Chasing Chasing Amy
Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy is a film with a complex legacy. Made by a well-intentioned straight man at a time when wider social attitudes to LGBTQ+ people were entering a period of rapid change, it has meant very different things to different generations. For Sav Rodgers, who discovered it in childhood when he was only just coming to terms with his attraction to women and before he had the context to identify himself as trans, it was a lifeline, promising another world beyond the small town prejudice he encountered day to day. It was a film he watched “at least” daily, and which he loved so much that he gave a Ted Talk on it. Then Kevin saw the talk, and a connection was made, and a new film, Chasing Chasing Amy, took root.
One of the biggest success stories of the queer festival circuit over the past.
Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy is a film with a complex legacy. Made by a well-intentioned straight man at a time when wider social attitudes to LGBTQ+ people were entering a period of rapid change, it has meant very different things to different generations. For Sav Rodgers, who discovered it in childhood when he was only just coming to terms with his attraction to women and before he had the context to identify himself as trans, it was a lifeline, promising another world beyond the small town prejudice he encountered day to day. It was a film he watched “at least” daily, and which he loved so much that he gave a Ted Talk on it. Then Kevin saw the talk, and a connection was made, and a new film, Chasing Chasing Amy, took root.
One of the biggest success stories of the queer festival circuit over the past.
- 5/14/2024
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Apologies to Thomas Wolfe, but it appears you can go home again.
Oscar winner John Ridley, co-host of Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast, returns to his native Milwaukee for the latest edition of the pod, recorded live during the 16th Milwaukee Film Festival. He and co-host Matt Carey, documentary editor at Deadline, speak with two filmmakers bringing new work to the festival: Sav Rodgers, director of Chasing Chasing Amy, and Mary Louise Schumacher, director of Out of the Picture.
Rodgers makes his feature documentary debut with Chasing Chasing Amy, a film that examines how Kevin Smith’s 1997 hit Chasing Amy became a lifeline for Rodgers as a queer, trans kid growing up in conservative Kansas, and how the indie drama impacted the culture at large. Smith’s film told the story of a straight man (played by Ben Affleck) falling in love with a gay woman (played by Joey Lauren Adams...
Oscar winner John Ridley, co-host of Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast, returns to his native Milwaukee for the latest edition of the pod, recorded live during the 16th Milwaukee Film Festival. He and co-host Matt Carey, documentary editor at Deadline, speak with two filmmakers bringing new work to the festival: Sav Rodgers, director of Chasing Chasing Amy, and Mary Louise Schumacher, director of Out of the Picture.
Rodgers makes his feature documentary debut with Chasing Chasing Amy, a film that examines how Kevin Smith’s 1997 hit Chasing Amy became a lifeline for Rodgers as a queer, trans kid growing up in conservative Kansas, and how the indie drama impacted the culture at large. Smith’s film told the story of a straight man (played by Ben Affleck) falling in love with a gay woman (played by Joey Lauren Adams...
- 4/30/2024
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Famous for his performances in the thrillers Argo (2012) and Gone Girl (2014) and the dramas Pearl Harbor (2001) and The Last Duel (2021), Ben Affleck is not really known as a comedy actor. Even the viral pictures of him frustratingly looking nowhere present him as “sad”, building a strong, though unfair association with Affleck’s acting range.
However, back in 1997, the actor starred in a romantic dramedy, which can now seem ground-breaking, as here Affleck is obviously sad due to his unrequited love, just like in the memes, but, nevertheless, delivers quite a rare, convincing comedy performance.
The movie revolves around Holden and Banky, who are thick as thieves and are the two authors of a popular comic book. Their life-long friendship is strained by Holden’s growing feelings for Alyssa, whom they meet while promoting their new work.
One obstacle stands in the way of this romance - Alyssa is a lesbian,...
However, back in 1997, the actor starred in a romantic dramedy, which can now seem ground-breaking, as here Affleck is obviously sad due to his unrequited love, just like in the memes, but, nevertheless, delivers quite a rare, convincing comedy performance.
The movie revolves around Holden and Banky, who are thick as thieves and are the two authors of a popular comic book. Their life-long friendship is strained by Holden’s growing feelings for Alyssa, whom they meet while promoting their new work.
One obstacle stands in the way of this romance - Alyssa is a lesbian,...
- 4/29/2024
- by info@startefacts.com (Ava Raxa)
- STartefacts.com
Kevin Smith could have bought the Quick Stop market he made famous in his first film, “Clerks.” But when the opportunity arose, the indie director instead put his hard-earned cash into his childhood movie theater in Atlantic Highlands, N.J., reopening it in 2022 as SModcastle Cinemas.
Now he’s fighting to keep the 103-year-old non-profit theater going, even if “exhibition is in the toilet,” as he likes to say. In other words, local audiences sometimes prefer to watch big hits like “Avatar” in modern multiplexes, and keeping a repertory theater vibrant without the help of a pricey beer and wine license is not for the faint of heart, he has found.
No matter: The “Chasing Amy” director is leveraging his pop culture brand to focus on bringing the New Jersey community classic cult movies, family films, merchandise sales and super-fresh popcorn.
“It’s a big walking community, and people can...
Now he’s fighting to keep the 103-year-old non-profit theater going, even if “exhibition is in the toilet,” as he likes to say. In other words, local audiences sometimes prefer to watch big hits like “Avatar” in modern multiplexes, and keeping a repertory theater vibrant without the help of a pricey beer and wine license is not for the faint of heart, he has found.
No matter: The “Chasing Amy” director is leveraging his pop culture brand to focus on bringing the New Jersey community classic cult movies, family films, merchandise sales and super-fresh popcorn.
“It’s a big walking community, and people can...
- 4/4/2024
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
Johnny Depp has had an illustrious career over the years with many successful films and iconic roles. His collaboration with Tim Burton has churned out some of his most well-known works, including Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise remains Johnny Depp’s most popular role
He has become synonymous with the character Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. His daughter Lily-Rose Depp is also becoming a promising young actress in her own right with her acting career. However, one film in which they both starred, turned out to be a total disaster critically and commercially.
Johnny Depp and Lily-Rose Depp’s Yoga Hosers Was a Total Misfire
Harley Quinn Smith and Lily-Rose Depp in Yoga Hosers
Johnny Depp and his daughter Lily-Rose Depp starred together in 2016’s Yoga Hosers.
Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise remains Johnny Depp’s most popular role
He has become synonymous with the character Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. His daughter Lily-Rose Depp is also becoming a promising young actress in her own right with her acting career. However, one film in which they both starred, turned out to be a total disaster critically and commercially.
Johnny Depp and Lily-Rose Depp’s Yoga Hosers Was a Total Misfire
Harley Quinn Smith and Lily-Rose Depp in Yoga Hosers
Johnny Depp and his daughter Lily-Rose Depp starred together in 2016’s Yoga Hosers.
- 3/21/2024
- by Rahul Thokchom
- FandomWire
If you have seen Chasing Amy, your reaction to it is likely to be significantly influenced by two things: your sexual orientation, and when you saw it. For straight people, it’s just a film, written to appeal to a certain type of wistful romantic or comics nerd, and with decent central performances – perhaps a little exotic, in its time, because of its inclusion of queer characters. For queer people, it’s more complicated. on its initial release, its bolstering of the popular myth that lesbians are just waiting for the right man to change their lives was seriously aggravating, not least because it contributed to the harassment that lesbian and bisexual women frequently experienced. Now, however, when LGBTQ+ people in general are seen as a more ordinary part of the landscape, both in cinema and in the average straight person’s life, it’s less problematic, even if it still comes.
- 3/18/2024
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Star-crossed lovers, hopeless romantics, or just unlucky in love. Valentine’s Day films are not just about head-over-heels happy endings. That would be a bit on the boring side. The films that have captivated the romantic genre are the ones about heartache, bad timing, yearning and the strong forces that keep true lovers apart.
William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Rick and Ilsa, portrayed by Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, from Casablanca, and Chow Mo-wan & Su Li-zhen from In the Mood For Love all have to overcome their hearts’ desire as forces they can’t control keep them apart as time and fate lead to their ultimate betrayal.
