anyone know where i can find the complete kevin smith review of magnolia?
 

i know he repodily bashed it to death, but i looked on the view askew website and couldn't find it.

i would like to read this.......

I think he just posted what a piece of shit he thought it was on his message board and the New York Post and Entertainment Weekly ran with a story about it.

Kevin Smith mentions it on his Evening With Kevin Smith dvd. Theres a funny bit when he talks about going to the doctor for a physical and seeing Paul Thomas Anderson in the waiting room. Apparently PTA was pretty nice to him despite knowing what Smith said about his film (Smith IS a big Boogie Nights fan, however).

I couldn't find the exact text of what he said, but here is a small website that states some of his afterthoughts of saying it (1/16/00):

http://home.cwru.edu/~bcl3/

Ah yes, if only Kevin Smith had 1/10 the talent of Paul Thomas Anderson.

Can we make a huge list of all the people Kevin Smith has pissed off?

They sent me an Academy screener DVD this week. I'll never watch it again, but I will keep it. I'll keep it right on my desk, as a constant reminder that a bloated sense of self-importance is the most unattractive quality in a person or their work.


Strong words from the maker of Mallrats and Jersey Girl.

Holy SHIT! That actually CONFUSES me that he said that. Did he understand how hypocritical he was being? Was that just "tongue in cheek"? I don't understand!

If you pick up the An Evening with Kevin Smith set, he comments on that whole thing a bit more. I don't remember specifically what he said, but he did mention that he ran into PTA later, and he was very cordial and didn't bring up that comment at all, making Kevin feel kinda like a dick.

kevin made a few comments on either the deleted scene's of dogma or the technical track about how pta's ego prevented him from cutting any of the movie.

Considering PTA did cut stuff out of that movie (including an entire character that Orlando JOnes played) perhaps he should check his facts before accusing people.

I wonder if the Will Smith part in the lobby of Jersey Girl was based on his meeting of PTA. I for one like both Smith and PTA.

Yeah, people should just stop making funny jokes, they're inaccurate and imflammatory...

One of the quotes from An Evening with Kevin Smith:

Edited to add another, from an Easter egg on the first disc:

You guys owe me for doing all that transcription.

:lol:

except Kevin Smith was not making any jokes....he was just making mean comments about a film he didn't like......and since he did it in a public forum, he opened himself up to receive backlash from others who did not agree with opinions....and then continued to whine about it....
i remember thinking it was all quite hypocritical at the time when i first read the reposted comments at several places back when this was all first said and done...and looking back on it, i still do.
had another director talked shit about one of his new films publicly, and also attacked his character by calling him a self-important egomaniac, Kevin Smith would have had a stroke and whined about it for months and years.....he's done it with many celebrities, and quite childlishly, whom he feels slighted by in some way.

Yep, I want a list. I've heard about a few, but I need a big list :)

It may have been hypocritical, but I also think it's somewhat human nature to be harder on others than on yourself. By that, I mean that if any one of us directed a movie, we're going to be far more sensitive to criticism of our work than we are when we criticize others.

Smith even somewhat admits his hypocritical behavior when making reference to the fact that he wouldn't have been as classy to PTA in their meeting had the situation been reversed.

I kind of like Kevin Smith, at least some of his movies but even his best are kind of a mess. There's no way in his entire life he will be capable of making a film even 1/10 as good as Magnolia. My opinion.

And it doesn't matter.

I didn't care for Magnolia, and it's unlikely I will ever produce a movie 1/10th as good as Magnolia. It's unlikely I'll ever make a movie 1/10th as good as Catwoman, but that doesn't mean I can't criticize Magnolia or Catwoman if I didn't like them (though I didn't see Catwoman).

Smith seems to make a lot of comments that come back to bite him in the ass. While I like him, he really needs to watch his mouth now that he is in L.A. and the people he insults can make his life a living hell. That said, I think there is a chance that this might have been taken out of context like the deal with Tim Burton. I seem to recall he also made some unflattering comments about Reese Witherspoon at some point.

Hey, why let the facts get in the way...

Smith has every right to say whatever he wants. It just seems funny coming from a guy in the same profession who doesn't have 1/10 the talent of the guy he's bashing.

I know many people who love Kevin Smith's work but hate P.T. Anderson's stuff. Talent is something that is almost in the eye of the beholder nowadays.

A stroke is in Kevin Smith's future in either situation.

found this on the forum from last year.
The Unholy Tale of Greasy Reese Witherspoon

By Kevin Smith

It's Friday night at eleven o'clock, and me, my producer Scott Mosier and my wife Jen are sitting around the patio bar of the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles with Cruel Intentions actress Selma Blair. What started as a routine meet-and-greet has now become a five-hour gab session, during which Selma has just let slip that she knows where Greasy Reese Witherspoon lives.

"You must tell me where," I gravely say.

"Why?" Selma asks, a little uncomfortable, due to the sudden change in my demeanor, brought on by the mere mention of Greasy Reese Witherspoon.

