Hmmmm…

A Vulgarthon in Red Bank.

In March, mayhaps.

Maybe April.

Hmmmm…

I know everyone’s gonna be like “Show ‘Clerks II’!” but I can’t include that in the announced lineup and sell tickets off of it, ‘lest Weinstein Company throw a fit.

I imagine it’ll be a replay of the stuff we did at the L.A. Vulgarthon, to some degree…

Extended Jersey Girl
Oh, What a Lovely Tea Party
Big Helium Dog
Now You Know (if Jeff is into showing it again)

And one other flick. An unannounced surprise…

I trust I make myself obscure?

On the special guest front, we probably wouldn’t have many. Can’t imagine a lot of the peeps involved in the flicks will want to trek out to Jersey in the late winter/early spring (if ever).

In other words, I wouldn’t expect an all-star “Chasing Amy” panel of peeps in attendance. A) Because we wouldn’t be showing “Amy”, and B) Just because.

However, showing the “Chasing Amy” Q&A from the L.A. Vulgarthon might not be out of the question. Boy, that’d be something: showing a Vulgarthon Q&A to another Vulgarthon audience… and then doing a Q&A about it. The universe might collapse in on itself.

My Faves of 2005

The One I’ll Take Shit For, Part 1: War of the Worlds
Fuck you, I dug it. It was my favorite movie of last year, hands-down. “War” is a well-made, edge-of-your-seat thriller, and Dakota Fanning is awesome in it. Even though we all knew the ending, Mr. Spielberg somehow made this a gripping watch.

The One Everybody Likes: Brokeback Mountain
This ain’t just the gay cowboy movie: it’s the saddest flick I’ve seen all year. And I love sad flicks – particularly well-made/well-acted ones about people not living their lives the way they really want to. Heath Ledger didn’t give a performance in this flick: his Ennis exists – that’s how genius his non-performance was. Not since Billy Bob Thorton in Raimi’s underrated “A Simple Plan” has an actor been buried so deep in a character that you forget there’s acting going on. Ang Lee, whose film directorial choices are always all over the place in a great way (”Wedding Banquet” to “Sense and Sensibility” to “Hulk” to “Brokeback”) made a great, great film.

The One I’ll Take Shit For, Part 2: Revenge of the Sith
Fuck you, I dug it. I thought it was a great way to end the “Star Wars” saga. Dismiss me all you want, but c’mon: that was a fantastic opening half hour. And at the end of it all, we got Vader back in black.

The One That Made Me Happy: Crash
Such a good flick. And no unhappy endings (well, mostly).

The One That Made Me Feel Dumb: Syriana
I loved “Traffic”, so it was no stretch to love this flick, too. Great script, great performances. And it confirmed my worst fears about pool lights.

The One I’ll Take Shit For, Part 3: Dreamer
Fuck you, I dug it. The trailer made me cry more than the movie, but I felt it was still a great watch. Once again, that Dakota kid’s awesome. And why didn’t anyone else ever think to pair up Kris Kristoferson and Kurt Russell as father and son before? “I love the stupid King” too.

The One That Surprised Me: Cinderella Man
Alright, there were one too many instances of “People were so poor during the Depression…” (”How poor were they?”), but the second half of the flick more than made up for it. Great performances all around (especially Russell Crowe and Paul Giamatti), and a unusally good job by Ron Howard. And not being well-versed in sports lore, I was so glad to not know how it was gonna end.

The One That Made Me Feel Guilty for Not Doing More: The Constant Gardener
Strong, well-made flick, with great performances, but fuck, did it leave me feeling like I’m not doing enough for the world outside my own.

The One That Did the Impossible: Sin City
Robert and Frank Miller somehow managed to take the “Sin City” graphic novels and put ‘em up on screen as… the “Sin City” graphic novels. This flick was, visually, an amazing achievement, and fun as fuck to watch.

The One That Reminded Me of Why I Got Into Film in the First Place: Junebug
It’s out on DVD now. Pick it up and give it a watch – not just for Amy Adams’ performance, but because it’s a really wonderfully drawn, quiet portrait of small town life and manners. This flick really stuck with me.

Honorable Mentions

A History of Violence: Yay, Cronenberg and his great cast.
Capote: For Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s performance alone.
The Wedding Crashers: Vince Vaughn made this flick for me.
The 40 Year Old Virgin: Two words: Seth motherfuckin’ Rogen.
Inside Deep Throat: My 2nd favorite documentary of the year.
Sky High: It was a Kurt Russell kinda year for me, and this clever flick was another reason why.
Good Night and Good Luck: David Strathairn, an actor I’ve always dug, in another impressive, Clooney-helmed flick.
Mrs. Henderson Presents: What can I say? I’m a Judy Dench-whore.
Batman Begins: For Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine alone (not to mention Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, and Cillian Murphy).

And last, but certainly not least, my favorite documentary of the year, Reel Paradise. Yes, I was an exec-producer on this flick, and some may say it’s kinda gauche to champion your own shit, but fuck you, I dug it. It’s a doc about some of my favorite subjects on the planet: movies and John Pierson. It’s coming to DVD in a few months, so keep an eye out for it.

He’s back! Playing to a packed house at WonderCon 2005, everyone’s favorite indie filmmaker/comics writer/blogger/comics store owner, Kevin Smith, returns to San Francisco. Currently finishing up the sequel to his first film, Clerks, Kevin will spill the beans about the new film, The Passion of the Clerks, in another of his mega-popular Q&A sessions at WonderCon!

This is a must have if you’re a fan of Smith. He has all but put his sweat and blood into this release and it shows. Having two versions of the film is nice and the documentary is a phenomenal extra. Definitely worth the money to but if you have the previous edition, this is the definitive DVD to have if you worship at the alter of Smith.

