Love the man, only mildly like his movies... OK, I only mildly like some of his movies. But as a dude? Kevin Smith is tops. Maybe his move towards talk show/talk circuit presentations is the best "direction."
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Kevin Smith: "I Am So, Like, Sick of Movies and Shit"
On the road with the cult filmmaker turned podcaster turned DIY warrior
Smith is quick to point out that he’s not the only 40-something veteran of the ’90s Sundance/Miramax feedback loop who claims to be on the verge of voluntary retirement. Steven Soderbergh, whose sex, lies, and videotape was the first American indie to land a million-dollar deal in Park City, also has said he’s getting out of the game as soon as his current projects are wrapped.
But where Soderbergh’s alleged retirement feels earned — he won an Oscar, and directed a string of respectable experimental narratives, plus the blockbuster Ocean’s Eleven trilogy — Smith has never been as celebrated, and he admits to treading water since his early successes. He says he’s simply burnt out.
The teen MILF hunters of Red State
PHOTO BY KEVIN SCANLON
"All I want to do is talk, talk, talk."
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“I didn’t get into this [business] to just stay in as long as I could,” he says backstage. “I got into it to make Clerks and Dogma, and I did that a long time ago. When your job is to be creative, burn that candle at both ends, empty that tank, and sometimes there’s not much left. And you take your beatings over the years and it’s, like, ‘I get it, I’m not a good filmmaker.’ And that makes the exit even easier.”
Making the decision easier still, Smith says, is the fact that for “the last two years, I’ve made more [money] onstage talking about directing than I have actually directing films. I don’t have a dependency on film financially, and now I don’t have a dependence on film in terms of the whole ‘Kevin Smith, if he doesn’t make films, who is he?’ sort of thing.”
As much as public speaking might help fill the void left by his retirement from film, Smith’s manic activity on Twitter, where he lustily answers his critics and publishes manifestos spread across dozens of 140-character missives, feels like a sign of an identity in limbo. Would it be fair to categorize his career change as a symptom of techno-accelerated midlife crisis?
“I’m a writer, too, so I would like to write the perfect [narrative]: ‘Ah, a midlife crisis! That’s something everyone can identify with!’ But that’s just not it. I think I’m just done making films. I’m happier than I’ve ever fucking been, to be honest with you. With [Red State], I tried to make it as challenging as I could because I wanted to be an artist again. Suddenly, when you see the end in sight, it’s like graduation day, and [I’m], like, ‘Here’s my thesis film.’ ”
In fact, Red State feels less like a summation of all Smith has done to this point than a window into what could have been — or could still become — a second act for his career.
A post–Sept. 11 church-versus-state-versus-common-sense-and-basic-decency parable, the film opens outside a small-town funeral parlor, where a small but brazenly vocal group of protesters from the (fictional) Five Points Church, under the smugly smiling watch of their charismatic leader, Abin Cooper (Michael Parks), greet the funeral of a murdered gay teen with signs bearing slogans like “God hates fags.”
Later, when three horny high school boys answer an online ad from an apparent MILF (recent Oscar winner Melissa Leo) looking for an orgy, it turns out to be a trap set by the Five Pointers, leading to an extended battle for survival among the teenage would-be sinners, the murderous Bible-distorting wackos and, eventually, a crew of bumbling, Patriot Act–emboldened federal agents.
Cooper and his Five Points cult were inspired by Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church (although Phelps exists in the world of Red State, too — the ATF agent played by John Goodman makes the distinction that the WBC gang is “irritating, but they’re not gun nuts like the Coopers; they’re suers, not doers”). In Denver, Smith told the crowd that the seed for the screenplay was watching an extended interview with Phelps shot by Smith’s friend Malcolm Ingram for his 2006 documentary Small Town Gay Bar, which Smith produced. “It was like a horror movie to me,” says Smith, who defines himself as a practicing Christian.
An about-face from Smith’s usual sedentary, solipsistic talkfests, Red State has both the inspiring spark and lack of polish that often mark a first feature. Its ambitious plot structure, combining suspense and violence with an impassioned polemic against moral relativism, has a thrilling go-for-broke bravado. When Smith defies basic storytelling language in action scenes, or resorts to preaching, that bravado is less than charming.
