As harmless and light as Kevin Smith’s “Zack and Miri Make A Porno” was, it was also still as inept and sophomoric as anything he’s ever done. We didn’t mind it, it was less annoying than most of his films and rather sweet at times, but we don’t disagree with anything Lisa Schwarzbaum said in her Entertainment Weekly review. She calls the premise “inconsequential and puerile” and says, “a Smith production is always noisy, shambling, and liberally smutty on the outside while conservatively gooey on the inside (and always, proudly, a visual eyesore, as if compositional coherence signifies selling out to the Man).”
Ha, it’s kind of true and Smith doesn’t exactly argue. “I’ve never been accused of being an artist,” he told MTV recently and says with his “Red State” horror he’d like to get back to his “filmmaking roots” (presumably if he actually has them).
Smith gets into the difference between films and movies (something we vehemently agree on, art vs. 90% of what is escapist pap) and says he hopes “Red State” will get him closer to the artistry of filmmaking.
This, to me, is very much a film, ‘Red State.’ ‘Zack and Miri’ is a total movie, totally a fun movie, totally enjoyable, but ‘Red State’ has a lot on its mind . “And I want to get back to my filmmaker roots and make something that’s got a lot on its mind. ‘Red State’ has something on its mind. It’s like a polemic of sorts. I didn’t get into the business to make comedies, even though I do make comedies and that’s what I like. I got in the business to make film, like I’m a filmmaker, and films are full of ideas, and full of outlooks, and full of opinions, and done with artistry or whatnot. I’ve never been accused of being an artist, but that’s chiefly what films are.”
” Full of opinions, and done with artistry or whatnot.” Ha, Smith really articulates doesn’t he? Does the movie-maker even posses the faculties to make a film? It remains to be seen, but he seems to be dead set on trying regardless.
Part of me thinks Smith is only talking this movie up to prove that he’s trying to make a serious film, even though he knows it likely won’t be made–he wants everyone to know he’s trying. It sounds like pretty much every studio has passed on the script (according to Devin Faraci), so expect this to become another story in Smith’s live setlist…”Did I tell you guys about the time I wanted to make a serious film but no one wanted me to…?”
I saw Zack and Miri yesterday, and was almost completely turned off by it’s raunchiness. Not only that, but for some craaaazy reason I expected more from the film than just Zack and Miri trying to make a porno. I know that’s the title, but that literally is what it was. Other than the high school reunion (which was probabaly the best part), this film conatined no other scenes that didn’t serve that purpose. Sorry but Apatow this is not. I just don’t see myself having to watch it again, and definately can’t see myself quoting it.
yeah, sub-par Apatow at best, but i really thought it was tame and softcore.
Aside from the poop shot, I didn’t think there was much raunch; it was just juvenile with a gooey center of mush. But it’s sort of the only time the geeks let themselves get misty which is kind of amusing.