Based on the evidence of ZACK & MIRI MAKE A PORNO, I’d say Kevin’s sense of humor overall is in fine form these days. It’s one of the most engaging films he’s ever made, and it marks some real growth for him as a filmmaker. I know many people who feel that CHASING AMY is the best film he’s made, but that movie’s always struck me as immature, full of observations about relationships made from expectation more than experience. This film, though, offers up some genuine hard-earned insight into the relationships that are important to us, and the choices that define us. Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks make enormously appealing leads, and they have gentle genuine chemistry.

Read the rest over at Aint It Cool News, only minor spoilers with a few small details as the reviewer rates other performances in the film, as well as some detail on the pre and post-show antics from Kev (some of which you’ve seen online here in video form).

We’ll keep you posted on what we can tell you regarding this project – The guys are regular readers of the site, so maybe there’s more they can offer up to us (if they’re able) – Zak, Joey, whatcha got?

Annual Woodstock Film Festival kicks off this week

WOODSTOCK, N.Y. – The ninth annual Woodstock Film Festival this week will feature appearances by filmmaker Kevin Smith, ’60s troubadour Donovan and more than 120 films.

The festival runs Wednesday through Sunday at venues in Woodstock and nearby Kingston, Rosendale and Rhinebeck. Honorary awards will be presented to Smith, cinematographer Haskell Wexler and veteran writer-producer James Schamus, chief executive officer of Focus Features.

Festival director Meira Blaustein said 124 films will be screened this year, about half of them full-length features and documentaries. She said participants will be coming to this famous artists’ colony north of New York City from all over the world.

“This area is going to be buzzing with filmmakers,” she said.

Smith’s new movie, “Zack and Miri Make a Porno,” will be featured on closing night. Opening night will feature “Pride and Glory,” “Happy-Go-Lucky” and “Flash of Genius.”

In a nod to Woodstock’s history and the eponymous 1969 concert, the festival routinely features music along with the movies. Donovan, best known for ’60s standards like “Mellow Yellow,” will perform and appear on a panel. Bela Fleck will perform in an opening-night concert with Abigail Washburn and The Sparrow Quartet.

For the first time, the festival is opening its awards ceremony to the public. The admission fee for the ceremony and after-party is $50.

Sounds like $50 quite well spent to us – For those of you who attend any of the festival events this weekend, we’d love to hear from you.

“Routh’s next movie, to be released Oct. 31, is “Zack and Mari Make a Porno,” in which he plays the boyfriend of a gay porn star. He said the movie is a bit raunchy.

“It’s a very funny film and actually very heartwarming,” Routh said.”

Check out a few photos a fan took from a recent Mewes appearance to get an idea.

Along the same lines as the uber-crappy sequels that pop up in Cecil B. Demented, Kevin Smith gives Ben and Matt’s flick some sequel action under the uninterested eye of Gus Van Sant. Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season awards Matt Damon with the chance to blow away rich, jerky smarty pantses rather than wasting his time in a battle of wits. It’s an all-too-brief moment, but worth Jay and Silent Bob’s trip.


Honorable Mention in Film: Bluntman and Chronic with Mark Hamill.