That said, the version of the film making the roadshow rounds is seven minutes shorter than the cut presented at Sundance (Smith says he plans to trim even more before the official theatrical release), and his obsessive tinkering has paid off: The edits have improved Red State’s pace and tightened its argument considerably. Smith says the film is the work of a tapped-out hack winding down toward retirement, but it feels more like the product of a known-quantity filmmaker pressing reset.
34 comments
Lol...Maybe if his films were better he probably wouldnt be quitting..His movies as of late have been quite boring...He lost that spirit after Dogma ever since then nada. So no big deal in my book. Just gives someone hungrier and with more creativity a chance. Now if only M Night whatshisname will follow suit.
Clerks II was good. It had heart behind it. Everything else? Yeah they were pretty bad. But he had dipshits putting him down hardcore. That would dishearten even Kings and Nobles
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[incorrect event name listed dept.] APRIL IS JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH!
Thurs. Apr. 28th - Special TRIPLE signature "Companion Events" Jammin Foundation & Linda Morgan, Ms. SmoothAhead Jazz Presents: HONORING -6PM CHARLES OWENS "Sensei Maestro" & DOLORES PETERSEN - A.Pro-Advocate Rep.
SHOWCASE: And OPEN MIC / JAM: "Welcome Home" And JAM w/ D'z "Lady & Gentlemen" In-House Live Jazz Trio "redoubtable jazz vets" Karen HERNANDEZ & Tony DUMAS · Ralph PENLAND
7PM SHOWCASE: feat. "Woodwindist" FUASI ABDUL-KHALIQ visiting from Germany, "Special" Guest Co-Host JEFFREY WINSTON - Jazz Historian, Philantropist, writer8PM (sign-up 7:30PM) OPEN MIC / JAM: "heavy surprise guests" "stellar assortment of top-flight jazz musicians" Guest Co-Host "Young Lion" RANDAL FISHER - Intern/s DOLORES PETERSEN Presents: @ HSB&G 6122-6124 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood
This is an efing boring article, you lost me after the second paragraph; I didn't finish reading it. Sharp your writing skills.
ur an asshole using a word like that, u are trying to make urself seem above us all with your vocab, must be a film student
this guy is such a douche. never thought he was funny. his lame attempts at humor and use of offensive material come off like a community college student who still makes fart noises in the classroom like a third grader. dont get me wrong, i'm not offended by the jokes, theyre just not funny. clerks was probably the worst movie i have seen in my life
If you thought Clerks was so bad, why did you (a) watch more of his movies; (b) read this article? You don't like the guy, cool. Yet you took the time to read a six-page article on him? Seems weird to me. You must not have much of a life.
The guy simply isn't any good anymore. I loved Clerks, thought Mallrats was funny (purely because of Jason Lee), loved Chasing Amy and Dogma, J&SBSB was alright, liked Clerks 2 and Jersey Girl, and then...HATED Cop Out, Zack & Miri. Hating 2 movies isn't that bad but I used to love Smodcast and now, yikes! HE isn't funny. Scott is GREAT and the only reason I still listen once in a while. But he is so, so terrible. I have NO problem with smoking weed, but if the anti-drug guys and gals need an example of how far some one can fall, look no further than this guy. But, it may not be the weed. It may be the one thing that people don't want to directly blame. I think it may also be his wife. In case Mr. Smith (I'm not on a first name basis with him anymore as we've grown apart) ever reads this, I'll refrain from going any further on that as, even though his wife his ruined his sense of comedy, she should be more important to him than his career.
I love his films. He's a great guy, but sadly lives in a world 3/4 full of wankers.He definitely deserves better from people who slag him off for the sake of it. I mean nobody HAS to watch his movies. I don't like many people or they don't appeal to me and often I don't even know what they look like because I ignore the stuff that I know isn't to my taste.Not give it/them attention just so I can mouth off about them online.This was a good piece too.Now give that penis a sandwich.
You are so, like, sick of movies and shit, Smith? What a coincidence! Why? Because movies, moviemakers, and moviegoers are all sick of YOU.
Suggestion: please take a wee break from the endless Smith Co. branding and self-promotion. Just go away and leave us all alone for, like, 5 or 10 minutes, during which time you could put down the bong, maybe study writing and/or directing, learn how to structure a screenplay, use the camera to tell a story...y'know, shit like that?
