Red State
2011
****
Director: Kevin Smith
Cast: Michael Angarano, Kerry Bishé, Nicholas Braun, Kyle Gallner, John Goodman, Melissa Leo, Michael Parks, Kevin Pollak, Stephen Root
Three horny teenagers go on a group sex date, which turns out to be a trap set by Albin Cooper and his extremist religious group Five Points Trinity Church, who take the kids hostage. Kevin Smith has made a career out of dialogue-heavy, pop culture-obsessed comedies which have never really appealed to me. This self-distributed exploitation flick is a total departure for him, and his finest work to date. During the snappy and refreshing 90 minutes, the story pulls the rug out from under us time and time again. One moment it's a conventional horror film, then a pitch black comedy, the next it's a family drama and a hostage thriller where you root for the bad guys. The latter sections throw in shootouts, government conspiracies and a religious twist with a twist. The performances are great, and Smith directs the whole thing like he's just graduated from film school. The cult leader Cooper is clearly influenced by Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church, and the second half events brings back memories of the 1993 siege in Waco, Texas.
Clerks II
2006
**
Director: Kevin Smith
Cast: Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Rosario Dawson, Trevor Fehrman, Jennifer Schwalbach, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith
Everything and nothing has changed since Clerks. Dante and Randal are in their thirties, and they’ve advanced from manning a convenience store to flipping burgers. Dante, who is once again torn between two (implausibly gorgeous) women, at least wants to break out of his depressing existence, but Randal is cool with status quo. This irksome comedy doesn’t reach even the modest heights of the original. It’s superficially about growing old, but the dialogue continues to revolve around sex and popular culture and the characters act like geeky and horny 16-year-olds. Smith's film offers his trademark blend of raunch and schmaltz. Admittedly it does take special talent to move from bestiality to conservative family values in a matter of minutes, even if it doesn't produce anything funny.
Dogma
1999
*
Director: Kevin Smith
Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Chris Rock, Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman
It's difficult to comprehend the controversy over Kevin Smith's comedy on Catholicism. I doubt many of the religious zealots actually managed to watch this turkey to the end. The story about two fallen angels who try to get back to Heaven is as funny as cancer and as thought-provoking as all the other Kevin Smith movies. It's Shit Demon, like one of its characters.
Chasing Amy
1997
***
Director: Kevin Smith
Cast: Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Lee, Dwight Ewell
Kevin Smith's third film is possibly his best. It's a smart and charming if not entirely believable romantic comedy about a comic book artist who falls in love with a girl who prefers girls. Less smut and geekiness equal more enjoyment.
Clerks
1994
**½
Director: Kevin Smith
Cast: Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Lisa Spoonhauer, Jason Mewes
22-year-old Dante mans a convenience store while he tries to find direction in his life. His friend Randal, who runs the video rental store next door when he feels like it, is perfectly happy being the slacker he is. Kevin Smith's directorial debut was shot in black and white on a minimal budget. This cult comedy is moderately funny but not exactly cinematic. In fact it's so dialogue heavy that you occasionally find yourself tuning out. Followed by a 2006 sequel.
