An Askew View

by Muir, John

• ISBN13: 9781557835864
• ISBN10: 1557835861
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-10-01
• Publisher: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books

Summary

When CLERKS opened at cinemas across the country in 1994, it took everyone, especially the film industry, by surprise. Filmed on a shoestring budget after hours at a convenience store, it was crude (in technique and language), realistic and, above all, hilarious. The movie's nationwide success helped launch the indepedent film boom of the 1990s and catapulted its director, Kevin Smith, to full-fledged stardom. Smith's work is explored in AN ASKEW VIEW, the first ever study of his films. John Kenneth Muir examines all of Smith's movies. including MALLRATS, CHASING AMY, and the hugely controversial and variously interpreted DOGMA. Muir discusses Smith's themes and obsessions in depth: his New Jersey boosterism, the cast of characters that pop in and out of all of his films, and the references to STAR WARS and other icons of pop culture. AN ASKEW VIEW is a fascinating and detailed history of the art of this visionary filmmaker, New Jersey's favorite local-boy-makes-good since Bruce Springsteen.

Table of Contents

The Planet of the Apes Threshold An Introduction to the Films Of Kevin Smith	1	(8)
Coming of Age in New Jersey	9	(14)
Clerks	23	(34)
``I'm Not Even Supposed to Be Here Today!''
Mallrats	57	(26)
A Laundry List of Complaints
Chasing Amy	83	(24)
I Finally Had Something Personal to Say
Dogma	107	(28)
Leave it to the Catholics to Destroy Existence
Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back	135	(24)
A Jay & Silent Bob Movie? Who Would Pay to See That?
Clerks	159	(14)
The Animated Series
Kevin Smith Conquers the Universe!	173	(16)
Sneek Peek	189	(6)
Jersey Girl
A Tribute to Jay & Silent Bob	195	(4)
Epilogue You're Closed	199	(2)
The More You Know...	201	(2)
Appendix F@&%--ing Baby Talk: The Kevin Smith Lexicon	203	(4)
Bibliography	207