Clerk

"I've known Kevin Smith for over 25 years. We met when we were both at the start of our careers, mine as a journalist and his as a filmmaker.... while I slowly transitioned into making documentaries, I watched Kevin become a defining voice of a generation. He has a career that influenced many, he built an enviable loyal fan base through his early use of the internet as a megaphone, he flexed his mercantile instincts by opening a comic book store and became a raconteur of the first order by mastering live gigs and podcasting .... "Malcolm Ingram

For all those who are passionate about pop culture and cinema and who, like us, have been to San Diego Comic-Con several times, the name of Kevin Smith is very symbolic as he represents not only a true cultural phenomenon but also a gifted director whose first memorable films are still remembered. His first film Clerks: The Model Employees (Clerks) (1994) established a cult following upon its discovery and spawned two equally cult characters, Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (whom he plays himself and who does not speak). These two characters as the central characters of a part of his filmography have thus appeared as main or secondary characters in several other of his films (Mallrats (1995), Chasing Amy (1997), Dogma (1999), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), Clerks 2 (Clerks II) (2006), Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019).

It is interesting to discern in Kevin Smith's career as a director, as this documentary shows, two distinct cycles. While his first films were comedies such as Father and Daughter (Jersey Girl) (2004), Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008), Top Cops (Cop Out) (20210), from 2011 he turns to a horrific cycle with notably Red State (2011), Tusk (2014), Yoga Hosers (2016) and soon Killroy Was Here (2021). A genius jack-of-all-trades, Kevin Smith is not only a director and screenwriter, but also continues to be a renowned comic book writer and above all a gifted speaker as shown by his podcasts (SModcast, Fatman Beyond, Hollywood Babble-On), his various shows (one of which we were able to discover in San Diego during the San Diego Comic Con. Kevin Smith is also a fan of derivative products, some of which are in his own image. He has his own store in New Jersey in Red Bank, Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash.

With such an overflowing energy, we suspected that a documentary would sooner or later see the light of day and allow us to learn more about this true American cultural phenomenon. Written and directed by Malcolm Ingram, it is fascinating and full of various anecdotes. Close collaborator of Kevin Smith notably on different podcasts, his new documentary after notably Small Town Gay Bar (2006), Bear Nation (2010), Continental (2013) and Out to Win (2015) stands out as his best to date and above all allows us to better understand the evolution of Kevin Smith and how his serious heart attack caused by a total blockage of the left anterior descending artery on February 25, 2018 changed forever his conception of life and made him understand how important it was to have a healthy life and not be overweight.

The film shows how this child of New Jersey passionate about comics, cinema tried his luck by directing with notably his own savings his first film and how his direction evolved while remaining faithful to themes that are close to his heart. By addressing his filmography, shooting locations, his personal life, his relationship with his daughter and his mother, Clerk brings a new look on Kevin Smith. We will appreciate the numerous images of the San Diego Comic-con which remind us how much we miss this world convention and that we are waiting for 2022 to return all its exhilaration, its unforgettable atmosphere and hopefully a new show of Kevin Smith.

With many archival images and fascinating interviews including Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Lily-Rose Depp, Richard Linklater, Justin Long, Jason Mewes, Joe Quesada, Jason Reitman, Michael Rooker, Don Smith, Grace Smith, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, Harley Quinn Smith this documentary film was one of the highlights of the SXSW festival.

Clerk
Produced and directed by Malcolm Ingram
Starring Betty Aberlin, Joey Lauren Adams,Ben Affleck, Marc Bernardin, Raquel Castro, Matt Damon, Lily-Rose Depp, Walter Flanagan, Ralph Garmin, Trevor Groth, Penn Jillette, Bryan Johnson, Stan Lee, Richard Linklater, Justin Long, Jason Mewes, Scott Mosier, Judd Nelson, Brian O'Halloran, Vincent Pereira, Janet Pierson, John Pierson, Joe Quesada, Brian Quinn, Jason Reitman, Michael Rooker, Don Smith, Grace Smith, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, Harley Quinn Smith, Kevin Smith
Music by Martin Rae
Cinematography : Bruce Lee Roberts III
Edited by Sean Stanley
Production companies : TCB Productions
Release date : March 16, 2021 (USA)
Running time : 112 minutes

Seen on March 18, 2021 (SXSW)