Chasing Amy

The Criterion Collection
(1997)

• Audio Commentary by Cast and Crew
• Ten Deleted Scenes and Outtakes
• Dolby Digital (AC3) Surround Sound
• Original Theatrical Trailer

Notes: The third installment in director Kevin Smith’s “New Jersey Trilogy,” “Chasing Amy” follows the tumultuous love affair between a young comic artist (Ben Affleck) and the beautiful woman he loves (Joey Lauren Adams). There’s one little hitch however…she’s gay. Best known for his critically-praised indie feature “Clerks”, Kevin Smith has become one of Hollywood’s most influential young filmmakers (even though he lives in New Jersey). The strength of his writing compelled many to proclaim him the upcoming king of independent filmmaking.

That is, until a little sophomore picture called “Mallrats” hit theaters. To say the film was lambasted is to go easy on it. The Prince of Indie was quickly chastised as a disgrace to the throne and dismissed by many of the same people who had built him up.

When “Chasing Amy” beamed onto the screen at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival, it was obvious that the East Coast filmmaker did, in fact, have a special gift for storytelling. Though some were critical of the message that a gay woman could be turned straight by the right guy, most found the writing and acting to be on an above average par.

The performances by Joey Lauren Adams and Ben Affleck are more than just a little bit responsible for the high praise. Both put a great deal of passion and emotion into a pair of roles that could very easily have fallen short of the mark in the hands of less able actors.

The inevitable return of Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (director Smith) is among the film’s many great gems. After spicing up “Clerks” and taking their lumps in “Mallrats,” many were happy to see the stoner pair back in top form–spouting obscene and thought-provoking tales while eating bagels and smoking cigarettes.

At its heart, however, is a tale of insecure love through the eyes of three very different people. Smith has called the film his most personal project and, in many ways, it shows. Moreover, perhaps, it shows that Smith’s filmmaking is something special and can shine under the right circumstances for the right studio.

The Criterion Collection special edition of “Chasing Amy” is one of the good ones. Besides a total of 10 deleted scenes, there are outtakes, the original trailer and commentary by director Smith and Co. The package also contains a map of the “New Jersey Trilogy” — complete with detailed info on the players of all three features.

HOT SHOT OF THE WEEK

In love with Amy. Writer and director Kevin Smith (r.) recently met fans of his Miramaxrelease “Chasing Amy” at tthe TLA Video store in Mahattan’s Greenwich Village. Smithautographed photos, scripts and T-shirts for almost 200 customers. Also present was TLA general manager Marc Walkow.

– Video Business (January 26, 1998)

“You’re not man enough to do an action movie. You have to be a tough guy, Ben. You’re going to look like a fool holding a gun … you kissed another man in my movie!”

– Ben Affleck’s recollection of what “CHASING AMY” director Kevin Smith had to say when he told him he’d been cast alongside Bruce Willis in “ARMAGEDDON”.

Finally! The comic you knew you were gonna see, but were only asking when and how much longer. It’s the ONI DOUBLE FEATURE featuring “Jay and Silent Bob in Walt Flanagan’s Dog.” See the whole story that inspired the “…faster than Walt Flanagan’s Dog” quote uttered by Jay in Mallrats. The Askewniverse expands into the comic book world! This 32 page comic (16 devoted to Jay and Silent Bob) also features the 16 page “Secret Broadcast” by Arnold and Jacob Pander. BONUS: This comic also comes signed by Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes!$5.00 each. Order Here!

See the full color cover here (114 K)

Keep the world’s most talked about movie and comic duo right next to your heart with the Jay and Silent Bob picture t-shirt. This shirt features a black and white picture of Jay and Silent Bob in yet another crazy pose with the words “Jay and Silent Bob” underneath that captured moment in time. Order Here!

$18.00 + shipping M, L, XL
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Detailed image here (160K GIF)

Mumford: Well this is from director Lawrence Kasdan, his first film since“French Kiss”. The only redeemable thing in that was Kevin Kline really..anyway this one is about a shrink named after the town who starts toingratiate himself into the town. The reason I mention this is thatopposite the stranger (Loren Dean) would be a psychiatrist who wants todiscredit the stanger.. Two actors in talks are Ted Danson and JasonLee. The shrink tries to discredit the stranger and unravel hisidentity.. this sounds similar to a flick with Anthony Edwards called“Hometown Boy Makes Good”. No word on a female lead yet.