“The Sundance Film Festival is an annual event, nearly 30 years old (back then called the Utah Film Festival; the event was later renamed to Sundance in 1991). Sundance once represented the pinnacle of independent film; virtual unknowns could submit their works of art and become famous overnight – we can thank the festival for filmmakers such as Kevin Smith (Clerks) and Robert Rodriguez (El Mariachi).”

Current cut of the flick: 91 minutes.

Met with Harvey yesterday, who’ll be in attendance at the 2/23 screening (at the current running time, we’re no longer looking for cuts; the whole shindig is really for Harvey’s benefit, at this point, so he can peep it with an audience). The plan is to show the Cannes folks the flick in early March. Fingers (sorry, “doigts”) crossed.

August still looking good for the theatrical release, though maybe mid-to-late August, to get out of the way of the Will Ferrell NASCAR flick that opens August 4th (a flick it’d be nice to get trailered on…). Talking about a 1000 screen launch.

Trailer company is being hired and will be cutting the trailer in our L.A. office soon, hopefully after seeing it in Feb. with audience, so they can see what the big laugh moments are (though not all; we’ll be keeping some things under our hats).

Swapped out a few songs, and screened the flick with Jim Venable to grab some light score cues.

Rosario came by on Tuesday and watched the flick, too. She loved it.

USA Today First Look piece running either this week or next, complete with new pics.

indieWire: PARK CITY ‘06: Malcolm Ingram: “And if you truly have something to say. Nothing will stop you from saying it.”

“…Tell us about the moment you found out that you were accepted into Sundance.I was in my den. I had just gotten off the phone with my editor Scott trying to figure out when we’d find out if we got in.

Trevor Groth called. And my brain instantly broke. It definitely goes up there as [one of the] top three moments in my life so far.

What do you hope to get out of the festival and what are your own goals for the experience?

My main goal is to try and secure some form of distribution to ensure the film gets out there. I’m also looking forward to sharing the experience with my crew. They worked so damned hard. I thank God that it wasn’t for naught.

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AP/CNN: Gore, Nader, Aniston at Sundance

“…”I’ve always had an incredibly warm feeling about the place,” said Smith, who returns to Sundance as executive producer of buddy Malcolm Ingram’s documentary “small town gay bar,” about oases that homosexuals find in the Deep South. “I went there as a dude with a job at a convenient store and left there as a dude with a film career. That place changed my life in a matter of about four days.

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Reuters: Sundance Festival sets stage for indie filmmakers

“…Director Kevin Smith, known for making movies like “Chasing Amy,” executive produced Malcolm Ingram’s “small town gay bar.”

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Out In Hollywood: Queer Lounge Builds Audiences for Gay Films At Sundance

“Small Town Gay Bar,” a documentary about the patrons of two local gays bars produced by Kevin Smith (”Clerks,” “Chasing Amy”); “

Good Will Hunting Oscar winner Matt Damon and his wife Luciana are expecting a baby girl, the actor has revealed. Damon, who married in secret last month, confirmed the news to reporters in the Dominican Republic, where he is shooting new movie The Good Shepherd with Angelina Jolie and Robert De Niro. When quizzed about his four-month pregnant wife, Damon replied in Spanish, “It will be a girl,” according to local newspaper El Caribe. Argentina-born Luciana has been teaching Damon Spanish.

Jason: I love Steven Carrell. And if he would let me ask him out on a date, I would ask him. I’d take him to the movies and for a drive up the coast…

Interviewer: Brokeback Mountain? (Jason & Ethan laugh)

–cuts to Steven Carrell –

Steve: That’s NOT gonna happen. (deadpanned, then smiles) No no honestly I think Jason is going to be winning it this evening. That is my personal prediction. If I were a betting man, that’s what I would bet.

Mallrats (1995)

CHARACTER Brodie Bruce, a comic-book-loving slacker who decides to cheer up his pal T.S. Quint (Jeremy London) by taking him to the local mall after they’ve both been dumped by their respective girlfriends. Comic misadventures ensue.

SLEAZE FACTOR Off the charts. While at the mall, Brodie has make-up sex with his ex (Shannen Doherty, left) in the elevator, delivers several unprintable rants that focus largely on sexual misbehavior, and sabotages a batch of chocolate-covered pretzels with his own, um, stink. Still, he’s the surprisingly charming center of this underrated comedy.

EW GRADE B (Read the review)

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Chasing Amy (1997)

CHARACTER Comic-book artist Banky Edwards, who becomes a resentful third wheel when his best friend and business partner, Holden (Ben Affleck, left), takes up with a bisexual woman, Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams)

SLEAZE FACTOR Medium. Despite his casual homophobia, Banky bonds with Alyssa during an unprintably graphic (but hilarious) exchange where they compare scars from injuries they’ve received during oral sex. As the film deftly shifts gears from comedy to drama, Banky mulls an indecent proposal in order to save his friendship with Holden.

EW GRADE B+ (Read the review)

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Dogma (1999)

CHARACTER Nattily attired Azrael, a temperamental demon who’s visiting Earth to partake of one of his favorite vices (central air-conditioning) and to aid a pair of wayward angels, Loki and Bartleby (Matt Damon and Ben Affleck), who are trying to re-enter heaven.

SLEAZE FACTOR High. Not only does Azrael consort with hockey-stick-wielding goons and a monster made entirely of feces (!), he’s also firmly on the side of the guys whose plan will result in the obliteration of humankind.

EW GRADE A- (Read the review)

“I want to take this moment ot thank our Latino audience for watcing. And for those of you who can understand me but who are not Latino, I want to commend you for learning a second language.”

Catalina, seemingly insulting Joy in Spanish, but actually addressing viewers, on My Name Is Earl.