Posted by Bob301 at dialup-64.154.139.48.dial1.phoenix1.level3.net on April 12, 2003 at 08:11:01:
In Reply to: Jersey Girl controversy... Does it worth it? posted by Laguna on April 12, 2003 at 07:40:29:
: hem...sorry for interruptiong, folks. Maybe i don't get the point because i'm from Spain and here we don't get neither National Enquirer nor that Bennifer stuff but...
-The whole tabloid/Bennifer stuff just gets on my nerves. I ignore it. In fact, the most I ever hear about it is on this web board. I think they deserve to be left the hell alone, and it's none of my business what they do whatsoever.
: DO YOU CARE ABOUT THE FILM ITSELF ?
-The only reason I'm excited about this film is I've seen the films Kevin has made, and I think they are brilliant. He gets a lot of abuse for each of his movies, for one reason or another, but I'm a fan of every one of them. Clerks is often put down becasue of it's language. I swear about the same amount when I'm with my friends. in fact, our language goes way beyond swearing, and into raunchiness. Mallrats is often seen as childish, but I think it's one of the great teen films. Dogma is often persecuted for the religious message; I like the belief vs. idea theme, and it's one I've subscribed to since I was very young. Amy is, of course, derided for the lesbian in love with a straight guy thing; I think it should serve more as an example of how people should be open and honest about their sexuality. Why rule out anyone based on gender, especially if you are unsure about your sexuality to begin with? As for Strike Back, it's just a fun romp, and I love how open and unthreatening the characters find their homosexual undertones. I often joke this exact way with my friends. So, I find Kevin's films based firmly in reality, or at least in my reality. If Jersey Girl is as honest and thought-provoking as the other films he's done, I'm sure it will be a good watch. I know a good movie when I see one, even if I disagree with the basic plot or the characters.
: I mean. I'm a Kev Smith fan but that doesn't mean I'll take anything he offers in his films. Sincerely, the plot of "Jersey Girl" sounds (from what we can read in the site. Of course we have to wait until the real screening) like some "Chasing Amy" meets "Reservoir Dogs" or somethin'.
-I don't know that much about the plot, but I'll go on faith based on the previous films. That's why I saw Tenenbaums, and why I'm looking forward to the new Christopher Guest movie. I think Kevin's past movies speak in favor of his new one. If it's good, I'll see the next one on faith as well.
: I'm glad Kevin is succeding right now, but that "falling in love with a lesbian" sounds a little bit forced right now. Don't take it the 'homnophobic' way but does that really happen in real life ever?. I've meet some bisexual people and they're not so 'cool and trendy' as Amy's characters. Maybe i'm not cool enough myself but i subscribe to Banky's way of thinking in AMY, and don't believe in that kind of ralations more that a one night stand.
-That opinion is sure to draw fire at some point. That's lambasting an entire way of life. I'm sure Glaad would disagree, at the very least. I say, let people do whatever the hell they want. The affairs of the heart are complicated, and just becasue some people can't see their homosexual side doesn't mean no one has a gay side. I think that's as clear as I can make it
.
I Hope Kev does it well, i really do, but i'm afraid he's no 'independent filmaker' anymore (and i ain't calling him 'media mainstream cocksucker! you sold your soul')
-Kevin has stated in interviews that the 'indie' part of his career was really over after Clerks, becasue his films have been studio funded since then. However, I think he still fulfills the spirit of indie filmmaking, by doing subjects the big films never do for fear of losing viewers. Kevin doesn't shy away from a movie because of controversy, so that makes him an indie at heart.
: Please mind about the movies, not the megastars. When everyone of us (at least me and my friends) went to the theatres to see CHASING AMY we hardly knew who Ben Affleck was. There weren't any Pearl Habours . We cared about the film.
-I saw Amy becasue I wanted to see what Kevin would do next. I don't go see movies because a particular actor is in it, because I've found that most actors will play any part that pays big enough, and so can't be a reliable measurement for the quality of the flick they are in. Writers, however, tend to make movies that are consistent in quality. Directors often make movies with the same feel to them (think Tenenbaums and Rushmore) and so can also be used to judge the quality of the flick.
: If you read this yourself, Kevin, please think about it. You made greats movies about common people, honest films (i think that's the 'indie' part, not the budget). Don't mess it with what it seems to be a ultrahyped-friends-kinda-sitcom.
-I'm really not sure how to respond to this.
: I really want to be completely wrong. Now, people out there, is your turn to farm over what i've said.
-Done and done.