I’ve seen things, children – and what I’ve seen, I’ll share.

I saw an opulent trailer, nearly as large as the Secret Stash itself, on a Burbank lot, mere feet from the twin soundstages that housed a mock mission-control center, the interior of a space shuttle, Liv Tyler, working moon rovers, a thermonuclear device, and a scale meteor surface.

And in the middle of it all, was Our Ben.

Weird to see one of your nearest and dearest in the middle of vast, event-picture, ol’ fashioned-Hollywood movie-makin’… but fuck if he doesn’t look like the mack in the middle of it! Ben’s coming to save the world this summer, kids – and he’s still the same ol’ pimp.

God, I love that guy.

I didn’t get to hang with D-Nice, though – bitches ran off to Vegas one day and Superbowled it the next. My apologies for the club mix-up, D (although you missed nothing), and I hope to see a brother in Pittsburgh.

Anyhoo, that Vanity Fair pic went off without a hitch…

Well, okay – one hitch: I broke a table.

But short of that, it went well. Annie was really nice (she saw me from across the yard, marched over and said “Now you, I know,”) and the photo’s pretty huge. Lots of director-types in it, including Atom Egoyan, Griffin Dunne, Forest Whitaker, Kasi Lemmons, Jay Roach, Daisy Von Scherler Mayer, Mimi Leder, Mary Harron, Gary Fleder, Bryan Singer, George Tillman, Boaz Yakin – the list goes on. I spoke with a few of them (Atom, Griffin, Kasi, Gary – all fans of the flick; talked to Bryan about ‘X-Men’; talked to George about the laserdisc), but the thing was over pretty quickly. I look forward to seeing the results.

Later that day, went out to dinner with Chris Rock and Jay, and Mario Joyner and Rick (“Col’ getting paid ’cause Rick says so!”) Rubin at a place called ‘Barfly’ (a rubber-necking kinda place, with Joe Pesci over here, Wilt Chamberlin over there, etc.). After dinner, I took a ride with Rock to the Comedy Store, and he did an impromptu twenty minutes of new material he wanted to test. It was great to watch (and weird, as Chris followed Willie Tyler and Lester).

Chris threw an invite the way of me and Junior Mewes for Jerry Seinfeld’s Superbowl Party. It was a hell of a gesture, but even if it was the all-nude-chicks-eating-eachother-out Superbowl party, I’d still have a hard time going, as I’m bored to tears by televised sports (alright – I’d have probably gone to the hypothetical naked chicks Superbowl party – I might’ve even gone to the no-naked-chicks, Jerry Seinfeld Superbowl party… but I was preoccupied at the time).

Met with a potential DP and costume designer (when they’re confirmed, I’ll drop names), and an A.D. as well – taking care of business as we head into the home stretch.

Saw ‘Jaws’ on the big, big, big screen at the Universal Ampitheatre, compliments of my man Dan Etheridge. New print, digital remix sound – so sweet.

Hit the offices of toy collecting mag ‘Go Figure’, thanks to writer-man Dave Harris. Me, Mewes and Ethan got to lay hands on some of the ‘Star Wars’ toys that aren’t due for months yet. Pretty sweet.

My Superbowl Sunday preoccupation? Joey Adams (first time I’d seen her in seven months, tv appearances notwith-standing). She’s doing well. It was a nice visit – actually pretty great to hang with her again.

Finally… had lunch with Mister George Carlin – something of a dream come true for this uber-Carlin junkie. Good God, is he one smart motherfucker (halfway through the meal, I recalled why I started building my vocabulary from a young age – you need it to keep up with Carlin).

And as if just hanging out with him wasn’t reward enough, he’s a fan of the script as well, and once details (like schedule and salary) are out of the way, it looks like he’ll be joining us in Pittsburgh.

As Chris so aptly put it “Now all we need is Sam…”

All in all, a productive (professionally and personally) LA trip. But I’m glad to be home…

Even if Loughran’s sicker than hell (because even sick, she’s still the cutest thing alive).

“This comic book was an excelent suprise. It is a clever, well-writen, silly super-hero, slice-of-life comic book. (yada, yada,) Imagine The Avengers populated by charactors from Kevin Smith’s “Clerks” film. (yada, yada,) This is recomended for fans of Kevin Smith films, fans of Hate and other charactor based humor comics.”