Related: Deadline’s 50 Classic Holiday Movies Gallery: From ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ And ‘A Christmas Story’ To ‘Die Hard’ And ‘The Holiday’
As we tangoed and groaned our way out of the 80s with Dirty Dancing and When Harry Met Sally, the...
William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Rick and Ilsa, portrayed by Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, from Casablanca, and Chow Mo-wan & Su Li-zhen from In the Mood For Love all have to overcome their hearts’ desire as forces they can’t control keep them apart as time and fate lead to their ultimate betrayal.
Related: Deadline’s 50 Classic Holiday Movies Gallery: From ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ And ‘A Christmas Story’ To ‘Die Hard’ And ‘The Holiday’
As we tangoed and groaned our way out of the 80s with Dirty Dancing and When Harry Met Sally, the...
- 2/14/2024
- by Robert Lang
- Deadline Film + TV
Chicago – In 1997. Filmmaker Kevin Smith released his third film (after “Clerks” and “Mallrats”) entitled “Chasing Amy.” The story, featuring Joey Lauren Adams, is about a lesbian whose fluidly also includes a romantic relationship with a man. Watching this film was a young female born person who was questioning their own identity, and used the film as a touch point for these feelings. Years later, that person is director Sav Rodgers, and he made a documentary about his experiences with the film in coming to self and its complicated history in “Chasing Chasing Amy.”
“Chasing Chasing Amy” is currently on the film festival circuit, and came to Chicago in September of 2023 for the Reeling41 film festival, the Windy City’s International Lbgtq+ cinema celebration. Currently, the film will screen in Kingston, Ontario, on February 5th at the (click links) Reelout Queer Film Festival, in Toronto on February 16th at the Hot...
“Chasing Chasing Amy” is currently on the film festival circuit, and came to Chicago in September of 2023 for the Reeling41 film festival, the Windy City’s International Lbgtq+ cinema celebration. Currently, the film will screen in Kingston, Ontario, on February 5th at the (click links) Reelout Queer Film Festival, in Toronto on February 16th at the Hot...
- 2/3/2024
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
There was a time when Kevin Smith was regarded as being one of the definitive filmmakers of Generation X. His feature directing debut on the shoestring-budgeted 1994 indie hit "Clerks" suggested Smith not only had a firm understanding of the slacker mentality that afflicted so many people in his age bracket, but he was also shrewd enough to be critical of it. The film centers on disgruntled Quick Stop Groceries clerk Dante Hicks (Brian O'Halloran) and those in his immediate vicinity, including his equally-cynical, unmotivated best friend Randal Graves (Jeff Anderson) and the off-beat drug dealers that loiter outside the store: loud-mouthed horny miscreant Jay (Jason Mewes) and his reserved yet secretly wise companion Silent Bob (Smith). As colorful as these characters were, they also felt like real people you could imagine Smith knew growing up on his home turf of New Jersey.
At first, Smith retained this acerbic wit and...
At first, Smith retained this acerbic wit and...
- 1/28/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Daryl McCormack as Colman and Ruth Wilson as Lorna in ‘The Woman in the Wall’ (Photo Credit: Chris Barr / BBC / Showtime)
Paramount+’s January 2024 lineup includes the series premiere of Sexy Beast, a prequel to the critically acclaimed, award-winning drama released in 2000 and starring Sir Ben Kingsley and Ray Winstone. The streaming service’s also kicking off the new year with the debut of The Woman in the Wall, a six-episode series starring Ruth Wilson (His Dark Materials) and Daryl McCormack (Bad Sisters).
June Carter Cash is the focus of June, a feature-length documentary directed by Emmy Award-winner Kristen Vaurio (Going Clear: Scientology & The Prison of Belief) arriving on January 16. January 2024 also sees the return of SkyMed, a medical drama set in the world of medics and pilots who fly air ambulances in Canada, for its second season.
Coming to Paramount+ on January 1
54
5 Card Stud
A Promise*
A Single Man*
A.
Paramount+’s January 2024 lineup includes the series premiere of Sexy Beast, a prequel to the critically acclaimed, award-winning drama released in 2000 and starring Sir Ben Kingsley and Ray Winstone. The streaming service’s also kicking off the new year with the debut of The Woman in the Wall, a six-episode series starring Ruth Wilson (His Dark Materials) and Daryl McCormack (Bad Sisters).
June Carter Cash is the focus of June, a feature-length documentary directed by Emmy Award-winner Kristen Vaurio (Going Clear: Scientology & The Prison of Belief) arriving on January 16. January 2024 also sees the return of SkyMed, a medical drama set in the world of medics and pilots who fly air ambulances in Canada, for its second season.
Coming to Paramount+ on January 1
54
5 Card Stud
A Promise*
A Single Man*
A.
- 12/23/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Ben Affleck worked alongside Speed star Sandra Bullock for the first time in the 1999 romcom Forces of Nature. Bullock and Affleck got along well enough, but there were some quirks each of them had that the other couldn’t stand.
Ben Affleck once shared what annoyed him about Sandra Bullock Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck | Christopher Polk/Getty Images
In a resurfaced interview with Entertainment Weekly, Bullock rattled off a few things that frustrated her about working with Affleck. The first trait that came to mind was Affleck’s lack of punctuality.
“Ben can never show up anywhere on time,” Bullock said. “When he’s with you he gives you so much attention you feel like a queen, so when he says ‘I’ll call you for dinner’ and you don’t hear from him, you feel like, ‘What did I do wrong?’”
But it helped that Bullock wasn’t...
Ben Affleck once shared what annoyed him about Sandra Bullock Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck | Christopher Polk/Getty Images
In a resurfaced interview with Entertainment Weekly, Bullock rattled off a few things that frustrated her about working with Affleck. The first trait that came to mind was Affleck’s lack of punctuality.
“Ben can never show up anywhere on time,” Bullock said. “When he’s with you he gives you so much attention you feel like a queen, so when he says ‘I’ll call you for dinner’ and you don’t hear from him, you feel like, ‘What did I do wrong?’”
But it helped that Bullock wasn’t...
- 10/14/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Featuring: Joey Lauren Adams, Andrew Ahn, Trish Bendix, Scott Mosier, Kevin Smith, Guinevere Turner | Written and Directed by Sav Rodgers
On 1st May 2020, a Ted Talk video went live of Sav Rodgers sharing how 1997’s Chasing Amy saved his adolescent life while growing up queer in Kansas. Film critic Roger Ebert’s description of the film described how it forced a young artist to question all ideas he had about himself, something which is also true of Sav’s journey. This led him to make Chasing Chasing Amy, a documentary about Kevin Smith’s third feature film.
As the video was shared, wider interest was ignited in the documentary Sav mentioned that he was making, leading to Kevin Smith himself reaching out. The writer/director is reflective of his past, offering friendliness while recounting how the film kept his career alive, the real-life inspirations for the story, and the regrets which linger in hindsight.
On 1st May 2020, a Ted Talk video went live of Sav Rodgers sharing how 1997’s Chasing Amy saved his adolescent life while growing up queer in Kansas. Film critic Roger Ebert’s description of the film described how it forced a young artist to question all ideas he had about himself, something which is also true of Sav’s journey. This led him to make Chasing Chasing Amy, a documentary about Kevin Smith’s third feature film.
As the video was shared, wider interest was ignited in the documentary Sav mentioned that he was making, leading to Kevin Smith himself reaching out. The writer/director is reflective of his past, offering friendliness while recounting how the film kept his career alive, the real-life inspirations for the story, and the regrets which linger in hindsight.
- 10/2/2023
- by James Rodrigues
- Nerdly
The Phantoms episode of Wtf Happened to This Horror Movie? was Written by Emilie Black, Narrated by Adam Walton, Edited by Jaime Vazquez, Produced by Andrew Hatfield and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.
Ah, the late 1990s, a period of horror renewal, massive hits, and plenty of scares. Well, yes and no. Some films like the Scream franchise hit it big, like really big, and others, not so much. One of the failures of the late 1990s box office is Phantoms (watch it Here) which was considered a massive flop. How did Phantoms become considered one of the biggest flops of its era? Well, it’s a mix of a lot of factors, most of them easily guessed by those who have had the pleasure, or displeasure, of seeing the film. The story here is that of a small town where the whole of the population has vanished,...