"Because I want to egg her house."

Yes. I so want to egg Greasy's house. Granted, I know she's married to Ryan Philipe, and they have a baby daughter now. But none of that matters to me. We're not talking about a drive-by shooting. We're talking about a drive-by egging. I mean, f**k it; it's Friday night, we're in L.A., and we've got nothing else to do. What could be better than whipping eggs at the home of a couple B-listers?

Now I've got nothing against Ryan Philipe, mind you. And their baby's in the clear with me too (so far). But Greasy Reese herself? Man, I don't like her. And I'm not talking about her work here (because, like any sane human being with a modicum of taste, I'm a big fan of Election; even - as much as I hate to admit it - Greasy's peformance in said picture); I'm talking about the person Greasy Reese Witherspoon is. I'm talking a personal gripe here - more personal than the shark's beef with the Brodys in Jaws 4: The Revenge (or did that infamous tag-line refer to the Brodys' beef with the shark? I could never tell). The reasons for this beef are sundry, and don't warrant getting into here.

Ah, f**k it. Yes, they do.

Waaaaay back when we were casting on Mallrats, Mosier and I are really anxious to meet Greasy Reese Witherspoon (who I then referred to without the "Greasy" moniker), because we're both huge fans of the coming-of-age drama Man in the Moon. Back then, our casting agent, Don Phillips, would meet with the actors and actresses before we'd audition them, precluding the meet-and-greets I presently am engaged in all week. For the Greasy meet-and-greet with Don, Mosier and I arrange a drop-in, as we're eager to see what she's like, this young actress who so dazzled us as Sam Waterson's daughter. So Don is meeting with her in his office at Universal, and Scooter and I pop in like we don't know she's there, and start jawing with her. What a disappointment.

First, she comes off faux-erudite as all hell, and condescending to boot (personality traits that make for the kiss of death in my book). Secondly, she compares her Stephen Dorff-starring flick S.F.W. to Clerks, calling them "...the same movie, essentially." If you're me, and you've seen S.F.W., this is tantamount to saying Clerks licks balls. By meeting's end, we tell Don there's no reason to bring her back for an audition, as we're now non-Reese fans.

Now whether this registers at all with Ms. Witherspoon, I have no idea. But on two future occasions, I have run-ins with Reese which are not at all pleasant, and may reflect what one can define as a grudge being held against me for not letting her audition for Mallrats (a slight that she should've sent me roses for, all things considered).

The first such run-in takes place at one of Details magazine's "Young Hollywood' Parties. I'm dragged to the shindig, kicking and screaming (I hate parties, and I hate 'em even more when they're wall-to-wall with creepy young actors in L.A.), by my then-girlfriend, Joey Lauren Adams. We see Reese there, holding court, and Joey wants to extend her a congratulations on her performance in Overnight Delivery.

To understand the mammoth gesture this is, you have to know Joey's history with this flick. Many months prior, she and Reese were up for the lead in the picture, the script for which I did an uncredited re-write. It was being directed by the same guy who'd also crafted that contender for the cinematic throne of Citizen Kane, Bio-Dome.

While Overnight Delivery would eventually be unceremoniously dumped straight-to-video by New Line a year later, it was something of a hot project then, and Joey was up for the female lead (indeed, at one point, Joey was going to not do Chasing Amy -- the film that earned her a Golden Globe nomination -- and instead do Overnight Delivery; and people say there is no God...). Ultimately, Reese was cast instead, as New Line was grooming her for stardom. After the initial understandable bout of disappointment, Joey found peace with this decision, especially once she'd gotten Amy under her belt.

So it's a year later. We've shot Amy but it hasn't come out yet. Joey and I have seen an early cut of Overnight Delivery, and she wants to say something nice about Reese's performance to Reese -- a real stand-up gesture that you'd never catch me making, were I in her shoes. We jockey up to Reese (me, quite unwillingly), and Joey tells her that she's seen the flick, and she thinks Reese was really good, adding she's glad Reese got the part when all was said and done. And how does Reese react?

She sneers at Joey. Then turns away.

Children, I wouldn't say it unless I'd witnessed it with my own two eyes. Greasy Reese Witherspoon sneered at the compliment like the third grade girl with the most Valentines sneers at the third grade girl with the second most Valentines after all the Valentines have been given out, just prior to the distribution of the holiday cupcakes. It was an ugly, ugly moment. There was no offer of even an insincere, Hollywood-type "Thanks." Merely a sneer.

But that doesn't earn her the nickname "Greasy." Reese becomes Greasy when I'm later informed that, on the set of Overnight, she quite audibly mocked me.

Me! Radio Raheem!

The mockery was thus: Reese and Paul Rudd (the male lead) are doing the closing shot of the flick, where they walk away from camera. They're supposed to be talking playfully, but since it's understood this is the closing shot (and, presumably, end-credits music will be playing), no dialogue is written. So the director tells the actors to just make stuff up, as it's not going to be heard anyway. What follows is the exchange, as told to me and my elephantine memory (and ass), by someone who was there.

REESE: Who wrote this s**t?

PAUL: I think Kevin Smith.

REESE: Ugh! Didn't he write Mallrats?

PAUL: Yeah, but he also wrote Clerks.

REESE: Who cares? No wonder this dialogue sucked.

Needless to say, when I'm told this, I am livid. Enraged. Mildly amused, yes (hell, it was a good dig), but more enraged.

And from that moment forward, I've never referred to her as anything but Greasy (pronounced "GREE-ZEE") Reese (pronounced "REE-ZEE") Witherspoon (pronounced accordingly).

So when Selma lets slip that she knows where Greasy lives, I'm agog. I'm begging her... BEGGING her to give me the address so I can drive by and egg the mother****er (I'm talking about the house now, not Greasy herself; or am I...?). Selma insists I'll get caught and give her up as the address-provider in the process, but I counter that not only would I not give her up, but I'll endure hours of police questioning following my apprehension and still remain zip-lipped.

"So you're already sure you're going to get caught?" she asks.

I offer that getting caught is a must, because how delicious is it going to be to have Ryan Philipe chasing me down the block in his skivvies, all piss and vinegar, after the yolks have hit the fan? And how infinitely more delicious will the moment be when Way of the Gun catches my ass (which, assuredly, he would, as he's extremely physically fit, and I can barely find the energy to make it to the bowl; unless it's a bowl of Lucky Charms)? I fantasize about him tackling me on a lawn a few yards from his own home (no homoerotic subtext, mind you; the boy's no Affleck), turning me over to see my face, and discovering that the guy who made Dogma is the egg-man.

I harp on this for half an hour, but Blair will have no part of it. Sadly, she eventually heads home, without me having procured so much as a general direction in which Greasy lives.

It is the biggest disappointment thus far on the road to Jay and Silent Bob Striking Back.

I had heard about the Reese Witherspoon thing. And, before I had read the story, I was quite curious why he despised her so much. After reading it, I was still wondering. If Kevin Smith were to write stories about everyone who thinks his writing sucks, he'd be a pretty busy man. I like his films, but his website and much of his writing is quite juvenile.

There's a difference between liking or not liking someone's films and recognizing whether or not they are particularly talented.

With only a couple exceptions I don't at all like the films of Michael Mann. I despise The Keep and don't see what people like about that (to me) dreadfully drawn out borefest, Heat. But although I would say I like Smith's films more overall than Mann's I still recognize that Mann is far more talented. He doesn't make ragged, messy movies.

Hell, I only really like one of P.T. Anderson's films very much and that one I love and I think it's a masterpiece. Magnolia, of course. Smith has a better batting average on the "like" scale than Anderson with me. But talent? Anderson has, as I've said, at least ten times as much. No doubt Smith will make many more films I like but I doubt any that I love or will ever call great. Anderson will probably hit it out of the park again for me but he may make many more films I don't care for before that happens again.

some funny stuff....i need to go over to the smith site and read up....

I guess it depends on how one defines "talent" in relation to making movies as to who is more talented.

What makes a filmmaker talented? Is what one person says defines a filmmaker's talent going to be universal?

Good point. Making an artsy or dramatic piece is a lot different from an action film which are both different from a slapstick comedy. There are some director's who can do or blend them all, but many director's specialize in what they're good at. Personally, i like Smith's dialogue, both comedic and serious better then PTA's and feel he's as talented in that regard.

I love how everybody on the Internet (including all of us Movie Dicks here) are allowed to bitch and moan and criticize and rip-apart and tear new assholes on every film ever released... except for Kevin Smith.

OK, all you guys who viciously ripped apart Armageddon, The Phantom Menace, or Van Helsing. Given that you're more talented than Michael Bay, George Lucas, or Stephen Sommers, it'll be a piece of cake for you to make a better movie. Off with you then...

And Magnolia blows. It blows long, blows hard, and blows deep. It's like an endless metaphorical shofar of new year cinematic suckitude. And I am by no means a big Kevin Smith fan, either. Boogie Nights, Hard Eight, and Punchdrunk Love are worlds ahead of anything Smith has ever done.

But Magnolia sucks much more than Smith's worst film (Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back). I haven't had a decent BM in

And this is why nobody likes/reads DVDTalk's review section.

Uh-oh... looks like someone's nursing a broken heart. :(

*sends some love scottie's way*

I like Kevin Smith, but he goes public over his dislike of Witherspoon for THOSE reasons?

I somewhat like Kevin Smith too... I love Clerks and Chasing Amy (the rest of his films I can pretty much do without...) but he is a petty petty man.

We're not professional filmmakers, though. I don't question his "right" to do it if he chooses, but the way he voices his opinions is extremely tacky and unnecessary.

Wow, you are a reviewer? Just wow.

With such an amazing command of the english language, you should write reviews for a prestigeous film publication. DVDTalk is holding you back.