JEFF FROM THE CINEFILES: HALL OF FAME: FILE #008: CLERKS (1994)

Written & Directed By: Kevin Smith
Cinematography By: David Klein
Editor: Kevin Smith & Scott Mosier

Cast: Brain O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Lisa Spoonhauer, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Walt Flannigan, Scott Mosier, David Klein, Marilyn Ghigliotti


Everytime I see this film now I am reminded of all my friends out there who are making and struggling to make their independent films. So in a way this review is dedicated to them.

The film is like a independent album it is stripped down and bare looks and sounds cheap but you like it and becomes a inspiration because you look at the film and think hey I could do that. Not fully realizing how much work went into what looks like simplicity. The ironic thing is that Director felt the same way after seeing Richard Linklater’s film SLACKER.

I first saw the trailer for Clerks when I saw Pulp fiction for the 3rd time. I had read a lot of articles about the film and saw reports on the entertainment shows but after seeing the trailer I knew I wanted to see it and so did my dad. I can’t remember why but I never got around to seeing in in the theater, but I did see it on Home Video and couldn’t stop watching it once I did. I watched it repeatedly for about a month.

The film was one of the milestones of the milestones of the 90’s independent film scene and was kind of like a blueprint for what a new generation wanted to achieve in films when it came both to the artists who wanted to watch them and the audiences that enjoy watching films. It was a film that showcased there generation and spoke to them and for them. The film is really about conversations and two guys at a point in there lives where there next moves will be what defines them. Yet the two have ridiculous conversations and hangout most of the day. Not genius but funny and yes witty to a point, Not classic wit but more modern wit.

The story of the film is the day in the life of a employee of a convenience store who works with his best friend who works at the video store next door. Dante is more of the straight man who believes he is smarter then most people especially his customers but doesn’t nothing about it amusing himself in his superiority. Knowing he is better then this but either too lazy or not confident enough to do something about it himself. While his friend Randal is truly his id. Who knows his limitations and just goes with the flow in search of excitement and fun. It follows them mainly through conversation and the hijinks they get into with customers. The film has a great sense of humor that is more verbal then physical. The situations come more from regular day to day social occurances then just rally crazy situations. So that it doesn’t seem to be funny just to be funny. It seems more natural like a person who is generally funny versus a person who is doing stand-up. While the film is not awe inspiring visually it has a tight script and passable acting. Quite accomplished for a low budget first feature.

The reason the film is in black and white is that color film was more expensive. He filmed the film late at night. Which is why the shutters in the film are closed since the film is set mostly during the day. He edited the film during the day in back of the store.

The original intention of the film was supposed to be a semi-autobiographical day based on his experiences working at the quick stand and video store. He had gone off to film school in Canada and realized that he could probably make a feature for as much as he was paying in tuition for his next semseter. So he came up with the plan to just go for it. Make a feature. Go home back to his roots and make a film. It was helped by the fact that he wasn’t doing as well at the school as he had hoped. Plus he felt like he was wasting money and barely got to touch the equipment. He paid for the film with a combination of Credit cards and borrowed money from family and friends to a film with a budget of $27,000. (The soundtrack after the film was done cost more then the film) So he cast family and friends did some casting of a few professional actors. The original intent was supposed to be a joke. In the alternate ending, Lead character Dante gets shot to death on what was supposed to be his day off. That made the film all of a sudden to gritty for the laid back mood and atmosphere it had displayed throughout the film.

The Success of the film lead to it being a Cinderella story.It was bought by Miramax after Sundance. Who hired lawyers when the film got a NC-17 rating. Based on just language. Which got the film a lot of attention and publicity.

In full disclosure I have met Kevin Smith personally quite a few times so yes I am biased. He was always very courtly and nice to me. Even signing my version of his SUPERMAN RETURNS script.

He seems to mostly depend on his fans who he actually loves and will be the first to criticize his films and work. He is like a jolly smart clown less physical but just as fun.
I think his drive is what I think inspires a lot of people n youtube and other sites of that type to put up their films show their own sense of humor. Which might not be studio ready, But let’s them express themselves to an audience. His s just one of many fingerprints.

One of the arguments people have against him is that his style hasn’t changed or matured from this film on. As it is understandable for a first time filmmaker to stay in his comfort zone.

He has made a business off this film and his following films embracing fans with a chance to have access and meet him. Ask him questions they had about his films and in filmmaking in general, which rendered him more as one of them who got lucky instead of the establishment. Something maybe other filmmakers need to embrace.

When it comes to Mr. Smith and his movies his appeal seems to be that while other directors such as the Coen Brothers are more like bookish overachievers who make filmmaking look effortless and never fail to amaze. Then there are filmmakers like Woody Allen who have been doing it so long they seem to be repeating themselves and seem to be writing films to entertain themselves. Kevin Smith seems like the stoner student who you can tell is smarter then his work or necessarily the company he keeps. Yet seems like he is perfectly happy at just getting by. Never really applying himself too hard because it is naturally in his nature to rebel and be underestimated. He wants to do things the way he wants to do them as long as enough people like it and It entertains people like him or around him. Which maybe why his audience seems to be people who more relate to him and his stories more personally then admire his actual skill. Though he is not without his charms and good ideas. He is far from being talentless. The problems that relate to his films are more subjects of follow through, Cosmetics and material. Despite it all I like him. I see it like if I were a teacher he is that student who you see lots of potential in though everyone else has written him off. I enjoy most of his films.

It is ironic that he was the first to embrace the internet and it’s evolution of things offered but is slow on embracing filmmaking technology.

I can go on and on about this film. It is definitely worth seeing one of the few most people can agree upon Is his masterpiece as long as you don’t ask my co-hosts on THE CINEFILES.

GRADE: A+