[listing dept.(corrections & details]Upcoming Events• Showcase And Open Mic / JamEvery week Thursday Thurs. Apr. 7th, 7p and 8p, sign-up 7:30p (Blues, Jazz, Latin, Pop And multi-genre)SHOWCASE: And OPEN MIC / JAM: "Companion Events" (vocalists/instrumentalists)LARRY DAVIS "CD Release Party" And JAM... + (both events) Guest Host: James GERALDEN & "D'z" In-House Live Jazz Trio " 'Lady & Gentlemen' too " Karen HERNANDEZ & Tony DUMAS · Don LITTLETON "masterful" accompanist/improv-musiciansDOLORES PETERSEN Presents: @ HSB&G 6122-6124 Sunset Blvd., HollywoodThurs. Apr. 7th, 7p and 8p, sign-up 7:30p (Blues, Jazz, Latin, Pop And multi-genre)
[listing dept. details] Thurs. Apr. 7th, 7p and 8p, sign-up 7:30p (multi-genre - Blues, Jazz, Latin, Pop)SHOWCASE: and OPEN MIC / JAM: "Companion Events" (vocalists/instrumentalists)LARRY DAVIS "CD Release Party" and JAM... Guest Host: James GERALDEN DOLORES PETERSEN Presents: @ HSB&G 6122-6124 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood
He's one of the nicest people I've ever had the privilege to meet, and considering his place in the world - he didn't need to give me the time of day. He's ALL Class - no matter what ANY paper says. Great interview, I'm looking forward to the show on Saturday!!!
[listing dept.]
APRIL 2011 DOLORES PETERSEN Presents: (instrumentalists/vocalists)02 Carlos Guitarlos 6-9pm Señor Fish [Blues, Pop, Rock’n Roll, Roots]03 Serge Kasimoff 5pm Duna Csárda [Classical, Jazz, Latin, Pop]03 Javier Vergara 5-7:30pm Señor Fish [Jazz]07 SHOWCASE: 7pm Larry Davis CD Release Party HSB&G [Jazz]07 OPEN MIC / JAM: 8pm Guest Co-Host James Geralden - HSB&G [Jazz, multi-genre]09 Carlos Guitarlos 6-9pm Señor Fish [Blues, Pop, Rock’n Roll, Roots]10 Serge Kasimoff 5pm Duna Csárda [Classical, Jazz, Latin, Pop]10 Javier Vergara 5-7:30pm Señor Fish [Jazz]14 SHOWCASES: 7pm Sharon Stanley HSB&G [Jazz]14 OPEN MIC / JAM: 8pm HSB&G [Jazz, multi-genre]16 Carlos Guitarlos 6-9pm Señor Fish [Blues, Pop, Rock’n Roll, Roots]17 Serge Kasimoff 5pm Duna Csárda [Classical, Jazz, Latin, Pop]17 Javier Vergara 5-7:30pm Señor Fish [Jazz]21 SHOWCASE: 7pm Society of Singers Fundraiser HSB&G [multi-genre]21 OPEN MIC / JAM: 8pm HSB&G [Jazz, multi-genre]23 Carlos Guitarlos 6-9pm Señor Fish [Blues, Pop, Rock’n Roll, Roots]24 Serge Kasimoff 5pm Duna Csárda [Classical, Jazz, Latin, Pop]24 Javier Vergara 5-7:30pm Señor Fish [Jazz]28 Pavior Night 5:30-7pm Honoring Charles Owens and Dolores Petersen HSB&G [Jazz]28 SHOWCASE: 7pm Fuasi Abdul-Khaliq, Guest Co-Host Jeffery Winston HSB&G [Jazz]28 OPEN MIC / JAM: 8pm Guest Co-Host Randal Fisher HSB&G [Jazz, multi-genre]29 Chambers, Herbert & Ellis 8pm Duna Csárda [Jazz]30 Carlos Guitarlos 6-9pm Señor Fish [Blues, Pop, Rock’n Roll, Roots]NOTICE - L.A. Acoustic Meetup Fridays @ Cafe Audrey on hiatus until further notice.
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