Post by StevePulaski on Jun 26, 2011 22:20:05 GMT -5
Rating: ★★★½
Filled with wit and sarcasm, otherwise known as my kind of film, An Evening With Kevin Smith is a full course, over three hour meal that never runs dry and never feels too long. It's a very informative, indepth, and interesting Q&A with the man himself who has directed one of my favorite films, Clerks. Seeing him in front of the camera not saying more than a few sentences at the dead end of the movie is different and welcomed. We deserve more Kevin Smith, on camera appearances.
I've mentioned countless times that Kevin Smith's limited release masterpiece Clerks is my favorite film because of its quick witted characters, its smart dialog, and desire to have fun with itself by being so natural. The dialog is set not as if it was repeated over and over again by the actors in the mirror, but as if it was improvised and a free spirit. No other movie has the acting Clerks has except for other Kevin Smith movies of the View Askew series.
An Evening With Kevin Smith is a collection of Q&A sessions hosted by Smith himself, and one with supported by View Askew star Jason Mewes. College kids ask questions and are messed with by Smith whether they want a serious answer or not. Kevin Smith answers the questions wholeheartedly, but manages to throw in his snarky and vulgar remarks as well as an occasional penis joke.
The only complaint I have is the way the film is edited. It cuts to different high schools with no rhyme or consistency or even hint that it will. There doesn't seem to be a pattern. It would be better if we got title cards saying something like "Duke University...M/DD/YY" when these cuts happen. But often times we don't. Seems like I'm running in to awkwardly constructed editing lately with Carrot Top Rocks Las Vegas and Pauly Shore's Natural Born Komics being nearly ruined by their strange, obtrusive editing.
When people ask my favorite director I stumble upon those combined words. Then I think, Kevin Smith. He has directed four movies I gave four stars to in my reviews. This one just a nickel shy of a perfect score. I don't think "James Cameron, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, etc" when I think "favorite" anything. I don't pick very famous films or serious films. I pick films that I can watch again and again and never get tired of. Movies that are relatable and very close to home with me like Clerks and License to Drive.
There is always a character in Kevin Smith films that are like me. In Clerks, it's Dante (O'Halloran). In Mallrats, it's T.S. (London). In Chasing Amy, it's Holden (Affleck). And in Dogma, it's a little bit like Loki (Damon). All of those guys, with the exception of Loki, are sort of like push-overs in life, relationship strugglers, and very down to Earth independent people with dopey friends. My life in a nut shell. When you can put yourself in the shoes of a movie character, you have a relationship with the movie that only makes sense to you.
An Evening With Kevin Smith will most likely seem outrageously long for a person who is (a) not familiar with Smith's work and (b) is not into long explanations about the behind the scenes part of films. I can't blame them. If you're not into something, it's hard to follow. However, if you are a fan of Smith and his work, see it for sure. And if you're a fan of Q&A sessions, give this one a whirl. It's long, but strong.
Starring: Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes.
Filled with wit and sarcasm, otherwise known as my kind of film, An Evening With Kevin Smith is a full course, over three hour meal that never runs dry and never feels too long. It's a very informative, indepth, and interesting Q&A with the man himself who has directed one of my favorite films, Clerks. Seeing him in front of the camera not saying more than a few sentences at the dead end of the movie is different and welcomed. We deserve more Kevin Smith, on camera appearances.
I've mentioned countless times that Kevin Smith's limited release masterpiece Clerks is my favorite film because of its quick witted characters, its smart dialog, and desire to have fun with itself by being so natural. The dialog is set not as if it was repeated over and over again by the actors in the mirror, but as if it was improvised and a free spirit. No other movie has the acting Clerks has except for other Kevin Smith movies of the View Askew series.
An Evening With Kevin Smith is a collection of Q&A sessions hosted by Smith himself, and one with supported by View Askew star Jason Mewes. College kids ask questions and are messed with by Smith whether they want a serious answer or not. Kevin Smith answers the questions wholeheartedly, but manages to throw in his snarky and vulgar remarks as well as an occasional penis joke.
The only complaint I have is the way the film is edited. It cuts to different high schools with no rhyme or consistency or even hint that it will. There doesn't seem to be a pattern. It would be better if we got title cards saying something like "Duke University...M/DD/YY" when these cuts happen. But often times we don't. Seems like I'm running in to awkwardly constructed editing lately with Carrot Top Rocks Las Vegas and Pauly Shore's Natural Born Komics being nearly ruined by their strange, obtrusive editing.
When people ask my favorite director I stumble upon those combined words. Then I think, Kevin Smith. He has directed four movies I gave four stars to in my reviews. This one just a nickel shy of a perfect score. I don't think "James Cameron, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, etc" when I think "favorite" anything. I don't pick very famous films or serious films. I pick films that I can watch again and again and never get tired of. Movies that are relatable and very close to home with me like Clerks and License to Drive.
There is always a character in Kevin Smith films that are like me. In Clerks, it's Dante (O'Halloran). In Mallrats, it's T.S. (London). In Chasing Amy, it's Holden (Affleck). And in Dogma, it's a little bit like Loki (Damon). All of those guys, with the exception of Loki, are sort of like push-overs in life, relationship strugglers, and very down to Earth independent people with dopey friends. My life in a nut shell. When you can put yourself in the shoes of a movie character, you have a relationship with the movie that only makes sense to you.
An Evening With Kevin Smith will most likely seem outrageously long for a person who is (a) not familiar with Smith's work and (b) is not into long explanations about the behind the scenes part of films. I can't blame them. If you're not into something, it's hard to follow. However, if you are a fan of Smith and his work, see it for sure. And if you're a fan of Q&A sessions, give this one a whirl. It's long, but strong.
Starring: Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes.