How Kevin Smith Puts on a Clinic

Kevin Smith is a self-made success story. He takes pride in that fact, as anyone who reads his tweets will tell you, but success is not always a good measure of relevance or talent. One could argue that after initial success, Smith may have played it relatively safe, never straying too far from the source material that made him, returning to signature characters, writing and directing movies full of juvenile humor and a generic look that conveyed that "independent style" that befitted a director who dropped out of film school. When Jersey Girl flopped, he returned once again to his bread and butter to redeem himself to his teenage fanbase, only to alienate them again later by making CopOut, a film that on the surface seemed so obvious no one took it seriously, and Smith himself, despite repeatedly having defended it, has said he did it so he could afford his next project. With that self-funded project, Smith has finally propelled himself into the status of film auteur, making a movie with heavy adult themes without the juvenile humor that had been his trademark, while at the same time producing a stylized satirical message about the state of this country. Kevin Smith, with Red State, has not only proven that he is talented, but also that he is relevant.

I won't go into details about the plot of this film, because I don't have to in order to discuss why it is such a groundbreaking movie, and also because I hate it when people write about new films and just summarize the plot or give away important details. Hey, guess what, some people don't like to have their movies spelled out for them before they watch them, myself included. But what I will say is this, whatever you expect going into this film, prepare to be surprised, shocked, and reminded why you love movies in the first place. How, you might wonder, does the guy known for drug humor and long monologues about nerd trivia, accomplish these things? Well, one might say, the guy got real. Watching this film is like watching that triumphant moment when a butterfly finally breaks free from its cocoon, and opens its wings for the first time. You knew that beautiful creature was in there, growing, gestating, but you really didn't know just how beautiful it was until you saw it with your own eyes take flight in the summer air. Kevin Smith, I am proud of you. Having followed you from the beginning, and supported your films, I feel like we grew up together. Me, enjoying your silly movies as a teen, and still loving them for nostalgic value today, and watching you struggle with trying to adapt as an artist, while I myself found my own way in the real world, and now I feel like you have truly matured as a filmmaker, learning from your own mistakes and experiences, and ready to show the world what you have to say, while I, and the rest of your fans, are truly ready to hear it.

Watching Red State as someone familiar with Smith's previous work, it will seem like you are watching a movie made by someone else. From the very first frame, it grabs you with an intensity, and a vibe that speaks of immediacy, and a certain level of truth. The subject matter is topical, it is real, and it is scary. The dialogue is sharp, lean, and profound, mostly without any of the signature monologues that Smith is known for, except for one scene, which is intrinsic to the nature of the film, and the characters in it. Like all of Smith's movies, this one has unique characters, but unlike his other films, this one has true powerhouse performances. It is the performances that drive the movie, and give it its strength, and it is a testament to the director and his growth, that he is able to garner such performances from his cast. Michael Parks is the shining center of this aspect of the film, delivering a sermon in one scene that is so charismatic, with a voice that is so hypnotic, he draws you in, convinces you that his cause is just, and makes you want to join his cult, even though you know he is the Devil he preaches against. Surely, his performance will not be overlooked come award season. Another thing, which is important to me as someone who grew up in the South, is that the South is not portrayed in this film in a demeaning manner. The characters speak with southern accents, but those accents are not over-the-top caricatures of what the accents actually sound like, and they come across as perfectly natural most of the time, which is a triumph, as someone from the south can always tell the difference. There are religious evangelical extremists in this film, but they are not meant to be taken as the norm, however, Smith is not at all interested in making a movie about good vs evil. The real world is far too complex for that.

The most important elements of this movie, to me, are the ways in which Smith takes chances. He takes chances with what happens to his characters. He takes chances with the controversial aspects of government power he displays. He takes chances on the ways in which he breaks away from the standard Hollywood cliches. He takes chances on the messages and themes that his film delivers. If you go into this movie expecting to watch another Hollywood cookie-cutter action flick in which the good guys win and someone kisses the girl, expect to walk away disappointed. Smith proves he has no interest in making everyone happy for the sake of his art. This movies pulls no punches. It has a lot to say, and most of it is not on the surface, which shows levels of forethought and planning that have to go into true works of art. This is a movie that can be dissected and studied. The themes are challenging, and debatable. The outcome is controversial. And most importantly, the story is riveting. From the moment it grabs you, it does not let go.

On the surface, what you might see is a straight-forward suspense/action film about a group of psychos kidnapping kids and killing them for their religious cult. But what you really have is a message about the state of our current political culture. It is a statement about how easy it is to be drawn into crossing lines we have no business crossing, and how once those lines are crossed, there is no turning back. Kevin Smith knows the political climate, and as anyone with a brain should be, he is scared of what might become of it. This film shows us that if the extreme right take over this country, we may be in for bloodshed and horror. In the end, maybe the true people in power would stop the extremists, but how long would it go on before they did? Most people may not see this message from the movie, but it is in there, and it is loud and clear. I would not be surprised if this movie gets a lot of controversy, especially from the GOP, who are building their platform on anti-gay policy, and Bible thumping. But this is even more reason why this film is so important, it stands in the face of this current political environment, and it asks the world to take notice. For the sake of this country, I hope people do, and I hope they understand.

Thank you, Kevin Smith, for having the guts to put this movie into the world.