Chasing Amy: Kevin Smith's Best

[SAI]

Can't believe there wasn't a topic for this.

Chasing Amy was the first of Kevin Smith's film that I saw and remains my favourite. This is because, while the dick and fart jokes are all present and correct, Amy is, at heart, Smith's most mature film, a well told, adult, love story.

As with most romantic films that I like the main factor here is that I believe the central relationships (all of them). So the love story convinces but with Kevin Smith what we want to know is how funny the film is, it's hysterical.

My favourite line (among many) is probably
Banky: You're insane, Archie is not fucking Mr Wetherbee
Hooper: Deny, deny, deny.
but the film is packed with quotable dialogue.
By using more experienced actors than usual Smith lifts the script as the funny lines seem natural (while Clerks, good as it is, often feels as if it is being read).

The performances are all good but I have to single out Jason Lee, Banky could have been 'the funny guy' but Lee's performance turns him into much more than that, he is very funny but also handles his few dramatic scenes well.
Ben Affleck's performance is frustrating, towards the end of the film Holden becomes such an idiot that you'll be screaming at the TV for him just to forget about 'fingercuffs'. Affleck gives the most layered perfomance in the film and hasn't been as good in anything else since.

I have only two complaints about Amy.
1: I really don't like the music
2: The scene with the lawyers seems to exist for no other reason than to get Matt Damon and Brian O Halloran in the film. The cartoon could have been dealt with another way and this redundant scene deleted.

Chasing Amy: 9.5/10

[APzombie]

While i like the film and think it was well made, i have to disagree with the part when you said it was Smiths most mature film. I think Dogma takes that title. I am so pissed off that people dont like it, i think Dogma is brilliant and is very smart. Smith had the idea from the start of his carrer but said he was not "mature" enough to make it. Dogma is a different story though. I liked Chasing Amy but i dont think it is his best.

[Kavan]

Prof: Name a love story."
Student: Titanic
Prof: It is silly boat story. It is studio crap. Name love story."
Brenden Fraiser: Chasing Amy"
Prof: Girl with strange voice maybe loving man now this is love story with attitude."

Had to quote that IFC commericial since it is imprinted on my brain.

What happens when your average guy falls in love with your average lesbian? So is the question that propells Kevin Smith's film,
I'm not sure this is Smith's most mature film but I think it's his most romantic.

The story of two comic book slackers living in arrested development and what happens when their assumptions and comfort are disrupted by real life questions.

Holden and Banky, like most of Smith's characters, are set in their comfortable (well to them) life until something shakes them out. The something here is Alyssa and Holden's feelings for her.

Smith asks very provocative questions about the nature of love, sexuality, trust and honesty. The screenplay is packed with memorable scenes. Affleck realizing the girl he loves, loves girls. Banky/Holden discussing women. Alyssa telling Holden she wasn't born with a road map in her head. And of course the ultra romantic in the rain love declaration scene.

If there is one disappointment in watching this it's that while Scott and Affleck have gone on to big careers the real star of the Adams has done less. Her performance is great.

The thing that always makes Smith interesting is his willingess to transform provocative issues into developed characters. To take what could be a movie of the week premise and turn it into an interesting premise. He always layers his questions inside of characters who are falliable and yet deeply likeable. And he never goes for the easy way out.

8.5/10

[The Rob]

This movie was so serious.......... I was expecting somethign along the lines of Dogma or Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back...

I got blown away, it's not my fave tho.

[herculeez]

Cahsing Amy was an excellent movie.
It proved to be one of Kevin Smiths best in my eyes.
Granted it didn't contain as much abusve humour as Mallrats, Dogma or J&SBSB did, but it was a more down to earth serious love story.
With superb acting as always from Smiths favourites, Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams and Jason Lee it created a film with a spur of all emotions that you need to feel to keep yourself going throughout this movie.
The movie from one second can have you shouting at the screen in, to tears of laughter!
The scrawny...sometimes annoying voice of Adams can prove to be too much for some in the scenes where she cries, shouts and ESPECIALLY SINGS!
It proves to be a film of intelligence and easily qualifies as one of smiths best.
With the ritual invitation of Jay and Silent Bob coming to every movie they show themselves to be just as funny in this as they do in every film, only Bob is this time pervcieved as an extrmely intellectual individual...more so than other times with extreme wit to go with the character.

