The Reason Kevin Smith is Still the Coolest Motherf**ker in Hollywood

By Dustin Rowles | Industry | March 25, 2009 |

I caught the below video over on Slashfilm earlier today — a ten-minute segment of Lee Stanhan’s interview with Kevin Smith. In it, Smith speaks candidly about the disappointment he felt when Zack and Miri Make a Porno didn’t open in line with what he, and most box-office forecasters, expected. But mostly, Smith talks about his feelings about the Internet.

For those of you who follow Kevin Smith closely, you probably know he’s a guy who’s always closely followed his coverage online, and he’s one of the few directors who respects the opinions of Internet writers as much as the print critics (it’s how we managed to get an interview with him, while a certain other large-chinned cult movie star rejected us. Ahem.) Unfortunately, there is a double-edged sword there: Once you validate the opinions of Internet critics (and blog commenters. Ahem.), then you’re also more vulnerable to their criticisms.

In the interview below, Smith explains why — right before Zack and Miri came out — he basically gave up his obsession with online criticism and why. Somehow, the man managed to make me both respect him even more than I already do and make me feel a little ashamed for however we may have contributed to the mean-spirited atmosphere. That’s not to say I’m not proud when we rip the head off a bad cinematic experience and shit down its neck, but to the extent that we (and our commenters. Ahem.) occasionally attack the filmmakers personally … well, it’s uncalled for. Unless they directed a Movie Movie, in which case I have no regrets.

Anyway, check out the video. It’s solid.





Dustin is the founder and co-owner of Pajiba. You may email him here, follow him on Twitter, or listen to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba.

Next Article

99 Movies That Will Kill You Dead