"Clerks X"
DVD Review
by Kevin Carr
| MOVIE: ***** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: ***** (out of 5 stars) STARRING Brian O’Halloran as DANTE HICKS Jeff Anderson as RANDAL GRAVES Marilyn Ghigliotti as VERONICA LOUGHRAN Lisa Spoonhauer as CAITLIN BREE Jason Mewes as JAY Kevin Smith as SILENT BOB Rated R Studio: Miramax Directed by: Kevin Smith Back to DVD Review Home |
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It’s hard to believe that it’s been ten years since Jay and Silent Bob first made it to the big screen, and Kevin Smith became a household name (well, at least a household name for college students, burn outs and indie film fans). And in looking back through his films, I still say that “Clerks” is my favorite Kevin Smith movie.
What made “Clerks” so great? Maybe it was because he didn’t feel like he had to live up to something. Even today, this grainy B&W 16mm film with crummy sound and rough acting is the benchmark of Smith’s entire career. Even he can’t move away from it, evidenced by the fact that (according to the trade press) he’s bailed on directing “The Green Hornet” to do “Clerks 2.”
Although Kevin Smith sets himself up to not care about what people say of his films, he does. And this is what made “Clerks” so good. He wasn’t caring when he made it. He was just making a movie he thought was funny. And there was something about “Clerks” that touched an audience beyond just indie film fans.
Even Kevin Smith doesn’t realize where all of his “Clerks” audience came from. They aren’t just dope-smoking college students. It would probably really cheese Smith off to realize that he has conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh to blame for some of his viewers. When “Clerks” came out on video, Limbaugh talked about it on his show, actually pointing out a strong conservative message amid all the talk of oral sex, snowballing and one of the characters having sex with a dead man. At the end of the film, Randal berates Dante for being the constant victim. Randal, of all people, delivered a message that connected with Rush Limbaugh of all people - that your success in life is your own responsibility.
This 10th anniversary release contains three discs, and like any Kevin Smith release, you can bet there’s some great stuff in there. The first disc contain the original theatrical version with most of the features from the original DVD and laserdisc release - including the original 1995 commentary track, the trailer and music videos. This new disc also has a lost scene that was animated into the film with the “Clerks Animated Series” style, Smith’s “Flying Car” film he shot for “The Tonight Show” and the lost MTV spots with Jay and Silent Bob. One final treat is the original auditions for “Clerks” for Brian O’Halloran, Marilyn Ghigliotti and Jeff Anderson.
Smith and long-time producer Scott Mosier recorded new intros and segments for this DVD, although these are pretty lame. Maybe they’re running out of things to say about “Clerks” after ten years. Maybe they’re just getting old.
The second disc contains the original cut they sent to the IFFM, which has integrated into it all the deleted scenes you might have seen on the original “Clerks” DVD and laserdisc release. It also has a brand new commentary track with Smith, Mosier, Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson and Jason Mewes. This is an interesting track, not just because it gives a ten-year retrospective, but also because it is the first chance to hear what Jeff Anderson (who had a falling out with Smith after “Clerks” was sold and thus wasn’t invited to commentary sessions) has to say.
Disc 3 contains one of the best extra things on the “Clerks” 10th anniversary release, a documentary called “Snowball Effect: The Story of Clerks.” This feature-length documentary tells the journey of “Clerks” and offers some new insight into the film’s sale. One of the more striking things I took from this was how close “Clerks” was to never even being seen by anyone but family and friends. It was just by chance that indie film consultant Bob Hawk even went to the screening at the IFFM in 1993. (He was the only one in attendance that Smith didn’t know.) Also, “Clerks” was originally rejected by Harvey Weinstein as a Miramax acquisition because he walked out during the anti-smoking scene in the beginning. Although “Clerks” is a great film, Smith has to thank lady luck for getting it sold.
Also on disc 3 is Smith and Mosier’s first directing effort, “Mae Day: The Crumbling of a Documentary,” which they did at Vancouver Film School. There’s also a 10th anniversary Q&A which rehashes many of the same stories we’ve heard, and shows us some obsessive fans that even annoys the heck out of Kevin Smith and gang.
While I’m not a huge fan of reading content off a DVD screen, there is plenty on this disc if you’re into that sort of thing. Some selections including articles and reviews as well as original journals from Kevin Smith. Finally, if you’re a Kevin Smith fan who hasn’t yet purchased the script for “Clerks,” you can get the entire 160-page screenplay with your DVD-ROM.
If you’re a fan of “Clerks,” this DVD is a must have. The same thing goes if you’re at all interested in the story behind “Clerks.” The bottom line is that “Clerks X” is a great DVD for many different reasons, even for the casual Kevin Smith fan.
Specifications: Dolby Digital. Widescreen (1.85:1).
