3. He Has Talent To Spare
Chasing Amy is arguably the best film Kevin Smith has made. It still holds a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. I didnt like it when I first saw it because at 13 I couldnt connect with the mature themes going on. I wanted to hear snoochie boochies, which in all fairness he delivered, cleverly commented on within the film. I rewatched it recently and found it to be such an engrossing, personal, and well made movie that still maintains Smiths flair for hilariously frank language and eclipses his other movies in the heart and soul of his characters. Ben Affleck has never been better, and that includes movies that he has directed. Jason Lee was born to deliver Smiths dialogue and hes perfectly cast. The fact that Joey Lauren Adams wasnt nominated for an Academy Award for the film is almost as remarkable as the performance itself. Seriously, of the nominees that year you could have easily switched her out for Judi Dench or Julie Christie. I know Smith has more Chasing Amys in him. He showed tremendous growth in Red State. Its a fascinating film that shows a director expanding his talents in a completely unexpected way. It would be a shame to think what could have been.