Ah, the late 1990s, a period of horror renewal, massive hits, and plenty of scares. Well, yes and no. Some films like the Scream franchise hit it big, like really big, and others, not so much. One of the failures of the late 1990s box office is Phantoms (watch it Here) which was considered a massive flop. How did Phantoms become considered one of the biggest flops of its era? Well, it’s a mix of a lot of factors, most of them easily guessed by those who have had the pleasure, or displeasure, of seeing the film. The story here is that of a small town where the whole of the population has vanished,...
- 9/15/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Stars: Sonya Walger, Hayley Erin, Tony Amendola | Written and Directed by John Rosman
New Life is a low-key ground-floor beginning of-the-apocalypse thriller. A character-driven piece of one woman’s fight to evade capture and another woman’s race to find her. Told from two very uniquely distinctive perspectives worlds apart yet not so different.
As a lover of the “end of the world” genre I’m always keen to see projects dealing with the beginnings of the event. Yes, sometimes times they can be snooze fests like Side Effects but when done right you get movies like Outbreak. You could also go full musical and give the world Anna and the Apocalypse (my favourite Xmas movie). Where does New Life fit in though?
We follow Jessie (Hayley Erin) who after a chance meeting with a pooch that has recently escaped the lab, she unknowingly contracts a rare string of the Ebola virus.
New Life is a low-key ground-floor beginning of-the-apocalypse thriller. A character-driven piece of one woman’s fight to evade capture and another woman’s race to find her. Told from two very uniquely distinctive perspectives worlds apart yet not so different.
As a lover of the “end of the world” genre I’m always keen to see projects dealing with the beginnings of the event. Yes, sometimes times they can be snooze fests like Side Effects but when done right you get movies like Outbreak. You could also go full musical and give the world Anna and the Apocalypse (my favourite Xmas movie). Where does New Life fit in though?
We follow Jessie (Hayley Erin) who after a chance meeting with a pooch that has recently escaped the lab, she unknowingly contracts a rare string of the Ebola virus.
- 9/12/2023
- by Kevin Haldon
- Nerdly
For many, Kevin Smith is a filmmaker who once upon a time made great movies while others have stuck by his side through thick and thin. With the well-reviewed Clerks III wrapping up the story 30 years in the making, it is time we take a look back at one of the most iconic careers in independent film history and we find out just Wtf Happened to Kevin Smith.
But as always we must begin at the beginning and the beginning began for Kevin Smith on August 2, 1970 in Red Bank, New Jersey. Smith has said that seeing his father struggle with his job working at the post office made him vow to never work a job that he hated, but never really thought there was a future for someone like him in the film industry despite his love for movies. Smith would make friends with people such as future Comic Book...
But as always we must begin at the beginning and the beginning began for Kevin Smith on August 2, 1970 in Red Bank, New Jersey. Smith has said that seeing his father struggle with his job working at the post office made him vow to never work a job that he hated, but never really thought there was a future for someone like him in the film industry despite his love for movies. Smith would make friends with people such as future Comic Book...
- 8/18/2023
- by Brad Hamerly
- JoBlo.com
Friendship Day is on the horizon and in the midst of that, there are several celebrities in Hollywood who have wide and long standing friendships. Some of these friendships are a bit unorthodox, because one wouldn’t think that this person would in fact be friends with the other. But as they say, friendship knows no bounds.
George Lucas and Steven Spielberg
The two legends of Hollywood, Lucas and Spielberg have been friends all the way back since the 1970’s and are creative geniuses. Though their styles of direction and writing are drastically different, both of them have an imagination and methods that have captured the hearts of audiences. Their best known collaboration till date is in the ‘Indiana Jones’ franchise.
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman
The two actors have been friends for over nearly two decades, due to their collaboration in the ‘X Men’ franchise. Since then the two...
George Lucas and Steven Spielberg
The two legends of Hollywood, Lucas and Spielberg have been friends all the way back since the 1970’s and are creative geniuses. Though their styles of direction and writing are drastically different, both of them have an imagination and methods that have captured the hearts of audiences. Their best known collaboration till date is in the ‘Indiana Jones’ franchise.
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman
The two actors have been friends for over nearly two decades, due to their collaboration in the ‘X Men’ franchise. Since then the two...
- 8/5/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone have scotched plans to pick up a prestigious honor at Outfest, the Los Angeles Lgbtqia+ film festival, and it’s all down to the actors strike.
The Hollywood couple were to have accepted the James Schamus Ally Award at Outfest’s closing night on Sunday but cancelled because of the SAG-AFTRA walkout. The award, named for the co-founder and former CEO of Focus Features, recognizes McCarthy and Falcone’s support and advocacy for the Lgbtqia+ community.
“We understand that Melissa and Ben are unable to join us for our closing night due to the strike,” Outfest Executive Director Damien Navarro said in a statement. “We will miss them, as our closing night will be a wonderful celebration of our community.”
The festival wraps with a gala event at the Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood, featuring a screening of Chasing Chasing Amy, a documentary that...
The Hollywood couple were to have accepted the James Schamus Ally Award at Outfest’s closing night on Sunday but cancelled because of the SAG-AFTRA walkout. The award, named for the co-founder and former CEO of Focus Features, recognizes McCarthy and Falcone’s support and advocacy for the Lgbtqia+ community.
“We understand that Melissa and Ben are unable to join us for our closing night due to the strike,” Outfest Executive Director Damien Navarro said in a statement. “We will miss them, as our closing night will be a wonderful celebration of our community.”
The festival wraps with a gala event at the Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood, featuring a screening of Chasing Chasing Amy, a documentary that...
- 7/21/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Admittedly, I did not care for Kevin Smith‘s 1997 romantic comedy-drama film, Chasing Amy, when I first saw it.
While there are elements of the film that I believe are worthy of praise such as the performances, particularly from Joey Lauren Adams, and several smartly-written monologues, overall it is, in my opinion, a very dated, flawed film that does not hold up today. I did not get a lot out of Chasing Amy when I first saw it, and I have rarely, if ever, thought about it since seeing it.
That being said, I completely understand why this film would mean a lot to someone else. I can see how someone could connect with this movie and its characters. I can see how someone could become so inspired by the movie that it not only causes them to pursue their own artistic and creative endeavors but also actively influences their personal life as well.
While there are elements of the film that I believe are worthy of praise such as the performances, particularly from Joey Lauren Adams, and several smartly-written monologues, overall it is, in my opinion, a very dated, flawed film that does not hold up today. I did not get a lot out of Chasing Amy when I first saw it, and I have rarely, if ever, thought about it since seeing it.
That being said, I completely understand why this film would mean a lot to someone else. I can see how someone could connect with this movie and its characters. I can see how someone could become so inspired by the movie that it not only causes them to pursue their own artistic and creative endeavors but also actively influences their personal life as well.
- 6/22/2023
- by Timothy Lee
- Uinterview
Sav Rodgers’ documentary feature debut, Chasing Chasing Amy, is at its core a transition story. Not so much about his own transition, though it is addressed in the 95-minute movie examining the cultural and personal impact of the 1997 Kevin Smith-directed Chasing Amy. But the transitory process that is coming of age; being in love; being a fan; and perhaps most significantly, the realization that under its glitz and glamour, Hollywood is not inherently the romantic place it’s sold as onscreen.
“My mom would always say this thing to me when I was a kid, which is, ‘I need you to understand that I am just a person and your parents are just people. We’re not exceptional. We make mistakes,'” Rodgers recalls, while discussing the takeaways of his doc with The Hollywood Reporter during the film’s 2023 Tribeca Festival run.
That transitory through line is not just...
“My mom would always say this thing to me when I was a kid, which is, ‘I need you to understand that I am just a person and your parents are just people. We’re not exceptional. We make mistakes,'” Rodgers recalls, while discussing the takeaways of his doc with The Hollywood Reporter during the film’s 2023 Tribeca Festival run.
That transitory through line is not just...
