THE TOP TEN KEVIN SMITH MOVIES
10 Cop Out: What is there to say. Kevin took a chance and directed someone elses script and it was a by the numbers below average buddy cop film. The only real drama was behind the scenes and that doesn't help the film I had to sit through.
Stand out: Seann William Scott attempts to rescue to film.
Cringeworthy: The "chemistry" between Tracey Morgan and Bruce Willis
9 Jersey Girl: Kevin attempts to make a heartfelt movie. And he does. Unfortunately, it's just not very entertaining. It has a few brief moments but it can't maintain any momentum.
Stand out scene: George Carlin is wonderful as Affleck's working class father. His finest dramatic moments.
Cringeworthy: The Lopez scenes are tough because they were obviously cut significantly due to Bennifer nonsense.
8 Red State: I know Kevin considers this his magnum opus, but it's just an average horror film. It starts off with a good premise and the first half of the film is very good, but it starts to fall apart at the end. It seems he fell into the valley between serious film and farce. He should have went farther to one side or the other.
Stand out: Kevin Pollak- if you've seen it, you know why.
Cringeworthy: All the government officials are way out of character in this "serious" film
7 Zack and Miri make a Porno: This movie is a deep fly ball that just hooked foul. It's almost a top three Smith film, but whatever magic I find in his earlier films isn't here. Good performances all around and a decent idea. It all just feels clunky in the middle and Seth Rogen seems better used by other directors.
Stand out: This is Jason Mewes best acting job
Cringeworthy: Seth Rogen having sex... eww
6 Clerks 2: Smith brings back the Clerks for round 2 and it's an enjoyable sequel. Not as fresh as the first but O'Halloran and Anderson are on point again. Dante is again in a love crisis and that carries the film with much insanity and flights of fancy from Randal. This is an easy sell, if you liked the first one, you should at least enjoy this.
Stand out: Elias is a great addition as the Lord of the Rings loving clerk
Cringeworthy: Really, Dante can land Rosario Dawson?
5 Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back: This is probably your least favorite if you don't like call backs and crazy movie tie ins. This is Smith's love letter to his fans, his friend Jason and himself. Filled with characters from previous movies and celebrity cameos all over the place, its a good movie if you can turn off your brain.
Stand out: Look kids, it's Mark Hamill!
Cringeworthy: I really don't need your wife in this movie.
4 Chasing Amy: Kevin's deepest and most "adult" film. It's a wonderfully written script of a man who fall desperately in love with a lesbian. It works because Affleck's Holden is taken seriously and most of the crazy comedy is left to Lee's Banky. All the relationships are totally believable from the best friends to the lovers. If only Kevin made more films like this or Mallrats instead of trying to do both.
Stand out: Hooper X's speech. What's a Nubian?
Cringeworthy: If Joey Lauren Adams voice is a hurdle, this could be a problem for you.
3 Mallrats: This is the height of Smith's sillier movies. This movie would happily slide into the summer releases of the mid-eighties. Nearly every character has a smart remark or a little bit of comedy business and it all works. Even the love stories as silly as they are portrayed feel heartfelt.
Stand out: Jason Lee steals this movie. The dating game is his moment.
Cringeworthy: remember when Shannon Doherty was a "star"
2 Dogma: The best blend of Smith's films. He makes a catholic based comedy and somehow works Jay and Silent Bob into the mix, and it works. Jay and Bob end up being the audience as they follow Bethenny as she begins her quest to stop two fallen angels. We run across an apostle, a muse and a cooky cardinal played by George Carlin. It's entertaining and engaging. It has great silly comedy but some very somber scenes with Chris Rock and Alan Rickman. A great movie.
Stand out: Buddy Christ
Cringeworthy: Thats your choice for God... really.
1 Clerks: His first and his best. Most people know the story of how he raised the money to finance this film. But that's quickly forgotten on bad movies. Clerks is a great movie for anyone whose life after or during high school isn't going the way they thought. You still hang with your friends, maybe you have a girlfriend, but your lost. We follow Dante through an action packed day at the Quick Stop with his friend Randall. He's not even supposed to be there today! A classic movie.
Stand out: This is Jeff Anderson's movie as Randall
Cringeworthy: Someone has sex in the bathroom... eww.
That's a quick top ten of Kevin Smith's movies. More to come... probably not.
