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Starring: | Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti |
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| Directed by: | Kevin Smith | |
| Written by: | Kevin Smith |
Kevin Smith nearly achieved the American dream with this feature. He took several credit cards, maxed them out to make this film, got heavily into debt and then made it all back as this ultra-low budget masterpiece amazed audiences and critics alike. If he just did it whilst humiliating his old friends, then the dream would truly be complete.
Clerks was probably the greatest breath of fresh air in the film industry of the nineties. Alongside Reservoir Dogs and Trainspotting, it showed that films don't have to be high-budget, star studded blockbusters, overladen with special effects and merchandising opportunities. Instead, these represented the revolution of character and story. They veered from the norm, ignored studio criticism and went on to triumph beyond all expectation. Good for them, better for us.
| Even more than Trainspotting and Reservoir Dogs, Clerks is driven by it's characters, mainly because it has little else to fall back on. There's a hint of a story about an ex-girlfriend, but the film is pretty episodic. Dante & Randall react to each other, the customers and the dynamic duo - Jay & Silent Bob, making their first ever appearance. The protagonists seem to represent aspects of ourselves: Dante is a human punchbag, seeking peace with the customers and just trying to get through the day. Randall is aggressively apathetic with an attitude that could earn him a job with any mainstream supermarket. Together they face the increasingly bizarre events the day throws at them, ranging from riot-inducing gum salesmen to disturbed guidance counsellors searching for the perfect dozen. Although these are the extreme examples, it's quite frightening how realistic most of the customers are (especially the guy searching for that video, you know the one with the actor who was in that film last year?). Anyone who has suffered hours behind a cash register will shudder and smile as they see their life flash by on screen. |  |
Kevin Smith chose to shoot this film in black & white, something that may put off the moronic majority of moviegoers. Speaking from experience, I know people who have refused to watch films because they're not in colour. Don't worry, these are the same people who will refuse to seek cover until they're shown written evidence that The Bomb is falling. I don't know whether Kevin Smith selcted this style because of a limiting budget or artistic design, but I can tell you it has no negative effects on the film itself. Colour wouldn't have hurt, but it wouldn't have helped either.
Clerks was recently voted the 14th funniest film of all time. Although I don't agree with such a high standing humour-wise (it's funny & witty, but will rarely have you laughing out loud), it's certainly one of the top five movies from the nineties. You may have trouble tracking it down (especially if you don't want to be ripped off), but it's definitely worth the trouble. Finally, an interesting fact: Kevin Smith was originally to play the part of Randall, but was unable to learn the dialogue as well as fill his directorial duties; which is why Randall has the best lines. He only took the part of Silent Bob because it wasn't filled & had little in the way of lines. Time efficient or extremely talented yet lazy bearded git? You tell me.
Summary: If you're not put off by the lack of colour, then you deserve to see this film. Witty, resplendent and (periodically) disturbingly realistic, Clerks should be remembered as possibly the best independant American film of the nineties.
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