'RED STATE': Five Stars (Out of Five)
Writer/director Kevin Smith's tenth film is by far his biggest departure, from his norm, to date and I think it's his best film since 1999's 'DOGMA'. It's a horror film primarily (with very little comedy at all) but it's still packed with Smith's clever witty dialogue and colorful characters. It deals with a fanatical religious group lead by a demented preacher very much inspired by the notorious church leader Fred Phelps. Smith says he was inspired to make the film for his gay brother and I think the movie is an awesome assault on bigots everywhere (specifically the religious kind). The movie has gone through a s--- load of controversy throughout it's entire filmmaking process (I can't wait to see a behind the scenes documentary on the making of the film and listen to Smith's audio commentary track) and has turned out quite a miraculous piece of art despite (or possibly even because of). I think it's the best film of Smith's career (next to 'DOGMA' and probably 'CHASING AMY') and by far the best movie of the year (at least so far).
The film stars Michael Parks (who Smith has became a huge fan of after seeing in Quentin Tarantino's recent work) as Pastor Abin Cooper (the Fred Phelps type figure). Cooper is the leader of a Five Points Church who publicly boycotts homosexual funerals and privately torture and slaughter them (as well as others they deem sinners) at their church on their secluded ranch. The film first focuses on three teens at a local high school (Michael Angarano, Kyle Gallner and Nicholas Braun) who respond to the invitation of a woman, one of them met in an online sex chat, to meet for group sex. They borrow one of their parent's cars and drive out to a trailer in the country to meet her. On their way they sideswipe the local sheriff's car (played by Stephen Root) who was involved in sexual activities with another man upon impact. When meeting up for the sexual encounter with the woman (Melissa Leo) they find out it was a setup for a trap by the fanatical church (who want to punish them for their 'devious thoughts'). All Hell breaks loose when the Sheriff finds out what's going on, after investigating the hit and run, and calls an ATF agent (John Goodman) who had been watching the church (on and off).
Smith made the film for $4 million (from two private investor groups) and it's his lowest budgeted film since 1997' 'CHASING AMY'. He got in a huge fight with his former distributing partners, the Weinstein brothers, and had promised an auction for the rights to the film at the Sundance Film Festival, after it's premier, when he p---ed off everyone looking forward to it by purchasing the film from himself for $20. He is instead distributing it himself (citing Mel Gibson as his inspiration, who produced the most successful self distributed film of all time 'THE PASSION OF THE Christ') and released it straight to Video on Demand after a very limited theatrical run (primarily at Quentin Tarantino's New Beverly Cinema) so it could qualify for the Academy Awards. Many say he's 'self imploded and gone mad but Smith compares it to a "'JERRY MAGUIRE'-moment". I would have loved to have seen the film in a theater but I commend Smith's punk attitude and continue to think he's a true inspiration to filmmakers everywhere.
The film has received a lot of bad reviews from critics (about two thirds of them) due to his actions (I believe). The film is no doubt a masterpiece in my opinion and the hateful reviews I've read seem very biased (towards Smith himself rather than the film). The movie has received a lot of positive word of mouth as well though most notably from filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino. The movie is very 'Tarantio-esque' as well as 'Coen Brothers-ish' as many have said but I think that's a very fitting style for Smith (as well as something very different for him) and it is very unique and 'Kevin Smith-ish' as well. He's probably my favorite film writer and has been for a dozen years now but he's not the best visual director (usually). He has grown a lot over the years though and here he really comes to form! The visuals are beautiful and stylishly shot and edited (by Smith). With this film he definitely shows talents equally impressive in directing to writing (and puts himself in the same league as Tarantino and the Coens). The cast is all outstanding as well. Especially Goodman (who's never been better) and Parks who chews up every scene he's in. What's most impressive about the film is that you never know where it's going at any time; it starts out like a routine horror/thriller (with teens going on a sex adventure out in the country and end up getting abducted by psychos) but then it keeps taking turns to the point where you have no idea what's going to happen next or who's going to live or die. None of the characters are really that likable or relatable (with the exception of possibly Goodman) and you're still emotionally stunned and shockingly intrigued in what's going on at every minute. The subject matter is just so fascinating and I loved every minute of it. I, like Smith, grew up Catholic and am fascinated with religious subject matter and exploring what it does to people. I think this is the area that Smith is the strongest at (above 'dick and fart jokes' even) and his movies that deal the most in it are his best. This is yet another astonishing masterpiece from Kevin Smith!
Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mlB8eyvpck
Writer/director Kevin Smith's tenth film is by far his biggest departure, from his norm, to date and I think it's his best film since 1999's 'DOGMA'. It's a horror film primarily (with very little comedy at all) but it's still packed with Smith's clever witty dialogue and colorful characters. It deals with a fanatical religious group lead by a demented preacher very much inspired by the notorious church leader Fred Phelps. Smith says he was inspired to make the film for his gay brother and I think the movie is an awesome assault on bigots everywhere (specifically the religious kind). The movie has gone through a s--- load of controversy throughout it's entire filmmaking process (I can't wait to see a behind the scenes documentary on the making of the film and listen to Smith's audio commentary track) and has turned out quite a miraculous piece of art despite (or possibly even because of). I think it's the best film of Smith's career (next to 'DOGMA' and probably 'CHASING AMY') and by far the best movie of the year (at least so far).
The film stars Michael Parks (who Smith has became a huge fan of after seeing in Quentin Tarantino's recent work) as Pastor Abin Cooper (the Fred Phelps type figure). Cooper is the leader of a Five Points Church who publicly boycotts homosexual funerals and privately torture and slaughter them (as well as others they deem sinners) at their church on their secluded ranch. The film first focuses on three teens at a local high school (Michael Angarano, Kyle Gallner and Nicholas Braun) who respond to the invitation of a woman, one of them met in an online sex chat, to meet for group sex. They borrow one of their parent's cars and drive out to a trailer in the country to meet her. On their way they sideswipe the local sheriff's car (played by Stephen Root) who was involved in sexual activities with another man upon impact. When meeting up for the sexual encounter with the woman (Melissa Leo) they find out it was a setup for a trap by the fanatical church (who want to punish them for their 'devious thoughts'). All Hell breaks loose when the Sheriff finds out what's going on, after investigating the hit and run, and calls an ATF agent (John Goodman) who had been watching the church (on and off).
Smith made the film for $4 million (from two private investor groups) and it's his lowest budgeted film since 1997' 'CHASING AMY'. He got in a huge fight with his former distributing partners, the Weinstein brothers, and had promised an auction for the rights to the film at the Sundance Film Festival, after it's premier, when he p---ed off everyone looking forward to it by purchasing the film from himself for $20. He is instead distributing it himself (citing Mel Gibson as his inspiration, who produced the most successful self distributed film of all time 'THE PASSION OF THE Christ') and released it straight to Video on Demand after a very limited theatrical run (primarily at Quentin Tarantino's New Beverly Cinema) so it could qualify for the Academy Awards. Many say he's 'self imploded and gone mad but Smith compares it to a "'JERRY MAGUIRE'-moment". I would have loved to have seen the film in a theater but I commend Smith's punk attitude and continue to think he's a true inspiration to filmmakers everywhere.
The film has received a lot of bad reviews from critics (about two thirds of them) due to his actions (I believe). The film is no doubt a masterpiece in my opinion and the hateful reviews I've read seem very biased (towards Smith himself rather than the film). The movie has received a lot of positive word of mouth as well though most notably from filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino. The movie is very 'Tarantio-esque' as well as 'Coen Brothers-ish' as many have said but I think that's a very fitting style for Smith (as well as something very different for him) and it is very unique and 'Kevin Smith-ish' as well. He's probably my favorite film writer and has been for a dozen years now but he's not the best visual director (usually). He has grown a lot over the years though and here he really comes to form! The visuals are beautiful and stylishly shot and edited (by Smith). With this film he definitely shows talents equally impressive in directing to writing (and puts himself in the same league as Tarantino and the Coens). The cast is all outstanding as well. Especially Goodman (who's never been better) and Parks who chews up every scene he's in. What's most impressive about the film is that you never know where it's going at any time; it starts out like a routine horror/thriller (with teens going on a sex adventure out in the country and end up getting abducted by psychos) but then it keeps taking turns to the point where you have no idea what's going to happen next or who's going to live or die. None of the characters are really that likable or relatable (with the exception of possibly Goodman) and you're still emotionally stunned and shockingly intrigued in what's going on at every minute. The subject matter is just so fascinating and I loved every minute of it. I, like Smith, grew up Catholic and am fascinated with religious subject matter and exploring what it does to people. I think this is the area that Smith is the strongest at (above 'dick and fart jokes' even) and his movies that deal the most in it are his best. This is yet another astonishing masterpiece from Kevin Smith!
Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mlB8eyvpck