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Love and Porn
As far as it goes, Kevin Smith's Zack and Miri Make A Porno is smooth and winning, largely due to Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks' engaging, alive-in-the-moment performances as longtime pals and roommates who discover, to their surprise, that they're in love with each other while making a low-grade, hand-to-mouth porn film.
Call this one definitely better (and certainly more smoothly shot and cut) than Clerks II, heads and shoulders above Jersey Girl, a bit funnier than Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, livelier and more entertaining that Dogma, almost as intimate and touching as Chasing Amy, much better than Mallrats and not as good as the original Clerks.
Within his familiar smart-but-easygoing-schlub persona, Rogen is on a roll these days, incapable of seeming rote or insincere, and he punches up the energy and aliveness in a way that's obvious and ummistakable. And Banks matches him note for note with a game receptivity and good humor. As I was walking out, a journalist friend said, "Smith should thank God for Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen," meaning that Smith is sorta kinda riding their coattails with this film, albeit in a way that bears his own ethos and sensibility.
Zack and Miri grooves right along in a good-natured, "let's relax and be cool about being blunt and more than a little gross" sort of way.
It's basically about the financially-strapped Zack (Rogen) and Miri (Banks), sharers of a ramshackle pad in funky Monroeville (a suburb of Pittsburgh where George Romero has shot two or three of his zombie movies), realizing that internet porn is a not-too-difficult way to raise quick cash, and giving it a try with no production money, a cheap video camera and a few friends as costars and assistants.
It struck me as a little bit weird that the sex scenes are shot with a static camera sitting on a tripod each and every time. Hand-held photography is obviously the way to go with films of this sort -- get in there, get close, get it all, etc. But then none of Smith's films have been shot with a loosey-goosey hand-held approach -- visually he's always been a very formal, almost rigid, director -- so I guess it does sort of make sense.
It's obvious that Zack's scripting the sex scenes so that Miri won't "do" anyone other than himsefl on-camera, and Miri being distinctly unsettled when Zack is offered an easy roll in the sack with one of the pic's female costars, that they care deeply for each other.
Zack also experiences a creative awakening in shooting home-style porn, which gives a lift to his overall attitude and self-image. But the penultimate moment comes when he and Miri finally perform the deed on-camera, and their cohorts (and the audience, of course) realize it's not much of an acrobatic, look-at-us! performance for all the right reasons.
It's unrealistic, of course, that a hottie like Banks would be attracted to a schlubby guy like Rogen (unless we're talking about the real-life Rogen, which is a whole different deal because then you're talking a guy who's bright, funny, famous and rich). But then Apatow has been pulling this fantasy crap in film after film, and now Smith (another rich, brilliant, super-successful geek with a weight issue) has picked up the torch.
In the real trenches of the real world, average overweight geeks do not schtup beautiful blondes with radiant ruby eyes, exquisite facial structure and perfect white teeth -- end of story, end of proposition, total dreamworld. But the fact that this doesn't get in the way of enjoying Smith's film says something. To me anyway.
Mistake: At the end of Zack and Miri's sex-on-camera scene Banks sits up and starts collecting herself -- we're talking seconds after Rogen has dismounted -- and we see that she's wearing jeans. Now how did that happen?
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on September 7, 2008 at 12:22 PM
comment #1
George Prager
says ...
"Call this one definitely better (and certainly more smoothly shot and cut) than Clerks II, heads and shoulders above Jersey Girl, a bit funnier than Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, livelier and more entertaining that Dogma, almost as intimate and touching as Chasing Amy, much better than Mallrats and not as good as the original Clerks. "
That's like saying:
"Call this one definitely better Operation Dumbo Drop (and certainly more smoothly shot and cut) than The Phantom, heads and shoulders above Phar Lap, a bit funnier than Free Willy, livelier and more entertaining that Quigley Down Under, almost as intimate and touching as Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, much better than Quigley Down Under and not as good asl D.A.R.Y.L."
