[Cinema] Kevin Smith's Red State

Outside of Dogma and Clerks 2 I've only mildy enjoy Smith's work. From that trailer, at the very least it looks like he's finally given a project some style, visually.

From what I've heard, it could just turn out to be a Children of the Corn like flick....

 

This seems like quite a departure from his usual gig (eating food). I liked Clerks.

 

Kevin Smith’s ‘Red State’ Trailer Fred Phelps-Based Horror Film

Director Kevin Smith, who became made famous for the cult movie Clerks, has released the first trailer for his new film, Red State.

The latest Kevin Smith production is a look at “American religious extremism” and the trailer is causing a buzz.

Huffington Post reports the film is based loosely based Fred Phelps, the anti-gay, anti-America Kansas pastor. The outspoken director will screen Red State at Sundance Film Festival.

This is Kevin Smith’s first horror film, which stars John Goodman, Dermot Mulroney, Michael Angarano and Michael Parks. Smith told entertainment site RottenTomatoes.com about the film:

Red State is a long way from Clerks, that’s for sure!

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Fred Phelps is a moron, but he isn't violent as far as I know.

If Smith is looking for religiously inspired violence, I could suggest some subject matter that might be more realistic.

Of course, it would put his life in danger, not sure he has that kind of courage. Christians are an easy target.

 

Well, at least it's got an all-star cast.

Darlene's dad.

The host from Joe Schmoe.

The Chris Paul fan from that deodorant commercial.

 

So Kevin Smith thinks the only thing worse than an idiot who says a lot of hurtful things is a government that allows it?

Maybe someone should make a movie about this villainous man in America who wants to create a government that controls out speech and prevents any nasty language from being used. You can call it Blue State and base the main character on Kevin Smith!


Note: Not defending the moronic Kansas pastor (believe he is the soldier protester?) who is a black mark on our nation, only commenting on the alarming statement Smith made that appears to advocate for government control of speech.

 

Yeah it seems strange that Smith, who made his name pushing the limits of polite conversation (in a good way), is now advocating censorship and using hyperbole and caricature to turn Fred Phelps into something he is not (violent).

 

I find it amusing that he is making a film that will be antagonistic to a particular group of people, will indirectly attribute character traits and actions to a person that are false and will use sensationalism to try to support his own ideals and then will call for government censorship of people who say things that he does not agree with.

 

i think maybe y'all are reading way too much into one tiny quote of a man who rarely stops talking.

 

That's the point I wanted to convey but you sir have a way with words.

Repped.

 

Ditto esp considering that the plot details have been kind of sparse.

 

There is this food truck in Houston that sells fried nutters. Yum.

 

Truth. It's a horror movie not a documentary or biographical movie. There's no need to jump the gun like certain groups did with Dogma.

 

I find it amusing when people assign attributes to a movie that hasn't hit a signle screen yet.

 

He's created a horror movie in which he has implied the main character is based off a real person who, unless this is the first horror movie where the bad guy just says mean things instead of doing physical violence, has never done the things portrayed by the character on screen.

I'm not assigning attributes to it other than what has been said and what can be inferred.

Either way, the main point has nothing to do with the pastor and the character on screen, it's about the fact that Kevin Smith, a person who makes movies that do not necessarily subscribe to any sort of "politeness" rules wants government censorship.

 

#1) As someone else said, it was an interview with a blowhard than never knows when to shut up (to the tune of the 18 podcasts he hosts).

#2) To what degree the pastor is used as a template for the character remains to be seen. It could be like Lorne Michaels "inspiring" Dr. Evil. Mike Myers and Michaels are friends and collegues, and Myers isn't trying to potray a message that Lorne Michaels is intent on world domination or created a mini-clone of himself. Myers just saw Michaels as a loose template: someone who is demanding, in charge, has a uniquely sinister-sounding way of speaking, etc.

Geez, why are we arguing justtxyank... I bet neither of us even see this movie!!

 

The film will suck just like everything else he has ever done. It's really a toss up on who's worse, him or Uwe Boll.

 

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Has Uwe Boll shot a scene this awesome?

 

I'm not sure why this is bothersome.

Nearly half of the episodes of Law & Order (and their spin-offs) is built on a recent news item. Then they extrapolate and make a new story out of it. As eric said, it's just a template to build off of and make something new.

Tons of stories, characters, and concepts are influenced by real events and people. Johnny Depp used Keith Richards as his basis for Pirates of the Caribbean. I don't think he's trying to fool anyone into believing Keith Richards was a pirate prior to the Rolling Stones. And I'm guessing Ari Emmanuel did not live every moment exactly portrayed in Entourage.