- 6/19/2023
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
We all have our problematic faves. Especially if you’ve been watching movies for longer than, say, yesterday. The #MeToo reckoning didn’t just reveal the monsters in Hollywood’s closet, it also made it impossible to ignore the pervasive sexism, misogyny, and power imbalances permeating every aspect of the industry. So pervasive, in fact, that very few projects weren’t touched by the stench. In the case of Kevin Smith, his career is directly tied to Harvey Weinstein’s Miramax, which produced and distributed four of his early films, including one of his biggest hits, “Chasing Amy.”
Released in 1997, “Chasing Amy” followed on the heels of Smith’s debut hit “Clerks” and the sophomoric flop “Mallrats.” The film stars Joey Lauren Adams as an effortlessly cool lesbian and Ben Affleck as the persistent straight man who falls in love with (and eventually seduces) her. Funny, romantic, and a total straight man’s fantasy,...
Released in 1997, “Chasing Amy” followed on the heels of Smith’s debut hit “Clerks” and the sophomoric flop “Mallrats.” The film stars Joey Lauren Adams as an effortlessly cool lesbian and Ben Affleck as the persistent straight man who falls in love with (and eventually seduces) her. Funny, romantic, and a total straight man’s fantasy,...
- 6/13/2023
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
With the unfortunate history of portrayals of many marginalized communities, the first films to kick open the door to mainstream representation were often made outside of a community, resulting in work that is deemed problematic in today’s environment. Chasing Amy being one such example: though the third film from Kevin Smith met some controversy, it did not have picket lines that his fourth, Dogma, would invite.
For Sav Rodgers, a kid growing up in Kanas who adored Ben Affleck, Chasing Amy became a gateway into understanding themselves and, ultimately, who they wanted to become. In his highly personal feature film debut, the trans filmmaker expands upon his viral Ted talk, unpacking multiple problems with Chasing Amy and the ’90s independent film scene. It was a time of gatekeepers that often, intentionally or not, suppressed mainstream LGBTQ films made from within the community, bankrolling and elevating voices like Kevin Smith––in his sheer provocation,...
For Sav Rodgers, a kid growing up in Kanas who adored Ben Affleck, Chasing Amy became a gateway into understanding themselves and, ultimately, who they wanted to become. In his highly personal feature film debut, the trans filmmaker expands upon his viral Ted talk, unpacking multiple problems with Chasing Amy and the ’90s independent film scene. It was a time of gatekeepers that often, intentionally or not, suppressed mainstream LGBTQ films made from within the community, bankrolling and elevating voices like Kevin Smith––in his sheer provocation,...
- 6/12/2023
- by John Fink
- The Film Stage
Previous | Image 1 of 6 | NextMatt Damon, Co-Producer of Tribeca Opener ‘Kiss the Future.’
New York, NY – The 22nd edition of the Tribeca Festival opened with its usual combination of exalted cinema, star power glitz and the power of New York City, baby. “Kiss the Future,” produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, screened on Wednesday, June 7th at the Bmcc Tribeca Performing Arts Center.
The Tribeca Festival was founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Craig Hatkoff and actor Robert De Niro as a reactive strike back at the September 11th attack in 2001 on New York City and the nearby Tribeca neighborhood.The film category of the 2023 22nd edition will show 109 feature films from 127 filmmakers across 36 countries, and will have screenings and awards for U.S. Narrative Films, World Narrative Films, Short Film Competition, Best Documentary, the Spotlight Competition and Best New Narrative and Documentary Filmmakers, among it’s presentations.
The Slideshow combines...
New York, NY – The 22nd edition of the Tribeca Festival opened with its usual combination of exalted cinema, star power glitz and the power of New York City, baby. “Kiss the Future,” produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, screened on Wednesday, June 7th at the Bmcc Tribeca Performing Arts Center.
The Tribeca Festival was founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Craig Hatkoff and actor Robert De Niro as a reactive strike back at the September 11th attack in 2001 on New York City and the nearby Tribeca neighborhood.The film category of the 2023 22nd edition will show 109 feature films from 127 filmmakers across 36 countries, and will have screenings and awards for U.S. Narrative Films, World Narrative Films, Short Film Competition, Best Documentary, the Spotlight Competition and Best New Narrative and Documentary Filmmakers, among it’s presentations.
The Slideshow combines...
- 6/12/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
This month sees the theatrical release of the documentary about Midnight Cowboy that made the festival circuit last year. At the same time, a new doc about another controversial gay-themed movie has its world premiere at Tribeca. Chasing Chasing Amy will also close next month’s Outfest in Los Angeles. This picture has a backstory as fascinating as the tale told in Kevin Smith’s 1997 romantic dramedy, Chasing Amy.
Filmmaker Sav Rodgers, a transgender man, recounts his own obsession with Kevin Smith’s movie, which played a crucial role in his coming out and later transitioning. Rodgers grew up in Kansas and, like many gay teenagers, felt like a freak and outsider in a conservative community. When he saw Chasing Amy on video, it was his first exposure to a proud lesbian character (played by Joey Lauren Adams), who eventually has a love affair with a male comic book artist...
Filmmaker Sav Rodgers, a transgender man, recounts his own obsession with Kevin Smith’s movie, which played a crucial role in his coming out and later transitioning. Rodgers grew up in Kansas and, like many gay teenagers, felt like a freak and outsider in a conservative community. When he saw Chasing Amy on video, it was his first exposure to a proud lesbian character (played by Joey Lauren Adams), who eventually has a love affair with a male comic book artist...
- 6/9/2023
- by Stephen Farber
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Do you understand why I love this movie so much?” asks Sav Rodgers, the director whose adoration of Kevin Smith’s 1997 rom-com Chasing Amy has led them on a pilgrimage to parts of New Jersey so ungentrified that, 25 years later, they’re — seriously — almost all still there. “No,” says Shana Lory. Which is a bit of a shock, given that she was the casting director.
Although it set out to be a love letter, Rodgers’ never-less-than-engaging film always was facing an uphill struggle, and it’s to their credit — to prevent spoilers, they/them pronouns will be used here just for the purposes of this review — that they’re even prepared to debate such “problematic” material at a time when pop culture is cheering on the cancellation of major artists such as Pablo Picasso by people with less gravitas than the UK’s Princess of Wales, who at least can...
Although it set out to be a love letter, Rodgers’ never-less-than-engaging film always was facing an uphill struggle, and it’s to their credit — to prevent spoilers, they/them pronouns will be used here just for the purposes of this review — that they’re even prepared to debate such “problematic” material at a time when pop culture is cheering on the cancellation of major artists such as Pablo Picasso by people with less gravitas than the UK’s Princess of Wales, who at least can...
- 6/9/2023
- by Damon Wise
- Deadline Film + TV
In 1997, director Kevin Smith told a story about a comic book artist, played by Ben Affleck, who falls in love with a lesbian, played by Joey Lauren Adams. The film, “Chasing Amy,” became a cultural touchstone for indie filmmaking as well as LGBTQ+ representation at the time. But in the 26 years since its release the movie has come under scrutiny by Lgtbq+ critics and audiences and inspired the new documentary “Chasing Chasing Amy.”
For filmmaker Sav Rodgers, “Chasing Amy,” for better or for worse, was the film that not only sparked his desire to be a filmmaker but made him feel seen in a time when representation was so meager. “I got older and I went to college, and people ask you when you go to film school, ‘Hey, what’s your favorite movie,'” Rodgers told TheWrap. “I would get in these spaces with other queer people specifically where...
For filmmaker Sav Rodgers, “Chasing Amy,” for better or for worse, was the film that not only sparked his desire to be a filmmaker but made him feel seen in a time when representation was so meager. “I got older and I went to college, and people ask you when you go to film school, ‘Hey, what’s your favorite movie,'” Rodgers told TheWrap. “I would get in these spaces with other queer people specifically where...
- 6/8/2023
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
With 109 narrative and documentary features, as well as a bevy of shorts, TV series, podcasts, games and live music events, the Tribeca Festival offers a wide range of media in its 22nd year.
