Kevin Smith's Jersey Girl

[SHAFTR]

well yeah i never thought of it like that but this to me is like a PTA movie opening soon to you.  I dont know if i phrased that right but i think you know what i mean.  You know i have just been a fan of Smith's for a long long time and its good to see one of his films being positivley reviewed and anticipated.  I have really high expectations for this movie and i really really hope that it will do well at the box office.  Thats why all you fuckos have to go see it opening weekend.  I hope that all of you have put aside that PTA/Smith rivalry bullshit from a while back.

I'm in the same boat as Banky.  I've been following this film very closely since announcement.  I am a little worried, I hope it doesn't get cheesy sentimental, but Capra sentimental.

[Banky]

your avatar from the last starfighter

[SHAFTR]

your avatar from the last starfighter

Indeed, our old friend Grig.  You are the first one to notice it, I thought it would have more of a response on here.

[Banky]

i love that movie.  I heard they used old clothes from Star wars for thier costumes.

[grand theft sparrow]

i love that movie.  I heard they used old clothes from Star wars for thier costumes.

Funny.  So do I.  Well, if you count my Ewok underoos, that is.

[meatwad]

what is with "walking on sunshine" playing in the commercials?

damn

[Banky]

yeah im not a fan of that choice of music either

[MacGuffin]

'Jersey Girl' Screens at Film Festival

AUSTIN, Texas - Bennifer's last hurrah took place at the South by Southwest film festival, where "Jersey Girl," starring Ben Affleck and (very briefly) Jennifer Lopez, was shown before a wildly enthusiastic crowd.

Director-writer Kevin Smith told the sold-out audience afterward that he's still happy to have the former off-screen couple play an on-screen couple in his film, despite the disastrous "Gigli," their previous cinematic pairing.

"I've always been a fan of `Out of Sight,'" Smith said Sunday night, referring to the Steven Soderbergh film in which Lopez co-starred with George Clooney.

But the real reason he chose her? "Affleck asked me," he deadpanned.

Smith said his wife suggested casting Lopez as Affleck's wife: "I said, 'Really? He's making a movie with her right now. It's called "Gigli." Should be a huge hit.'"

Notoriously, it wasn't - and neither was their extremely public relationship. Affleck and Lopez - "Bennifer," as they became known - were supposed to have married in a lavish ceremony last September, but abruptly called it off and blamed the media for its constant scrutiny.

Smith similarly canceled their wedding plans in the movie. He cut the scene in which they walk down the aisle, limiting her already brief screen time. Lopez's character dies during childbirth within the first few minutes, forcing Affleck's character, a high-powered music publicist, to re-examine his life as he raises their daughter on his own.

"I think we got better work out of him because it was her," Smith said of Affleck, who has several emotional scenes.

The director acknowledged that "Jersey Girl" is vastly different from the movies on which he's built his loyal fan base, including "Clerks" and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back," with their stoned characters and obscure comic book references.

"That's me on a soft day - kinda warm and gooey," Smith said after the closing credits stopped rolling. "It came from being married. It came from having a kid."

"The next movie I'm thinking about making is about a puppy," he added.

[cine]

"The next movie I'm thinking about making is about a puppy," he added.

Oh that Kevin Smith.... back to cracking jokes......... right, Kevin?..... RIGHT, KEVIN?!?!

[modage]

what is with "walking on sunshine" playing in the commercials?

damn

oh man, i'm glad someone said it.  its the FUCKING worst!  haha, the 'hey all you chicks, we've got a movie for you!  its a generic romantic comedy' music, ugh.

[Banky]

with the release just over a week away im really looking forward to seeing this as i hope some of you are but here are a few things that i thought some might be interested in

if nothing else you have to respect the guy for caring about his fans.  He dropped by the viewaskew message board to drop some info on the dvd for Jersey Girl ridiculously early

Will hit shelves sometime in October 2004.
Will include a commentary with Kevin, Affleck, maybe more.
All deleted and alternate scenes will be included.
Best of all, will include a 2+ hour director's cut of the film!

I think that is great that his original 2 hour plus edit will be there because i heard some of the missing Beniffer stuff is actually really good
------------
heres a link to the newsaskew site where they have Kevins appearence on the tonight show last night which is very enjoyable and listen for what he wishes he could put on the films poster which i thought was very funny

http://www.newsaskew.com/

[ono]

Two-hour cut, eh?  J-Lo's gonna creep back in.  It'll be like outtakes or something.  Hehe.