The film has extreme originality, i mean how many times do we see the cliched film where guy falls in love with girl, girl turns out to be gay, guy and girl become best friends, guy revelas he loves her even though she's gay, girl says she loves him claiming she wasn't gay, she was just keeping an open mind.
It's a great story and a pleasure to watch.

8/10.


[This message has been edited by herculeez (edited 02-14-2002).]

[Jacker]

This one (Chasing Amy) is actually my least favorite. I mean it was original for a romantic comedy and the dialogue was superb. But, I can't say I dug it as much as Mallrats, Clerks, Dogma, or even Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back. It just isn't as fun to watch multiple times. I still give it an 7/10. That because I to hated the sound track and maybe some scenes run on to long. Really just a male chick flick. Confusing I know.

[This message has been edited by Jacker (edited 02-15-2002).]

[Bud_Fox]

Great fucking posts, everyone. Chasing Amy is by far Smith's most Mature film to date. Yes Dogma is a mature film, errr...well compared to Clerks, Mallrats, and J&SBSB, but c'mon between the Shit Demon, Jay's non-stop remarks, and the Catholism Wow!, thumbs up Buddy Christ gags, need I say more that Dogma is not that mature a movie. Chasing Amy However only has one Jay and Silent Bob appearance, and apart from the "Whats a Nubian?", and lebian and gay Archie jokes, the premise of Chasing Amy is very mature. And the real kicker I think (major fucking spoilers) is the fact that in the end they don't even end up together!

I would have to say that unequivacally Chasing Amy is the most original, and hands-down best Romantic Comedy of 1990's decade period

Chasing Amy is also Ben Afflecks best work to date bar none. The rain scene when they are inside Holdens truck and he pours his heart out to Alyssa is by far his best performance ever.

Its sad that because Smith's previous two films were so over-the-top immature that Chasing Amy was pre-judged before it ever was released. Regardless I think Chasing Amy is benchmark film making, and will always be reveered as a Classic as far as I am concerned.

Smith neatly and appropriately sums up the whole movie himself.

Diner Scene

"I wasn’t disgusted with her, I was afraid. At that moment, I felt small -like I’d lacked experience, like I’d never be on her level or never be enough for her or something. And what I didn’t get was that she didn’t care. She wasn’t looking for that guy anymore. She was looking for me. But by the time I realized this, it was too late, you know. She’d moved on, and all I had to show for it was some foolish pride, which then gave way to regret. She was the girl, I know that now. But I pushed her away...So I’ve spent every day since then chasing Amy...(takes a drag from his smoke)...So to speak.


Chasing Amy 9.5/10




[This message has been edited by Bud_Fox (edited 02-15-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Bud_Fox (edited 02-15-2002).]

[Scarface989]

my review wont be as long. Chasing Amy 7/10
A departure of the usual romance movie, with the main guy Holden (Ben Afflect) falling in love with a lesbian (Joey Lauren Adams). I have never seen Mallrats, and dont really intend to, but out of the 4 I have seen, I like Chasing Amy the least. But that depends on Mallrats. Clerks was what I thought was his best, proving you don't need a big budget to make a good movie, just a good idea and friends. Chasing Amy was just my least. Jason Lee was the man, as always, and doesn't disappoint. Afflect is good, it's just too bad he later went for paychecks rather than quality. Dwight Ewell owned his role as the gay black comic writer. Adams was what probably disappointed me. Her voice was distracting and just never seemed to have that much chemistry w/ Afflect, which is required for a romance movie. I also thought it took away much of the chemistry when Alyssa is bragging about who she's slept with, and she suddenly falls in love w/ him. But I still liked the movie.

[Fergus]

This is the best movie I have EVER seen by Kevin Smith, and alas......... the only one I have ever seen by Smith. I saw the beginning of Dogma, nothing much of interest there, but anyway, about Chasing Amy.....