“It’s all about creating an entire festival program that harmonizes together,” says Tribeca Festival director and VP of programming, Cara Cusuamno. “The idea of discovery is a touchpoint that we come back to quite a lot. Whether it’s the discovery of a specific voice, an artist, or first-time creator in film, television, immersive or the discovery of the audience itself experiencing something that they had not sought out before.”
The festival runs June 7-18. As always, Tribeca Festival will spotlight a number of projects directed by boldface names including Frank Marshall (“Rather”), Chelsea Peretti (“First Time Female Director”) and Steven Soderbergh (“Full Circle”).
“It’s quality first,” says Cusuamno. “These projects would not be in...
“It’s all about creating an entire festival program that harmonizes together,” says Tribeca Festival director and VP of programming, Cara Cusuamno. “The idea of discovery is a touchpoint that we come back to quite a lot. Whether it’s the discovery of a specific voice, an artist, or first-time creator in film, television, immersive or the discovery of the audience itself experiencing something that they had not sought out before.”
The festival runs June 7-18. As always, Tribeca Festival will spotlight a number of projects directed by boldface names including Frank Marshall (“Rather”), Chelsea Peretti (“First Time Female Director”) and Steven Soderbergh (“Full Circle”).
“It’s quality first,” says Cusuamno. “These projects would not be in...
- 6/7/2023
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe to open, Chasing Chasing Amy to close Los Angeles fest.
For the first time features by trans filmmakers will bookend Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival (July 13-23), with opener Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe and closing selection Chasing Chasing Amy.
Both Aitch Alberto and Sav Rodgers are alumni of Outfest’s artist development programmes. Alberto took part in the Outfest Screenwriting Lab in 2007 and has returned to mentor young filmmakers in Outfest’s programmes.
Rodgers is an alum of both OutSet – Outfest’s filmmaking lab and...
For the first time features by trans filmmakers will bookend Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival (July 13-23), with opener Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe and closing selection Chasing Chasing Amy.
Both Aitch Alberto and Sav Rodgers are alumni of Outfest’s artist development programmes. Alberto took part in the Outfest Screenwriting Lab in 2007 and has returned to mentor young filmmakers in Outfest’s programmes.
Rodgers is an alum of both OutSet – Outfest’s filmmaking lab and...
- 6/6/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Outfest has lined up its opening and closing night films.
The Los Angeles LGBTQ film festival — scheduled for July 13-23 and presented by Warner Bros. Discovery and Genesis Motor America — will open with Aitch Alberto’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe at the Orpheum Theatre and close with Sav Rodgers’ Chasing Chasing Amy at the Montalbán Theatre.
The selections mark the first time in the fest’s history that both the opening and closing night films come from trans filmmakers. Furthermore, both Alberto and Rodgers hail from Outfest’s artist development programs. Alberto participated in the Outfest screenwriting lab in 2007 and has since served as a mentor to young filmmakers in Outfest programs, while Rodgers participated in Outfest’s OutSet filmmaking lab and mentorship program as well as the screenwriting lab in 2021.
Based on Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s young adult novel, Aristotle and Dante Discover the...
The Los Angeles LGBTQ film festival — scheduled for July 13-23 and presented by Warner Bros. Discovery and Genesis Motor America — will open with Aitch Alberto’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe at the Orpheum Theatre and close with Sav Rodgers’ Chasing Chasing Amy at the Montalbán Theatre.
The selections mark the first time in the fest’s history that both the opening and closing night films come from trans filmmakers. Furthermore, both Alberto and Rodgers hail from Outfest’s artist development programs. Alberto participated in the Outfest screenwriting lab in 2007 and has since served as a mentor to young filmmakers in Outfest programs, while Rodgers participated in Outfest’s OutSet filmmaking lab and mentorship program as well as the screenwriting lab in 2021.
Based on Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s young adult novel, Aristotle and Dante Discover the...
- 6/6/2023
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Today, Outfest announced the Opening and Closing Night gala film selections for the 41st edition of the Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival, taking place from July 13 – 23 in Los Angeles, presented by Warner Bros. Discovery and Genesis Motor America. The festival will open with Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, directed by Aitch Alberto, and the 11-day event will close with Chasing Chasing Amy, directed by Sav Rodgers. The Opening Night Gala will screen at the Orpheum Theatre, with the Closing Night Gala screening at The Montalbán Theatre.
This marks the first time in Outfest’s history that both Opening and Closing night will feature films made by trans artists, underlining the deep roster of trans, non-binary, and intersex talent working in the entertainment industry as well as the diversity of trans storytelling at this moment in history. These events also represent a homecoming for both Alberto and Rodgers,...
This marks the first time in Outfest’s history that both Opening and Closing night will feature films made by trans artists, underlining the deep roster of trans, non-binary, and intersex talent working in the entertainment industry as well as the diversity of trans storytelling at this moment in history. These events also represent a homecoming for both Alberto and Rodgers,...
- 6/6/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
The first clip has been unveiled for “Chasing Chasing Amy,” which will have its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival.
In the feature documentary, Sav Rodgers takes a journey of self-discovery while making a documentary about Kevin Smith’s 1997 film “Chasing Amy” and its polarizing reputation among LGBTQ+ people. The film explores the transformational impact of the rom-com on a 12-year-old queer kid from Kansas, coming of age and to terms with his identity. For young Sav Rodgers, the cult classic became a life raft. As Rodgers examines the film and its making as a cornerstone of LGBTQ+ cinema, he finds himself at a complicated crossroads.
Participants in the film include Smith, “Go Fish” screenwriter Guinevere Turner, “Fire Island” director Andrew Ahn and “Chasing Amy” stars Joey Lauren Adams and Scott Mosier.
Rodgers said: “The journey of making ‘Chasing Chasing Amy’ has been eye-opening in so many ways. When I was younger,...
In the feature documentary, Sav Rodgers takes a journey of self-discovery while making a documentary about Kevin Smith’s 1997 film “Chasing Amy” and its polarizing reputation among LGBTQ+ people. The film explores the transformational impact of the rom-com on a 12-year-old queer kid from Kansas, coming of age and to terms with his identity. For young Sav Rodgers, the cult classic became a life raft. As Rodgers examines the film and its making as a cornerstone of LGBTQ+ cinema, he finds himself at a complicated crossroads.
Participants in the film include Smith, “Go Fish” screenwriter Guinevere Turner, “Fire Island” director Andrew Ahn and “Chasing Amy” stars Joey Lauren Adams and Scott Mosier.
Rodgers said: “The journey of making ‘Chasing Chasing Amy’ has been eye-opening in so many ways. When I was younger,...
- 6/1/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Frameline’s 2023 festival lineup includes Pixar’s new film Elemental, the Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott-starring Bottoms, a screening of Chasing Amy and its new reflective doc, Chasing Chasing Amy, and the Billy Porter and Luke Evans-led Our Son.
The 47th edition of the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival runs June 14-24 and will feature 90 screenings of features and shorts across 11 days before offering a virtual encore between June 24 and July 2. That includes 12 world, 16 North American and nine U.S. premieres, with the opening night film Fairyland, Andrew Durham’s adaptation of Alysia Abbott’s memoir, set to feature an in-person appearance from producer Sofia Coppola.
“There is nothing like seeing a great film at the cinema — sharing an experience in the same moment as friends and strangers alike,” James Woolley, executive director of Frameline, said in a statement. “Despite the challenges that have reshaped moviegoing, we...
The 47th edition of the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival runs June 14-24 and will feature 90 screenings of features and shorts across 11 days before offering a virtual encore between June 24 and July 2. That includes 12 world, 16 North American and nine U.S. premieres, with the opening night film Fairyland, Andrew Durham’s adaptation of Alysia Abbott’s memoir, set to feature an in-person appearance from producer Sofia Coppola.
“There is nothing like seeing a great film at the cinema — sharing an experience in the same moment as friends and strangers alike,” James Woolley, executive director of Frameline, said in a statement. “Despite the challenges that have reshaped moviegoing, we...
- 5/22/2023
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Frameline has announced the full program for the 47th annual San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival (Frameline47). Running June 14 through 24, with a streaming encore to follow from June 24 through July 2, Frameline47 returns with nearly 90 film screenings, including 12 world, 16 North American, and 9 U.S. premieres.
