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Scene from Cinema Paradiso
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With the many lists and essays written on the subject of film, there has been one thing that The Oscar Buzz has tried to understand: Who is my favorite of the film world? For 10 weeks this summer, I will be exploring this with a countdown of the Top 50 names based on a numerical ranking of ratings from various sources, the following is a list of directors who rank above everyone else. With occasional upsets, this is intended as both a discussion opener as well as a better understanding of me as a film critic and fan. Please enjoy and leave any comments you have regarding the entry's selection.
KEVIN SMITH
Years Active: 1992-present
Films as Director: 10
Oscar Wins: 0
Who: While superhero characters continue to dominate the box office and pop culture, very few figures actually embody the fan boy ethics of Smith. He doesn't so much enjoy talking about pop culture franchises as he does incorporating characters into his films that deal with these subjects in personal and life changing ways. In a world full of stoners and comic book artists, he manages to create memorable, elaborate dialogue that compensates for his lack of visual flair. While he has yet to make anything as the "Jersey Trilogy" that gained him his success, he still remains a public figure who enjoys being eloquent and occasionally crass. With his own stable of memorable characters, he is a unique voice that unfortunately has embraced the zeitgeist and is more obsessed with dissing critics than producing work that speaks for itself. If anything, he does have a podcast empire that keeps him busy and probably has damaged how he views film making simultaneously.
POINTS TALLY
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| Scene from Chasing Amy |
-- Chasing Amy (1997) --
Flickchart Ranking: #7 (900 points)
IMDb Rating: 7/10 (70 points)
Perks: The Jersey Trilogy (Overall 100 points)
Total: 970 points
-- Clerks. (1994) --
Flickchart Ranking: #12 (900 points)
IMDb Rating: 7/10
Perks: None
Total: 970 points
-- Dogma (1999) --
Flickchart Ranking: #75 (850 points)
IMDb Rating: 7/10 (70 points)
Perks: The Jersey Trilogy (Overall 100 points)
Total: 920 points
-- Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) --
Flickchart Ranking: #149 (800 points)
IMDb Rating: 7/10 (70 points)
Perks: None
Total: 870 points
-- Mallrats (1995) --
Flickchart Ranking: #331 (600 points)
IMDb Rating: 6/10 (60 points)
Perks: The Jersey Trilogy (Overall 100 points)
Total: 760 points
-- Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008) --
Flickchart Ranking: #374 (550 points)
IMDb Rating: 6/10 (60 points)
Perks: None
Total: 610 points
-- Clerks II (2006) --
Flickchart Ranking: #572 (450 points)
IMDb Rating: 7/10 (70 points)
Perks: None
Total: 520 points
-- Jersey Girl (2004) --
Flickchart Ranking: #815 (200 points)
IMDb Rating: 6/10 (60 points)
Perks: None
Total: 260 points
OVERALL TOTAL: 5880 points
WHY DO I LOVE?
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| Scene from Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back |
It has been hard for me to really accept that I like Kevin Smith in the past few years. With his dismissal of critics and hypocritical opinions on many subjects, he is a baffling figure that has evolved into something strange. I want to like him. This is solely because he was formative in my interest in watching and discussing film. From Clerks through Zack and Miri Make a Porno, he made the discussion something deeper rooted in personality and traits. It involved religion, sexuality, relationships, and so much more. For awhile, he was a voice that I found deeply compelling beyond an occasional juvenile joke. He made film discussion accessible with his own form of world building, which continually feels underrated the older that I get. I love what Smith did to make me interested in film, even if I don't care about superhero stuff that much anymore. I am still conflicted though if I should like him now because his personality often outweighs his films, which used to be the significant benefactor of my opinions.
UP NEXT: The father of blockbusters and arguably the most influential American director of the past 40 years.
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