has spent every film since CLERKS sucking the asshole of Hollywood, lazily recycling the same formula/characters/”Askewniverse.” This latest film is nothing more than Smith sellling out even further, desperately trying to replicate the Apatow success formula in order to make more money.
@ ampac – I look at Smith’s films that way because he is constantly – and unfairly – held up as some sort of indie god. His name continuously comes up when people talk about great screenwriters, which is ludicrous. So if critics and fanboys are going to talk in reverential tones about the guy and his “filmography,” then they had better stand up to increased scrutiny.
In my book, Chasing Amy is one of the most truthful films about love and relationships, just that the serious theme is covered with (as some people might say) silly topping. That doesn’t make it a bad movie, once you get past that it’s pretty good and way more real than any other romantic comedy I’ve ever seen.
I saw the NYC premiere of Zack and Miri last week, and I think it was a good blend of old Smith stuff and what he is trying to do now. After the movie, Kevin Smith did about a two hour long Q&A. He said that Seth Rogen told him has been a huge fan of Smith’s and even told Smith that one of his goals was to be in one of his movies one day. Kevin also said that the reason Elizabeth Banks was added to the cast because Seth wanted her desperately, Smith wanted Rosario Dawson.
This is NOT Kevin Smith trying to replicate Judd Apatow, it’s him changing his direction as a director. You can tell (as always) that the movie is Smith’s by the dialogue. Judd and he still have VERY different styles. I think this will become Smith’s most popular movie.
I think OWF should stick with telling the news and not ripping on Fanboys favorite directors, considering that’s your largest demographic. OWF should be working towards becoming a reputable site like AICN or Rotten Tomatoes, and not PerezHilton.com.
@ JB – First of all, Rotten Tomatoes is just a site that compiles reviews; it is not an opinion or news site.
As for AICN, did you just use the word “reputable” to describe that site??? Harry and company regularly spout off about whatever they choose, and occasionally it pisses people off. However, they also tend to write positively for anyone willing to give them handouts and payola. If you don’t believe me, do a quick check on Harry’s flip flop over the format wars a year ago … he loved HD-DVD because Sony had given him four HD-DVD players and had supplied all of his “events” with them as well. Of course, when the format tanked, Harry jumped right on the bandwagon for Blu-Ray. The same goes for his “reviews” and all of the crap that makes it to the front page on that site.
I think you need to stop being so naive.
As for OWF, it is a place that, like any fan site, can have a divergence of opinion and spark healthy debate. Matt has made it quite clear to everyone on staff that he doesn’t want the site to feature only news articles; he wants the opnions to be featured as well. And guess what?? That article is my opinion of Kevin “Askewniverse” Smith.
Don’t like it? You can debate that … in fact, I encourage you to debate that opinion. But telling Matt or anyone on the site how you think OWF should be run is pointless … start your own fucking site.
If you are hungering for news only, I might suggest a site like Hollywood Wiretap.
I didn’t mean to tell anyone how to run this site. I just assumed the nature of the site was to not insult people for no real reson. If I was telling anyone how to run the site, I would start with fixing all the spelling and gramatical errors that these stories are always filled with.
As far as I can remember AICN never had an article’s headline contain the words ‘Whorish Hack.’ The only reason I commented on this article was because I thought the way you wrote it was classless, and you were just trying to get a rise out of people. I admit I am a big Kevin Smith fan, and I respect that you don’t like his movies, I don’t expect everyone to like them. But the article you wrote seemed unnecessary. This site has Kevin Smith news all the time. I don’t see why, on the day of his new movie premiere, you had to tear him apart. I just don’t get it.
Finally, let me say that I love OWF and visit quite frequently. The format is my favorite out of all the movie sites I check out, and I love all the scoops and new features. Keep it up.
My first reaction to this piece was that it was cool. I like when a site’s writer goes against the grain and gives a strong opinion even though some will disagree.
I’ll always respect honest opinion over the pure kiss ass postings on some other sites. At the end of the day this is Ray’s house, and the reader is just a visitor!
Chuck
@ Chuck – Dude, you have a cool site!! Just what I needed … yet another movie site to visit every single day!!
I had trouble registering, though … I really wanted to comment on some of your stories. The audio show is great, too!
Great article.
Shame about the people getting their panties in a bunch because you said some “strong” words. ;)
Normally I don’t enjoy the opinions expressed on this site (An unusually high amount of love for .. “whorish hacks”, hah) but this one I like. Seems like your real feelings and it’s right on point. Thanks for that. :)
Thank you, ZarathustrA. All anybody ever gets from me are my real feelings … which does, as you might imagine, get me in a lot of arguments :)
I know you may not like Smiths style but staying that he made all his movies relaying on Jay and SB is stupid. Some of his movies relied on it heavily but all of them they are rather an addition to the main story. For me they are closer to a cameo apperance of tome cruize on tropic thunder than to being a pilar of his movies (except for their own flick).
I think you are busting him mostly for the 2 mentioned characters instead of the whole career. Also bashing him for creating all his movies in one universe is a bit silly. Especialy that some of his movies differ from each other (well unless you’ve only seen clerks 1,2 and Jay and Sb). Many ppl simply like his universe as a lot of ppl can realate to it and like the jokes. Yes they are silly, dumb and vulgar but simply some ppl need it and still he tries to convey some of his opinions threw his movies. The fact that it’s not about world peace and global warming shouldn’t really make them worse. It’s not a beauty pageant you know ;)
Still I agree he could change more if he wanted to be percieved as a more talented/better director. Yet apparently he doesn’t care about it so don’t treat him like he aspires to it.
Peace.
@ Norbar – Perhaps I wouldn’t hate it so much if Smith wasn’t monetizing that “askewniverse” bullshit for a profit. Go to his website, where you can see him shill his “askewniverse” crapola to anyone willing to buy it.
He’s not so much a filmmaker as he is the latest version of the inventor of The Pet Rock. I have no problem with people creating endeavors to make money; this website makes money, and so do most movie websites. In a way, they are trading off of the creative enterprises of others. But Smith keeps trying to posit himself as a filmmaker with a real message and creative endeavors … and he clearly does not.