Frameline will host 47 screenings at the historic Castro Theatre and other venues throughout the Bay Area. This announcement comes on the heels of Frameline’s recent unveiling of three marquee presentations: the Opening Night film, Andrew Durham’s Sundance favorite “Fairyland,” which will feature an in-person appearance from producer Sofia Coppola; the Oakland Centerpiece, Hannah Pearl Utt’s “Cora Bora,” featuring “Hacks” scene-stealer Megan Stalter; and the Pride Kickoff film, Jordan Danger’s “God Save the Queens,” featuring RuPaul drag icon Alaska, who will perform during the afterparty at Oasis.
This year’s iteration is set to be Northern California’s largest film festival in 2023, according to Frameline.
Frameline will host 47 screenings at the historic Castro Theatre and other venues throughout the Bay Area. This announcement comes on the heels of Frameline’s recent unveiling of three marquee presentations: the Opening Night film, Andrew Durham’s Sundance favorite “Fairyland,” which will feature an in-person appearance from producer Sofia Coppola; the Oakland Centerpiece, Hannah Pearl Utt’s “Cora Bora,” featuring “Hacks” scene-stealer Megan Stalter; and the Pride Kickoff film, Jordan Danger’s “God Save the Queens,” featuring RuPaul drag icon Alaska, who will perform during the afterparty at Oasis.
This year’s iteration is set to be Northern California’s largest film festival in 2023, according to Frameline.
- 5/18/2023
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
A Great Divide, a anti-Asian racism drama that stars Ken Jeong, Jae Suh Park and Emerson Min, is set to open the competitive program for Geena Davis’ Bentonville Film Festival, running June 13-18.
The feature directorial debut of Emmy-winning commercial and short film director Jean Shim, which also star Miya Cech in a lead role, will get a world premiere during the ninth edition of the Bentonville, Arkansas festival. A Great Divide follows a Korean-American family that leaves the Bay Area for a fresh start in rural Wyoming after experiencing a devastating loss.
Also getting a first look at Bentonville is director R. J. Daniel Hanna’s Hard Miles, which dramatizes the true story of a youth prison social worker who took a cycling team comprising teenage inmates on a transformative 1,000-mile ride. The film, written by Hanna and Christian Sander, stars Matthew Modine, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, Jahking Guillory, Jackson Kelly,...
The feature directorial debut of Emmy-winning commercial and short film director Jean Shim, which also star Miya Cech in a lead role, will get a world premiere during the ninth edition of the Bentonville, Arkansas festival. A Great Divide follows a Korean-American family that leaves the Bay Area for a fresh start in rural Wyoming after experiencing a devastating loss.
Also getting a first look at Bentonville is director R. J. Daniel Hanna’s Hard Miles, which dramatizes the true story of a youth prison social worker who took a cycling team comprising teenage inmates on a transformative 1,000-mile ride. The film, written by Hanna and Christian Sander, stars Matthew Modine, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, Jahking Guillory, Jackson Kelly,...
- 5/9/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Movies mean different things to different people. Predicting which films will strike a chord for any individual is impossible, and some movies become more personal than others. For Sav Rodgers, Kevin Smith‘s Chasing Amy helped him discover truths he could not define. In today’s Chasing Chasing Amy trailer, we find Rodgers going on a journey of self-discovery for a documentary focusing on Smith’s confrontational LGBTQ+ romance film.
The feature documentary explores the transformational impact of the ’90s rom-com on a 12-year-old queer kid from Kansas, coming of age and coming to terms with his identity. The Kevin Smith cult classic became a life raft for young Sav Rodgers. As Rodgers examines the film and its making as a cornerstone of LGBTQ+ cinema, he finds himself at a difficult crossroads. While Sav finds Chasing Amy a gateway to becoming more comfortable with his identity, sections of the LGBTQ...
The feature documentary explores the transformational impact of the ’90s rom-com on a 12-year-old queer kid from Kansas, coming of age and coming to terms with his identity. The Kevin Smith cult classic became a life raft for young Sav Rodgers. As Rodgers examines the film and its making as a cornerstone of LGBTQ+ cinema, he finds himself at a difficult crossroads. While Sav finds Chasing Amy a gateway to becoming more comfortable with his identity, sections of the LGBTQ...
- 5/5/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
"Seeing that movie helped me figure out: 'oh, that's me!'" This documentary is premiering soon at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival this summer - check out it there if you're in town. Professional Amateur and Yeehaw Pictures and Spacestation have revealed an official trailer for the doc film Chasing Chasing Amy, made by filmmaker Sav Rodgers. When a young filmmaker sets out to understand the ’90s LGBTQ+ rom-com that saved his life when he was younger, he is forced to confront complicated truths of his own, that will change who he is forever. Rodgers takes a journey of self-discovery while making his own doc about Kevin Smith's Chasing Amy and its polarizing reputation in the LGBTQ+ community. The film also features an original score composed by Jordi Nus. This looks like it might actually be better than it seems at first glance, with a meta story about self-discovery and...
- 5/5/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
‘Chasing Amy’ Doc Examines the Legacy of Kevin Smith’s Polarizing 1997 Film in First Trailer (Video)
Sometimes the cultural reevaluation of a film can go both ways: For as much as viewers can say “Yes, this movie is actually good,” they can also say “We see now it’s incredibly problematic.” Such is the case with director Kevin Smith’s 1997 feature “Chasing Amy,” which tells the story of a straight man (played by Ben Affleck) falling in love with a lesbian (played by Joey Lauren Adams).
As director Sav Rodgers’ documentary, “Chasing Chasing Amy” explores in its first trailer: Can one enjoy a film that falls into stereotypes as often as it breaks them?
“Chasing Chasing Amy” isn’t just a look at the Smith film but how it influenced Rodgers own journey of self-discovery. By looking at the film’s polarizing depiction of sexuality and gender, both in the wake of its initial release and today, Rodgers looks at how his own life has been altered.
As director Sav Rodgers’ documentary, “Chasing Chasing Amy” explores in its first trailer: Can one enjoy a film that falls into stereotypes as often as it breaks them?
“Chasing Chasing Amy” isn’t just a look at the Smith film but how it influenced Rodgers own journey of self-discovery. By looking at the film’s polarizing depiction of sexuality and gender, both in the wake of its initial release and today, Rodgers looks at how his own life has been altered.
- 5/4/2023
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
Ben Affleck’s “Air,” arguably the first real awards contender of 2023, will debut on Prime Video starting May 12, Amazon announced Tuesday.
The film, which was released on April 5 in theaters around the world, has grossed more than $79 million worldwide.
“Air” has been embraced by critics and audiences, Amazon was more than happy to note in its press release about the Prime Video debut, with Affleck’s feature generating a 92 percent Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, a 98 percent audience score, and an A-grade from CinemaScore. Here’s some boilerplate language about the project:
From award-winning director Ben Affleck, Air reveals the unbelievable game-changing partnership between a then-rookie Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division, which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand. This moving story follows the career-defining gamble of an unconventional team with everything on the line, the uncompromising vision of...
The film, which was released on April 5 in theaters around the world, has grossed more than $79 million worldwide.
“Air” has been embraced by critics and audiences, Amazon was more than happy to note in its press release about the Prime Video debut, with Affleck’s feature generating a 92 percent Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, a 98 percent audience score, and an A-grade from CinemaScore. Here’s some boilerplate language about the project:
From award-winning director Ben Affleck, Air reveals the unbelievable game-changing partnership between a then-rookie Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division, which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand. This moving story follows the career-defining gamble of an unconventional team with everything on the line, the uncompromising vision of...
- 5/2/2023
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have shared the screen and bank accounts, but one thing they didn’t agree on was Damon’s lifestyle when they were roommates.
Ben Affleck appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden as part of the show’s final group of guests, promoting his latest directorial effort, Air, which co-stars both himself and Matt Damon. On their early days as roommates, Affleck said of Damon, “Matt is a beautiful guy, I love him. He’s my best friend, he’s been great to me my whole life, he’s a brilliant guy…I would not suggest living with him.” How do you like them apples, Matt?