Posted by George Prager
at September 7, 2008 3:23 PM
comment #2
corey3rd
says ...
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro man is an amazing intimate movie. If it wasn't for that film, we wouldn't have Brokeback Mountain
Posted by corey3rd
at September 7, 2008 3:29 PM
comment #3
MDOC
says ...
Wow. Prager truly brings his "A" game out to rip Smith. The guy is like his Lex Luthor, invoking D.A.R.Y.L. is just mean spirited.
Posted by MDOC
at September 7, 2008 3:30 PM
comment #4
PhilipGalasso
says ...
"In the real trenches of the real world, average overweight geeks do not fuck beautiful blondes with radiant ruby eyes, exquisite facial structure and perfect white teeth -- end of story, end of proposition, total bullshit. The fact that this doesn't get in the way of enjoying Smith's film says something."
I think there's a generational thing you're missing. This sort of thing happens a lot more often, at least among my peer group (I'm 24, live in New York, college grad, etc) than you think, Jeff. I myself have struggled with weight issues most of my life, and though I'm now at a comofortable 175, I didnt have too many problems getting better looking girls than my thinner, more traditionally handsome friends when I was pushing 240. In fact, the best looking girl I've dated was with me when I was about 210 (I'm 5'9") I'm not saying it happens all the time, but its certainly not the "spotting a unicorn" rarity that you think it is.
Posted by PhilipGalasso
at September 7, 2008 3:31 PM
comment #5
George Prager
says ...
"Call this one definitely better Like Father Like Son (and certainly more smoothly shot and cut) than The Super, heads and shoulders above K-9, a bit funnier than Beethoven's 2nd, almost as intimate and touching as Home Alone 4 and not as good as the original Teen Wolf."
Posted by George Prager
at September 7, 2008 3:32 PM
comment #6
Arran
says ...
Quigley Down Under is pretty good.
Cheers Jeff, sounds like the movie's pretty much as I hoped it would be - big laughs, big heart.
Posted by Arran
at September 7, 2008 3:41 PM
comment #7
Edward
says ...
Dumbo-Drop isn't really bad either. Much better than I thought it would be.
Posted by Edward
at September 7, 2008 3:59 PM
comment #8
MilkMan
says ...
Kevin Smith is the luckiest filmmaker alive. That he has been allowed to make multiple films boggles my mind. He was in the right place at the right time. I would compare him to John Waters in that he has never improved one iota as a filmmaker, not in the way he composes shots, not in his writing, not in his direction of actors, yet it is because of this stasis that he is regarded as having some kind of authenticity. I find his movies to be supernaturally middlebrow, his choice of subject matter obvious (re: WHAT'S EDGY TODAY - not porn, Kevin, really, seriously), and his persona at once tacky AND pretentious, in that he speaks with the calm, hyper-articulation of someone who should be about ten years past jizzum humor. He will never get any of my money, and in honor of Al Goldstein, a true iconoclast, i say, FUCK YOU, KEVIN SMITH, and fuck New Jersey, too.
Posted by MilkMan
at September 7, 2008 4:02 PM
comment #9
George Prager
says ...
Now we're talking.
Posted by George Prager
at September 7, 2008 4:05 PM
comment #10
actionman
says ...
should be a lot of fun
Posted by actionman
at September 7, 2008 4:13 PM
comment #11
D.Z.
says ...
"Call this one definitely better (and certainly more smoothly shot and cut) than Clerks II, heads and shoulders above Jersey Girl, a bit funnier than Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, livelier and more entertaining that Dogma, almost as intimate and touching as Chasing Amy, much better than Mallrats and not as good as the original Clerks."