I thought it was a very original romantic comedy. Seeing as how they have become very cliched lately, watching this was a breath of fresh air, oh yeah. The entire premise, original written all over it. Some scenes were funny, some touching, I can't remember very much about it, but I remember when she kisses Holden and they fall in love, that type of thing, I was ready to cry. Then the inevitable ending, WOW! Realistic, and sad. That was a tough scene to sit through. It is not your normal romantic comedy and it shows you that early on. I like the fact that Smith never takes the easy plot turn to finish a scene, and that makes the film unpredictable, and I like that. New air is always good. This is the one and only movie I will enjoy Ben Affleck actually act, and he does a mighty fine job here. Kudos to Joey Lauren Adams, she is hot hot hot, even if she does play a lesbian in the film. I give it a ****1/2 out of five, or a 9 if you wish.

[This message has been edited by Fergus (edited 02-27-2002).]

[Kavan]

I do wonder why it was that Affleck showed such promise as an actor in this film and yet has settled afterward into a string of bland performances.

[The Rob]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">I do wonder why it was that Affleck showed such promise as an actor in this film and yet has settled afterward into a string of bland performances. </font>

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[ilovemovies]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Kavan:
I do wonder why it was that Affleck showed such promise as an actor in this film and yet has settled afterward into a string of bland performances.

</font>

While Affleck may have done many movie bland roles in movies like Phantoms, Pearl Harbor and Armageddon, I think he has done many good roles in good movies too. Bounce, Forces of Nature, Dogma, Boiler Room, Good Will Hunting and to a lesser extent, Shakespear in Love. I also happened to like Riendeer Games a lot too. And Changing Lanes looks like another interesting one and I am very interested in seeing how he does as the new Jack Ryan in The Sum of All Fears.

[Weapon X]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Jacker:
This one (Chasing Amy) is actually my least favorite. I mean it was original for a romantic comedy and the dialogue was superb. But, I can't say I dug it as much as Mallrats, Clerks, Dogma, or even Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back. It just isn't as fun to watch multiple times. I still give it an 7/10. That because I to hated the sound track and maybe some scenes run on to long. Really just a male chick flick.</font>

Couldn't have put it any better myself. Chasing Amy is good, but I think I cna leave it out of my Kevin Smith collection.

[Benny]

I've never realy been in love or been in a serious relationship before. I don't know if this has an effect on my liking of this movie. I personally enjoyed Chasing Amy, but didn't think it was Kevin Smith's greatest even though the idea is very original for a romantic comedy.

Jason Lee is hysterical in this movie as Holden's friend Banky Edwards. His wisecracks are great and he is probably my favorite character in any Smith film besides Jay and Silent Bob. Affleck does pretty well as Holden but is nothing special. Joey Lauren Adams' is good too but her voice is hard to get used to. I also enjoyed the comic book sub-plot and connections to caracters in Clerks, but I felt the film was severely lacking of more Jay and Silent Bob!

Overall it's Smith's most mature film to date, but not his funniest, most pulled-together, or most enjoyable either. I'd give it a 7/10, pretty good considering I hate most romantic comedy.

If you're attracted to women, then do you like looking at yourself in the mirror naked? http://www.joblo.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Tyler_Durden_208]

I agree with Bud_Fox. The ending grabbed me by the balls and by the end *gasp* http://www.joblo.com/ubb/eek.gif The Trench Coat Dude, Tyler Durden, The Fuckin' Man was cryin' his eyes out. Only 3 other movies have made me do that. http://www.joblo.com/ubb/frown.gif

And for the inevitable question what's the others: Rain Man, Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (com'n, Godzilla dying is sad), & First Blood (my Dad was in 'Nam so he wouldn't ever watch it and I indeed felt sorry for Rambo, but it would have been more powerful with the alternate ending).

http://neitherday.com/movies/fight_club_1.jpg

[APzombie]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Bud_Fox:
Chasing Amy is by far Smith's most Mature film to date. Yes Dogma is a mature film, errr...well compared to Clerks, Mallrats, and J&SBSB, but c'mon between the Shit Demon, Jay's non-stop remarks, and the Catholism Wow!, thumbs up Buddy Christ gags, need I say more that Dogma is not that mature a movie</font>

Taking the shit demon, Jay and Catholosim WOW! as a reason of it not being mature is only taking it from face value and it's like saying Chasing Amy is not mature becuase of all the lesbian remarks and perverted jokes. Dogma is very intelegent in how Smith interperts the Bible and creates a story of two fallen angels while streaching what is written from the Bible but staying true to it's readings.