Affleck recalled devising a plan with his brother Casey, a fellow roommate, that they hoped would expose Damon as a slob. “We’re just going to wait and see how long he will go before he actually gets up and goes,...
Ben Affleck appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden as part of the show’s final group of guests, promoting his latest directorial effort, Air, which co-stars both himself and Matt Damon. On their early days as roommates, Affleck said of Damon, “Matt is a beautiful guy, I love him. He’s my best friend, he’s been great to me my whole life, he’s a brilliant guy…I would not suggest living with him.” How do you like them apples, Matt?
Affleck recalled devising a plan with his brother Casey, a fellow roommate, that they hoped would expose Damon as a slob. “We’re just going to wait and see how long he will go before he actually gets up and goes,...
- 4/14/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Though he’s best known as an actor, the two-time Oscar winner Ben Affleck has excelled in a variety of fields, including writing, directing and producing. And it was the writing and producing catgories that brought him his two Academy Awards. Let’s take a look back at 18 of his greatest films, ranked worst to best.
Born in 1972, Affleck first gained notice as a hot young actor with supporting performances in movies such as “School Ties” (1992), “Dazed and Confused” (1993) and “Mallrats” (1995). He shot to stardom when he and Damon, lifelong friends, decided to write a couple of plum roles for themselves in the inspirational drama “Good Will Hunting” (1997). The box office smash bring the duo an Oscar and Golden Globe for screenwriting, launching both of their onscreen careers.
Having firmly established himself as a leading man, Affleck decided to try his luck behind the camera by directing the murder mystery...
Born in 1972, Affleck first gained notice as a hot young actor with supporting performances in movies such as “School Ties” (1992), “Dazed and Confused” (1993) and “Mallrats” (1995). He shot to stardom when he and Damon, lifelong friends, decided to write a couple of plum roles for themselves in the inspirational drama “Good Will Hunting” (1997). The box office smash bring the duo an Oscar and Golden Globe for screenwriting, launching both of their onscreen careers.
Having firmly established himself as a leading man, Affleck decided to try his luck behind the camera by directing the murder mystery...
- 4/6/2023
- by Christopher Rosen, Chris Beachum and Zach Laws
- Gold Derby
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are back together again for Affleck’s latest directorial effort “Air.” The film, which Amazon will release in theaters nationwide starting in April before it bows on the streaming service later this year, received its thrilling first trailer on Thursday ahead of the 2023 Super Bowl.
Based on a script by Alex Convery and inspired by actual events, “Air” is about the early stages of Nike’s relationship with basketball legend Michael Jordan. Here’s the official synopsis from Amazon: “‘Air’ reveals the unbelievable game-changing partnership between a then-rookie Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand. This moving story follows the career-defining gamble of an unconventional team with everything on the line, the uncompromising vision of a mother who knows the worth of her son’s immense talent, and the basketball...
Based on a script by Alex Convery and inspired by actual events, “Air” is about the early stages of Nike’s relationship with basketball legend Michael Jordan. Here’s the official synopsis from Amazon: “‘Air’ reveals the unbelievable game-changing partnership between a then-rookie Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand. This moving story follows the career-defining gamble of an unconventional team with everything on the line, the uncompromising vision of a mother who knows the worth of her son’s immense talent, and the basketball...
- 2/9/2023
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
In collaboration with “Clerks” mastermind Kevin Smith, Logic’s newest music video for his stoner anthem “Highlife” reunites the film’s cast. The video features Logic as the star at the original New Jersey Quick Stop set.
“Clerks” (1994) follows clerks Dante and Randal’s daily debauchery at a New Jersey convenience store. “Clerks II” premiered in 2006 and “Clerks III” in 2022. All of the “Clerks” films, along with Smith’s other works such as “Mallrats” (1995), “Chasing Amy” (1997) and “Dogma” (1999), are part of his fictional universe, referred to as “View Askewniverse.”
The music video’s cast includes Smith as Silent Bob, Brian O’Halloran as Dante, Jeff Anderson as Randal, Jason Mewes as Jay, Matt Ranieri as Mooby and Ernie O’Donnell as Trainer.
Logic has long admired Kevin Smith’s work. Smith direct messaged the rapper on Instagram to join “Clerks III,” but the rapper missed the alert. Once the creators did connect,...
“Clerks” (1994) follows clerks Dante and Randal’s daily debauchery at a New Jersey convenience store. “Clerks II” premiered in 2006 and “Clerks III” in 2022. All of the “Clerks” films, along with Smith’s other works such as “Mallrats” (1995), “Chasing Amy” (1997) and “Dogma” (1999), are part of his fictional universe, referred to as “View Askewniverse.”
The music video’s cast includes Smith as Silent Bob, Brian O’Halloran as Dante, Jeff Anderson as Randal, Jason Mewes as Jay, Matt Ranieri as Mooby and Ernie O’Donnell as Trainer.
Logic has long admired Kevin Smith’s work. Smith direct messaged the rapper on Instagram to join “Clerks III,” but the rapper missed the alert. Once the creators did connect,...
- 2/1/2023
- by Julia MacCary
- Variety Film + TV
Well Schmoes, as 2022 finally draws to a close we reflect on a year unlike any other in our lifetimes. We finally got back to a pretty normal theatrical schedule from the studios, but streaming still had a lot t offer as well. If there is one thing for sure, there are always movies that are highly overrated and underrated by critics and fans alike. As the UnPopular Opinion Guy, I felt it was only fitting to issue my list of the movies I felt that the masses got wrong. Some of these may shock you and some may just piss you off, but these are my honest-to-goodness perspective of the movies of 2022. If you disagree with any of the choices, please voice your own opinion in the comments below. After all, the only opinion that really matters is yours, and I am just here to share mine.
5. Three Thousand Years of Longing...
5. Three Thousand Years of Longing...
- 12/26/2022
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
Deadline has reported that Matt Damon and Casey Affleck are set to reunite for The Instigators. The project recently landed at Apple Original Films and has Doug Liman attached to direct.
The Instigators will find Matt Damon and Casey Affleck playing two thieves on the run with the help of one of their therapists after a robbery gone wrong. The script was written by Chuck MacLean and was developed by Jeff Robinov, John Graham, and Casey Affleck. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck will produce through their Artists Equity banner, which “partners with filmmakers to empower creative vision and broaden access to profit participation.” Jeff Robinov and John Graham will also produce through Studio 8, as well as Kevin Walsh through The Walsh Company.
Related Ben Affleck calls Netflix an “assembly line”
Matt Damon and Casey Affleck have appeared together many times before, going back to Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy,...
The Instigators will find Matt Damon and Casey Affleck playing two thieves on the run with the help of one of their therapists after a robbery gone wrong. The script was written by Chuck MacLean and was developed by Jeff Robinov, John Graham, and Casey Affleck. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck will produce through their Artists Equity banner, which “partners with filmmakers to empower creative vision and broaden access to profit participation.” Jeff Robinov and John Graham will also produce through Studio 8, as well as Kevin Walsh through The Walsh Company.
Related Ben Affleck calls Netflix an “assembly line”
Matt Damon and Casey Affleck have appeared together many times before, going back to Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy,...
- 12/8/2022
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Click here to read the full article.
Distributors who signed up at the American Film Market to handle the foreign theatrical and home video release of 1997’s Good Will Hunting found themselves with a winner on their hands.
Produced by Miramax, with its Miramax International handling oversees sales, the drama about a working-class math whiz was produced on a 10 million budget and went on to gross 225.9 million worldwide, winning a supporting actor Oscar for Robin Williams, who plays an empathetic shrink, and the original screenplay trophy for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
But the project’s success was far from preordained. Damon and Affleck, childhood friends from Cambridge, Massachusetts, were struggling young actors in Los Angeles when they began working on the screenplay, which, after several years and hundreds of pages of rewrites, they sold to Castle Rock in 1994 for 675,000. Castle Rock, though, eventually put the script in turnaround, giving...
Distributors who signed up at the American Film Market to handle the foreign theatrical and home video release of 1997’s Good Will Hunting found themselves with a winner on their hands.