Man, even I haven't seen all of those! [Sorry, but I skipped out on Jersey Girl after seeing some clips.] Ironically, given my expectations, I actually liked Clerks 2, but it came off kind of emo-fied, compared to his other work. Also, Dogma was entertaining when it came out, but may not hold up now, given that Kevin continued to milk Jay and Silent Bob past their expiration date. He really should've stopped the Askewniverse thing with the Clerks cartoon, since it was probably the last time the characters were fresh and funny, and not just crutches. Oh, and I'm going to be in the minority and defend Mallrats, even if it'll probably come off more dated nowadays than his other stuff. You can't get a better performance from Stan Lee than in that film.
"As I was walking out, a journalist friend said, "Smith should thank God for Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen," meaning that Smith is sorta kinda riding their coattails with this film, albeit in a way that bears his own ethos and sensibility."
That's funny, because I remember getting flack for complaining that it was *Apatow* who was cribbing *Smith's* material. And I'm probably right, because if his man-children didn't act like Kevin Smith characters, no one would watch them-just like that short-lived sitcom.
"In the real trenches of the real world, average overweight geeks do not schtup beautiful blondes with radiant ruby eyes, exquisite facial structure and perfect white teeth -- end of story, end of proposition, total dreamworld. But the fact that this doesn't get in the way of enjoying Smith's film says something."
Well, most of the guys in Smith's movies usually aren't geeks, just full of geek tendencies.
George: For a second there, I got confused D.A.R.Y.L. with "Cloak & Dagger".
Posted by D.Z.
at September 7, 2008 4:14 PM
comment #12
George Prager
says ...
George: For a second there, I got confused D.A.R.Y.L. with "Cloak & Dagger".
Or SOLARBABIES!
Posted by George Prager
at September 7, 2008 4:25 PM
comment #13
drbob
says ...
The premise of the whole movie sucks. You can't make any money making one porno. Porno is a volume business. You need to make a lot of it to make any money.
Posted by drbob
at September 7, 2008 5:22 PM
comment #14
George Prager
says ...
I always confuse SOLARBABIES with SPACECAMP.
Posted by George Prager
at September 7, 2008 5:47 PM
comment #15
Circumvrent
says ...
Call this one definitely better (and certainly more smoothly shot and cut) than Clerks II, heads and shoulders above Jersey Girl, a bit funnier than Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, livelier and more entertaining that Dogma, almost as intimate and touching as Chasing Amy, much better than Mallrats and not as good as the original Clerks.
This is why I still come to this site. The way that you have managed to exhalt the guy and cut his nuts off is really breathtaking.
I've liked Kevin's past few films fine enough (even Jersey Girl isn't too bad - and his 2:20 cut is his best film that sadly, nobody saw), but really, what happened to him? At the end of the last decade, they asked a bunch of film critics to name who they thought would be the "next Scorcese." When Andrew Sarris picked Smith (incidentally, Scorcese himself picked Wes Anderson - turns out, they were both wrong!), I don't think he ever thought there'd be a Clerks II.
It'll be interesting to see how his career is going to look, as a cumulative effort, because I still think the guy is a pretty writer than the films he makes - he did an amazing DAREDEVIL run before DOGMA was released, and DOGMA is still the best script I ever made. His next film really be the indicator, for me. If it's his religious zealot horror movie, then I'm still there. If it's ZACH AND MIRI MAKE ANOTHER PORNO, then he'll forever be the Indie Poster Boy Who Never Grew Up.
Posted by Circumvrent
at September 7, 2008 6:45 PM
comment #16
Gordie Lachance
says ...
"Fuck Kevin Smith and he will never get any of my money."
And yet you're fluently familiar with his acting, writing, directing, composition...etc etc.
I'll bet you see this one opening night.
And does it really boggle your mind how he's allowed to keep making movies? Really?? The guys sold like 50 million dvds.......do you not understand simple economics? Is your mind that easily boggled?
Or is it just your jealously fogging everything up?
Posted by Gordie Lachance
at September 7, 2008 6:58 PM
comment #17
D.Z.
says ...
Gordie: "And does it really boggle your mind how he's allowed to keep making movies? Really?? The guys sold like 50 million dvds......."
So does Uwe Boll.
