years ago, independent filmmaker Kevin Smith got his start with this little film that has since become one of indie cinema’s greatest inspirations. Made for the paltry sum of $28,000, Clerks is an incredible success that deserves its hype.
Clerks is a spectacular joyride. Filmed in 16mm black and white, the film packs in non-stop humor (and extreme profanity) from start to finish, as the story traces a day in the life of Dante (Brian O’Halloran), a twentysomething convenience store clerk still living with his parents.
Dante’s day is traced from bad to worse, with his current girlfriend (Marilyn Ghigliotti), ex-girlfriend (Lisa Spoonauer), and irresponsible best friend (Kevin Anderson), weaving in and out of the picture. Anderson is a perfect choice to play as a foil against O’Halloran, and together, the two bring the buddy picture to a new level.
And while Clerks may appear to be a simple tale of man vs. society on the surface, it really packs a deeper punch. Smith has thrown together bits and pieces of a dozen modern morality fables, and he’s done it with ease. The true depth of the film is masked by the activity on the surface (much like the much-misunderstood Pulp Fiction), but on reflection, moviegoers will be impressed.
Clerks fails only on technical merits, for obvious reasons. The sound is bad at times, scenes are out of focus, and the acting has some flawed moments, but for the most part, the cast works, and the movie is an incredible and hilarious success. I was still smiling an hour after it ended.
For more movies like Clerks (1994) visit Hurawatch.
Also watch: