An Askew View: The Films of Kevin Smith [Paperback]

John Kenneth Muir (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2002

When CLERKS opened at cinemas across the country in 1994, it took everyone, especially the film industry, by surprise. Filmed on a shoestring budget after hours at a convenience store, it was crude (in technique and language), realistic and, above all, hilarious. The movie's nationwide success helped launch the indepedent film boom of the 1990s and catapulted its director, Kevin Smith, to full-fledged stardom. Smith's work is explored in AN ASKEW VIEW, the first ever study of his films. John Kenneth Muir examines all of Smith's movies. including MALLRATS, CHASING AMY, and the hugely controversial and variously interpreted DOGMA. Muir discusses Smith's themes and obsessions in depth: his New Jersey boosterism, the cast of characters that pop in and out of all of his films, and the references to STAR WARS and other icons of pop culture. AN ASKEW VIEW is a fascinating and detailed history of the art of this visionary filmmaker, New Jersey's favorite local-boy-makes-good since Bruce Springsteen.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Taking its title from Smith's View Askew production company, Muir's latest offering is a guided tour of the iconic New Jersey filmmaker's cinematic oeuvre, from short synopses of Smith's films to behind-the-scenes stories of how they were made and how Smith himself has evolved. Muir (a contributor to Cinescape and Filmfax) creates a compelling-and somewhat inspirational-portrait of Smith, who shot to indie-fame with his 1994 debut Clerks, which Smith financed with his own credit cards and shot after hours at a local minimart, in part because he thought his friends were funny and wondered if others would think so. They did. Since then, Smith's trademark characters, Jay (played by Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (played by Smith), have appeared in increasingly ambitious, popular and profitable films, such as Chasing Amy, Dogma and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Muir does an admirable job of capturing in print the appeal of Smith's films, and some of the stories behind the films are both telling and hilarious. For example, Dogma, Smith's irreverent take on Catholicism, was almost nixed by Disney Corp. because of protests by Catholics. Smith responded by anonymously joining a group picketing Dogma in front of a New Jersey theater and trashing his own film to an oblivious local reporter. Although Muir occasionally sprinkles the book with others' criticisms of Smith, there is unfortunately little of Muir's own critical voice in the narrative. But that shouldn't bother Smith's legion of fans, who-especially those in film school-will enjoy this effort. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Although it might seem premature to investigate the work of a director who has made only five films (Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back), Muir (Terror Television) gives Kevin Smith a rip-roaring tribute. Despite the hagiography, Muir makes a good case for the distinctive cinematic voice of a Generation Xer who grew up in northern New Jersey and was influenced by A Man for All Seasons, Star Wars, syndicated TV sitcoms, and Richard Linklater's Slacker. Although Smith was apparently busy shooting the forthcoming Jersey Girl (which Muir previews) and thus unavailable for interviews, many of his actors and technicians spoke with the author. Smith himself is quoted from past interviews, for which detailed citations are provided. After his biography, Muir tackles each of Smith's films in turn, providing plot followed by analysis and concluding with "Askew Views," commentary on recurring Smithian themes. While one can dispute Muir's equating Smith with Woody Allen, this is a well-written, engaging, and informative book suitable for all film collections.
Kim Holston, American Inst. for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters, Malvern, PA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 214 pages
• Publisher: Applause Books (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557835861
• ISBN-13: 978-1557835864
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #975,036 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Kenneth Muir is the award-winning author of over 20 books in the fields of film & television, with an accent on horror & sci-fi. John has been described as one of the horror genre's "most widely read critics" by Rue Morgue Magazine, and as an "accomplished film journalist" by Comic Buyer's Guide. His director books include profiles of John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Christopher Guest, Tobe Hooper, Mira Nair, Sam Raimi, and Kevin Smith. John has twice won a Booklist Editor's Choice citation (for Horror Films of the 1970s and Terror Television). John is also the creator of the award-nominated web series, The House Between, and in 2009 John's blog, Reflections on Film/TV was named one of the "top 1000" film study blogs on the Net. In 2010, John appears in the documentary Nightmares in Red, White and Blue.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you love the Kevin Smith movies, you will love the book, August 14, 2003

By 

Ary D. Rosenbaum (Oceanside, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: An Askew View: The Films of Kevin Smith (Paperback)

As a fan of the Kevin Smith films, I found this book a great companion to the Kevin Smith Askew-Universe. It offers insight, interviews with the major players, and a great history of the films that we have come to love. You will not be disappointed.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An insightful commentary on Kevin Smith's cinema, December 8, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Askew View: The Films of Kevin Smith (Paperback)

An Askew View: The Films Of Kevin Smith by film and television journalist and expert John Kenneth Muir is an insightful commentary on Kevin Smith's cinematic works that have gone on to achieve a kind of cult-following, including his films: "Clerks," "Chasing Amy," and "Dogma", as well as such efforts as "Mallrats" and the ill-fated "Clerks: the Animated Series" (which was ultimately killed to make room for the then-megahit "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" game show). Interviews with Kevin Smith and other filmmakers form the backbone of this fascinating companion book that is highly recommended reading for students of filmmaking, as well as the legions of Kevin Smith fans.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a book-long DVD extra, September 10, 2006

By 

Kenneth Gosier (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: An Askew View: The Films of Kevin Smith (Paperback)

My impression was that this book was very much like a DVD extra, made into book form, and stretched out to fill 214 pages.

It was a fun read for me, since I'm a Kevin Smith fanboy. Tons of behind-the-scenes tidbits, especially about the making of Clerks. It's always interesting to see how someone got their start, and what lessons can be taken from it. There's an interesting irony that, in making a movie about mid-90's slackers, the cast and crew worked insane hours and slept very little for weeks on end.

My only criticism was that the author does tend to get a bit fanboy-ish himself from time to time. Which is all well and good, if an author is excited about his material. However, he tends to over-gush when writing about View Askew films and their receptions.

That being said, I still enjoyed this book a great deal. It takes you into the world of View Askew, and gives it breadth and depth, which then makes the movies themselves more compelling.