Seriously, though, I can't help but sort of want to see this movie, despite its AWFUL commercial and Hollywood, candy-coated, John-Hughes-slash-Cameron-Crowe feel to it.  Part of me wants to say "gag me with a spoon" while the other part just can't wait for another Kevin Smith flick.  But forget The Green Hornet, I just wish he would expand on his talent and make something as compelling as Chasing Amy.  Who knows, maybe Jersey Girl is that film.  We'll see.

[modage]

I just got back from seeing it. Technically, I shouldn't like it. It's kinda sloppy (like all his movies, in that charming way, only with really nice photography this time), very formulaic, kinda bland. His portrayal of women, personified in Liv Tyler's character, is like a thirteen year old boy's fantasy of a mature woman -- very smart, sweet, caring, and also ready to have sympathy sex at the drop of a hat. This is definitely a guy's movie. But that's also why it kinda works, and why it's sweetness won me over. This is like Smith's love letter to his daughter -- you know that Ben Affleck and Raquel Castro are surrogate for Kevin and  his little girl, and that recognition makes the film far more poignant. There's some really good material between them (the last shot especially). Smith's edginess pops up every now and then, especially in the school play at the end, which is just ridiculous but also incredibly delightful. I won't spoil what happens. There are also a few cameos that I won't ruin.I think the movie's been chopped to hell -- test screenings reported a two hour plus running time, but the print I saw was about ninety minutes. There's an opening bookend that you can tell was added just to expedite J Lo's exit from the film. Normally I'd call foul on Harvey's part (speaking of Harvey, wait till you see the hilariously blatant Miramax product placement in the video store Liv Tyler works at, which has more copies of Mimic and Copland than I've ever seen before), but I'm willing to believe that the movie might have dragged if it lasted another forty minutes. Overall, a mild recommendation. If you liked Family Man, you'll like this. Hmmm, I just compared Kevin Smith to Brett Ratner.

POSSIBLE BUT VERY MINOR SPOILERS

yeah, what he said.  i saw this tonite and its really hard to describe how i felt about it.  actually i was really REALLY with it, just losing myself in the 'wow, i'm really glad that kevin smith is going to be able to make movies, like REAL ones now' until the first time ben affleck has to go talk to his child and starts to cry.  a few people in the theatre started to laugh and the moment dragged on for just a little too long with some of the dialogue just hitting it a little bit too much on the head.  from that point on the movie sort of fumbled around to find a story and ended up being a pretty okay movie.  

some of the music choices were way too TOP 40 for my tastes (fleetwood mac's 'landslide', al greens 'lets stay together (FROM PULP FICTION!) and 'let my love open the door'.)  the most hilarious and COMPLETELY IRONIC, (smith must realize the irony in this) is his use of Aimee Mann during JLO's funeral.  THAT i couldnt believe.  

the liv tyler character like ghostboy mentioned is such a guys fantasy that it almost pulled me completely out of what had been a somewhat realistic human story.  but this was THE BEN AFFLECK SHOW, none of the other characters really had enough going on that there was any sort of arc worth noticing besides affleck.  also strange how there were a lot of 'aww, cute' type kids moments that you would think that might be part of who should see the movie but then enough talk of masturbation, porno, etc. that you cant.  so who was this movie for? (not that this is smiths problem, actually its kind of nice to have someone make a movie because he wants to see it and not for some kind of 'target market', because its their job to figure out how to sell it)  

i think what smith basically tried to do was make a 'guys chick flick'.  or something like that.  make a movie his wife would like to see that he wouldnt mind seeing either, and he assumed there were others out there like him who would also want to see such a thing.  i guess we'll see.

[Jeremy Blackman]

I honestly was hoping this would be a "love to hate it" kind of thing, but every new comment I hear about it, positive or negative, makes it sound exponentially more obnoxious.

[Banky]

As a lot of you web regulars know, Aint It Cool News is one of the most widely read sites on the net, and probably the most widely read film rumor site out there. So, it's always great when the commander-in-chief over there gives us a thumbs-up on one of our flicks, and this one is no exception. Here's Harry's review of Jersey Girl:

Harry says JERSEY GIRL is Kevin Smith at his best!
Undoubtedly JERSEY GIRL will have its detractors... Kevin Smith has apparently sold out. His latest film looks fantastic, beautifully lit and photographed by Vilmos Zsigmond giving majesty to a view regularly askewed by clunky camera movement and flat lighting. The film also is lacking in tops to tails Star Wars references and Dick-n-Fart jokes. Also missing is great gobs of cynicism which seems to fester on the internet like the acne of those that seek a new type of porn in their seemingly endless hours clicking and whacking away. No... This Kevin Smith film is emotional, sweet and filled with love for families.