Produced by Miramax, with its Miramax International handling oversees sales, the drama about a working-class math whiz was produced on a 10 million budget and went on to gross 225.9 million worldwide, winning a supporting actor Oscar for Robin Williams, who plays an empathetic shrink, and the original screenplay trophy for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
But the project’s success was far from preordained. Damon and Affleck, childhood friends from Cambridge, Massachusetts, were struggling young actors in Los Angeles when they began working on the screenplay, which, after several years and hundreds of pages of rewrites, they sold to Castle Rock in 1994 for 675,000. Castle Rock, though, eventually put the script in turnaround, giving...
- 11/1/2022
- by Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Kevin Smith is sticking to DC…maybe.
The “Clerks” director, who famously was offered to head up Warner Bros’ DC department in 1996, revealed that he will never work for Marvel or the “Star Wars” franchise due to the “rabid” fans of both IPs.
“It’s a fool’s errand — you’re going to piss somebody off,” Smith told The Guardian. “Fandom is rabid and tribal. When I worked on ‘Masters of the Universe,’ I took a lot of heat from people who felt like I had ruined their childhood. Going near a Marvel or a Star Wars would make me insanely reticent.”
Smith continued, “They’ve got a billion people to make those movies, but nobody’s making Kevin Smith movies, so I might as well make them.”
The “Chasing Amy” helmer led the 2021 Netflix animated series “Masters of the Universe: Revelation,” which fans found to be too “woke,” according to Smith.
The “Clerks” director, who famously was offered to head up Warner Bros’ DC department in 1996, revealed that he will never work for Marvel or the “Star Wars” franchise due to the “rabid” fans of both IPs.
“It’s a fool’s errand — you’re going to piss somebody off,” Smith told The Guardian. “Fandom is rabid and tribal. When I worked on ‘Masters of the Universe,’ I took a lot of heat from people who felt like I had ruined their childhood. Going near a Marvel or a Star Wars would make me insanely reticent.”
Smith continued, “They’ve got a billion people to make those movies, but nobody’s making Kevin Smith movies, so I might as well make them.”
The “Chasing Amy” helmer led the 2021 Netflix animated series “Masters of the Universe: Revelation,” which fans found to be too “woke,” according to Smith.
- 10/11/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Kevin Smith has directed eight feature films since 2006's "Clerks II" — including "Clerks III," it so happens — but "Clerks II" might function best as the coda to his body of work. In the film, Dante (Brian O'Halloran) and Randall (Jeff Anderson), now in their early 40s, have been reduced to working at a low-price fast food joint called Mooby's to make ends meet. Dante is poised to marry his fiancée Emma (Jennifer Schwalbach) and move to Florida to run a car wash. This has Dante facing an existential crisis, as he is actually in love with his manager Becky (Rosario Dawson), with whom he had an affair. Randall, too, is thrown into an existential crisis by the impending absence of his best friend. The future doesn't look bright. The decisions these characters make in "Clerks II" will essentially come to define their adulthoods, and they are still, in many ways,...
- 9/29/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
They say you never forget your first Kevin Smith movie, and for a lot of people, that film is 1999's "Dogma." While Smith broke onto the scene with indie darlings like "Clerks," "Mallrats," and "Chasing Amy," his religious satire came after the success of "Good Will Hunting," which helped break View Askewniverse favorite Ben Affleck and his collaborative partner Matt Damon into a whole new category of fame and acclaim. Adding stars like Chris Rock, Salma Hayek, and Alan Rickman to the cast only piqued audience interest even more, as did the controversy that surrounded such a "blasphemous" film. Many consider "Dogma" to be one of Smith's strongest entries in his filmography (this writer included), but younger generations have been unable to easily access the film, which has become ridiculously difficult to track down.
As of publication, "Dogma" is unavailable to stream (legally) on any platform, and unused, out-of-print physical...
As of publication, "Dogma" is unavailable to stream (legally) on any platform, and unused, out-of-print physical...
- 9/20/2022
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
The original "Clerks" is a cult comedy classic, a movie made for next-to-nothing by first-time director Kevin Smith, starring a bunch of his friends in a convenience store. The sincere yet directionless Dante, who's "not even supposed to be here today," and his motor-mouthed pop culture-obsessed best friend Randal spend most of the movie riffing with each other and the bizarre customers that frequent their Quick Stop.
This indie darling spawned the View Askewniverse, which includes "Chasing Amy," "Dogma," "Mallrats," "Clerks II," a "Clerks" animated series, and comic book, both "Jay and Silent Bob" movies, and now "Clerks III." So technically, Kevin Smith beat Marvel to the punch regarding interconnected cinematic universes. (Just saying.)
"Clerks III" picks up with Randal and Dante, now middle-aged and not much further ahead in life. Sure they co-own the Quick Stop now, but after a heart attack that nearly kills Randal, he is inspired...
This indie darling spawned the View Askewniverse, which includes "Chasing Amy," "Dogma," "Mallrats," "Clerks II," a "Clerks" animated series, and comic book, both "Jay and Silent Bob" movies, and now "Clerks III." So technically, Kevin Smith beat Marvel to the punch regarding interconnected cinematic universes. (Just saying.)
"Clerks III" picks up with Randal and Dante, now middle-aged and not much further ahead in life. Sure they co-own the Quick Stop now, but after a heart attack that nearly kills Randal, he is inspired...
- 9/19/2022
- by Ben Begley
- Slash Film
Whatever criticisms might be lobbed at Clerks III — most of them valid — it is undeniably the film Kevin Smith set out to make. The director’s third visit to the Quick Stop is part reunion, part remake, part midlife crisis, and only partly funny. But there’s also a sincerity that elevates it and a vulnerability that makes it unique from the rest of his work. It’s Smith’s best film in over a decade, make of that what you will.
Smith wrote the script for this trilogy-capper after suffering a near-fatal heart attack several years back and once again pulls from real life for this latest installment, which finds convenience store owners Dante (Brian O’Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson) making a movie about their life experiences after Randal suffers his own “widow-maker.”
There’s a strong case to be made that this is a two-hour version of a snake eating its own tail,...
Smith wrote the script for this trilogy-capper after suffering a near-fatal heart attack several years back and once again pulls from real life for this latest installment, which finds convenience store owners Dante (Brian O’Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson) making a movie about their life experiences after Randal suffers his own “widow-maker.”
There’s a strong case to be made that this is a two-hour version of a snake eating its own tail,...
- 9/15/2022
- by Chris Williams
- CinemaNerdz
This interview contains a major spoiler for "Clerks III," so don't read on if you haven't seen the movie.
Kevin Smith's return to the "Clerks" franchise gets more heartbreaking than any of the filmmaker's previous comedic efforts. All of his movies have had some semblance of heart, especially "Chasing Amy," but when it comes to "Clerks III," there are two different layers of emotional weight at play here. First, the film draws inspiration from Smith's own life by having Quick Stop co-owner Randal Graves suffer a near-fatal heart attack that inspires him to do something with his life, which means making his own "Clerks" movie about the convenience store shenanigans he's experienced with his partner-in-convenience, Dante Hicks (Brian O'Halloran). But Randal isn't the only one struggling with his place in life.
Early on in "Clerks III," we're given the shocking revelation that Dante's "Clerks II" love interest Becky, played enchantingly by Rosario Dawson,...
Kevin Smith's return to the "Clerks" franchise gets more heartbreaking than any of the filmmaker's previous comedic efforts. All of his movies have had some semblance of heart, especially "Chasing Amy," but when it comes to "Clerks III," there are two different layers of emotional weight at play here. First, the film draws inspiration from Smith's own life by having Quick Stop co-owner Randal Graves suffer a near-fatal heart attack that inspires him to do something with his life, which means making his own "Clerks" movie about the convenience store shenanigans he's experienced with his partner-in-convenience, Dante Hicks (Brian O'Halloran). But Randal isn't the only one struggling with his place in life.
Early on in "Clerks III," we're given the shocking revelation that Dante's "Clerks II" love interest Becky, played enchantingly by Rosario Dawson,...
- 9/14/2022
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
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