Kevin Smith's Clerks

The 1990s were a strange, wondrous, and hopeful decade for Cinema. Three decades later we look back on those mid 90s attitudes, trends, screams, and shouts. With the emergence of Sundance, The Weinsteins, and voices such as Tarantino, Fincher, Rodriguez, and others, Independent Cinema was flexing in a way that threatened the studios in much the same way the 70s thrilled, excited, and - most importantly - challenged that audience. This week we look at one of the loudest and unlikliest voices to emerge from this decade; A Coming of Age, Adulthood focused story following the lives of convenience store workers, Kevin Smith's 1994 classic Clerks. Thirty-two years later the anger, frustration, and hopelessness of our collective futures remain. Smith (working as a convenience store clerk while supporting his passion for writing and filmmaking) would give purpose to that anger with a foul-mouthed, pessimistic, and hopeless look at blue-collar jobs and the people who are swallowed by them. Through the lives of two best friends, Dante & Randall (with a couple of pot-dealing morons names Jay & Silent Bob singing the chorus), Smith gave voice to the fears, inhibitions, and cynicism of the 90s and the working mans' struggle. Most importantly, how does all of this relate to us? Well, we are all mired in the aimlessness and calcification of the 40 hour work week. Clerks spoke volumes to a generation unsure of itself. Thirty-two years later that volume has not dimmed. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.

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