Posted by D.Z.
at September 7, 2008 7:05 PM
comment #18
nemo
says ...
That poster! Yet another patented dumb guy look from Seth Rogen.
"At the end of Zack and Miri's sex-on-camera scene Banks sits up and starts collecting herself -- we're talking seconds after Rogen has dismounted -- and we see that she's wearing jeans. Now how did that happen?"
Smith has always been uneasy around naked actors. When Affleck rolled out of bed with whatshername in Chasing Amy he was wearing boxer shorts.
"Dumbo-Drop isn't really bad either. Much better than I thought it would be."
Dumbo Drop was the only thing worth watching on cable one night on a business trip, and I couldn't believe how not half bad it was. It had no right being not half bad!
I always confuse Spacecamp with Solaris. The Tarkovsky version.
Posted by nemo
at September 7, 2008 7:11 PM
comment #19
Griff
says ...
Elizabeth Banks is a goddess. Very smart, very funny, and very under-used.
Posted by Griff
at September 7, 2008 8:06 PM
comment #20
Jamie
says ...
Pretty sure she's wearing a jean skirt...
Posted by Jamie
at September 8, 2008 7:49 AM
comment #21
diesel
says ...
she wasn't even properly ab-used in this movie.
Posted by diesel
at September 8, 2008 8:04 AM
comment #22
DavidF
says ...
All I wanna is that I like DARYL and Cloak and Dagger.
All Entourage-lovers should give respect to the first filmmakers who had the balls to break the glass ceiling and name a sidekick "Turtle."
Also, I'm happy to hear this film sounds kinda fun even if Wells once again spoiled the ending. (The main characters fuck! Who knew?)
Posted by DavidF
at September 8, 2008 8:07 AM
comment #23
Richardson
says ...
"And I'm probably right"
Not knowing the circumstances, or anything other than the fact that you think you were right about something, I am 100% sure that you weren't, DZ.
And Uwe Boll does not sell millions of DVDs. If anybody else said it, I'd call it a lie. But it's you, DZ, so I'll just call it standard DZ idiocy.
Posted by Richardson
at September 8, 2008 8:46 AM
comment #24
bluefugue
says ...
Visually Smith has no talent, but he is a good writer. I saw this in Chasing Amy and Dogma, and having read the script to Zack & Miri, I see it again. Zack & Miri is one of very few screenplays I have ever read (and I've read over 3000) that had me laughing out loud.
Posted by bluefugue
at September 8, 2008 10:34 AM
comment #25
rr3333
says ...
Judging that Rogen is now in a non-Apatow film, I guess they stopped blowing one another.
But seriously folks ... I snuck in & saw the last 30 minutes of Pineapple Express (after seeing the complete Tropic Thunder), and have to say that 'Pineapple' has the worst closing 30 minutes of a movie I've seen in a long time! It was sadly, GARBAGE!
Rogen's everyman shtick is running thin my friends.
Now that he's made enough money for 10 lifetimes, I think its time he took a little time off and reinvent himself, or maybe, just recharge those dead batteries.
Posted by rr3333
at September 8, 2008 11:20 AM
comment #26
Rothchild
says ...
Pineapple Express is a comedy classic. Nice taste there, asshole.
Posted by Rothchild
at September 8, 2008 12:34 PM
comment #27
Richardson
says ...
I watched the last five minutes of 'Pineapple Express', and I had no idea what was going on! who are all these characters?? Good job, Rogen.
Posted by Richardson
at September 8, 2008 1:06 PM
comment #28
bmcintire
says ...
Isn't this poster image pretty much the same thing that got re-cropped for GOOD LUCK CHUCK?
http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/images/aa-01.jpg
And speaking of variations on a just-barely-there theme, MY BEST FRIEND'S GIRL and GOOD LUCK CHUCK seem like ideas created from the same handful of refrigerator word magnets.
Posted by bmcintire
at September 8, 2008 10:52 PM
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