The lead character played by Ben Affleck doesn't have buddies to pal around with. He's not wearing comic character shirts and I don't believe he ever once reads a comic in the movie. He isn't a geek, he doesn't want to be a geek and in actuality he's a professional. One of those people that has a job, albeit it is a job doing publicity for celebrities, but even that isn't for long. Soon he's just a blue collar kind of guy doing street work, driving a street cleaner and climbing in and out of manholes in streets in the suburbs. He doesn't hang in a bar picking up chicks, or drink brews with his friends while spilling his soul about his intact virginity. This guy is so "normal" he even has a kid and a wife that's... well not around anymore.

He's raising a kid as a single father, living with his crotchety old pops somewhere in New Jersey. His dad is George Carlin and his little girl is adorable. This is a film made about sons and fathers about what it is to become a dad. This is a film about letting go of lofty ambitions and being there for your kids. It is a movie about GROWING UP, something that too many of Kevin's snootchie bootchie followers will freak out like they were chained to a seat at an Oakridge Boys concert. For most geeks out there, there is that point in life where that dream to be a filmmaker... has to go away. Where that comic book goes undrawn, and a diaper cries to be changed. When suddenly that racket with the electric guitar ceases to feel cool and bills need to be paid. This isn't a reality for all, but unfortunately... it is the reality for most. After all, there's only so many astronauts, presidents and porn stars... and most of us don't have the dicks for all three.

This doesn't mean you become a loser, Ben Affleck doesn't become a loser, he becomes a father, like his father before him... and with that comes it's own rewards. Looking into that daughter's eyes and seeing him as she does... Creating a world of dreams for her to grow in. Being there for his father as he faces that decaying future of old age alone. It is also about recognizing the time to move on past romances and loves lost and finding that person to spend your life with, the one that you find yourself living, not the one you imagined.

JERSEY GIRL is incredibly alive and filled with wonderful moments. The fight between Affleck and his daughter is brutal, the interview between Liv and Ben is magically frank, and that musical number... hilarious. I found Kevin's wit stamped on every scene, the dialogue pops and Ben is never better than when Kevin is filling his mouth. Um... With words.

I'm not sure how many of you will take to this film, many of my friends hated it. But then, I do live with a father who often talks about growing old and getting sick... All around the time I saw JERSEY GIRL and the time that I find myself writing this review, I have found myself dealing with the reality of moving my grandmother to Austin so that my family here can care for her. And every single day I see my 3 1/2 year old nephew's eyes light up big and ask questions about zombies and the alphabet. My twenty-something friends are becoming 30... some are buying homes like me, others are moving away. Some have given up their dreams, while I find myself living them everyday waiting for them disappear as most do each morning as your eyes first part.

I find the film to be a mature geek film about falling in love with a video store clerk that married Aragorn, while becoming infamous for talking shit about Will Smith. I love the movie, for me, it is right there with CHASING AMY as one of my faves from the brain of Kevin Smith. It isn't the juvenile delight of JAY & SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK, but then... well, this one is about growing up as a man, a father and a son.

And by the way... Liv Tyler is so yummy in this movie. I mean absolutely adorably wonderful. I don't believe I've ever loved her more in a film. She is such the dream of a video store clerk girl. And George Carlin is absolutely fantastic in this. Just absolutely great.

Remember, this isn't supposed to be part of the Jersey series that Kevin has been filming since CLERKS. That's why Jay & Silent Bob are not in this film. Instead this is his first film outside of that universe... it just so happens that a big chunk of it takes place in... Jersey. Give it a chance, go with an open mind and realize this is about growing up, this isn't an adolescent fantasy... except for the whole getting to have sex with J. Lo and Liv Tyler part... that's kinda like... a fantasy I had once... every night for like a year... or two... or three... Butt that's beside the point. This is a truly wonderful film. I hope Kevin keeps Vilmos for GREEN HORNET... I'd love to see Vilmos getting to shoot cool films with cool directors again.