Kevin Smith: Burn in Hell

Kevin Smith: Burn in Hell (2012)

*** (out of 4)

This Q&A session with Kevin Smith was recorded on his tour for RED STATE so the majority of the conversation relates to that controversial movie. If you're familiar with Smith then you know all about his tours where he basically gives back to his fans by answering their questions and that's what we've got here. The event kicks off with a 12-year-old girl asking about what Batman villain he'd use if he got to make a movie in the series. This here leads to Smith talking about the current trilogy and then we get into other topics like critics, COP OUT and being true to your art. The majority of the running time deals with RED STATE and the Westboro Baptist Church and their leaders. This is where Smith really goes off in regards to his feelings on the family and especially after they started to protest the movie. He tells a funny story about the family coming to one of the RED STATE showings but leaving early. Overall if you're a fan of Smith then you should enjoy this film even if it's not quite as good as some of the earlier ones. I'd say there's very little in terms of quality in regards to the way it was shot but this here isn't too distracting. I think at times the conversation reaches a point that isn't too interesting but thankfully this doesn't happen often. The most interesting thing is that the best moment doesn't deal with comedy but instead it's the story Smith tells about his father's death. The entire story comes off incredibly touching and especially the way Smith sums up his father.

Kevin Smith: Burn in Hell is an hour and a half long Q&A session that Smith himself did in Austin, Texas a while back. It premiered on the website EPIX on February 11, 2012, as a clearly condensed version only featuring a Q&A portion. I can only hope that soon an extended version of the special is released so we can see the odd, strange events that likely preceded a great Q&A session.

What we get is still a very great collection of questions and, as usual, a very prolific amount of answers. One question is even asked by a twelve year old girl who resembles Ellen Page's character Juno. Smith comes to the unusually quirky conclusion that her mother is a liberal, and she was only semen when his film Mallrats was made.

Smith jumps right into where he left off with Too Fat For 40, his previous Q&A/stand-up event. There he discussed his two most recent flicks, at the time, Cop Out and Zack and Miri Make a Porno. Now, he brings in his brand new film Red State into play as well as giving a briefing on his future and his upcoming hockey drama Hit Somebody!.

When I watched Red State months ago, I was a bit disappointed and a bit shocked. I gave it a fair two and a half stars. The more I think about it, the more I should've given it more. I was disappointed that it was mainly a jumble of different genres such as horror, crime drama, and religious commentary, not to mention the ending being very, very questionable. Still, when examined deeply it is a cleverly made horror film that is really a horror film. It's not centered around a hockey masked killer, like Smith proclaims in the film, but a real horror film. Also, Smith gives a perfectly valid reason for why the ending was a little far fetched.

Smith brings up that the film was sort of inspired by an interview one of his friends conducted with Pastor Fred Phelps, the leader of the bigoted and homophobic Westboro Baptist Church. Even the leader, played by a terrific Michael Parks, resembles Phelps in the way that he speaks and thinks. He talks about all the backlash he received from the church, and how him and his friends staged a counter-protest hoisting ridiculous signs mocking the church and their beliefs.

He also recognizes that he will go into a semi-retirement after Hit Somebody! in 2013. He says that he will stop directing films that he wants, and instead will consider directing or acting in films that he is approached with (IE: Clerks: The Musical). He says that his first three films, coined "The Jersey Trilogy," Clerks, Mallrats, and Chasing Amy would later go onto show what he could do best. Create and illustrate realistic characters in plausible situations. He states that he wants to go out with a bang, doing three films him, himself, and no one else would've ever believed he would and could do. Those would go on to be a buddy cop movie, a horror film centering around religion, and a sophisticated hockey drama based off of a famous song.

Kevin Smith: Burn in Hell is great fun, but will mostly be adored by very, very big Kevin Smith fans. That is why when I reviewed An Evening With Kevin Smith and Kevin Smith: Too Fat for 40 I issued a common sense recommendation, meaning that if you're not a fan of Kevin Smith, or even a sizable follower you probably wouldn't find much to enjoy here. Although if you are optimistic and are a fan of motivational speakers, Smith talks just like one, only in a filthier, less cliché context.

Starring: Kevin Smith. Directed by: Joey Figueroa and Zak Knutson.

Kevin Smith conducts a Q&A session about the aftermath of his latest film, Red State (2011).

Smith's films had been going downhill for a quite a while until "Red State" completely redeemed him. I think the same can be said for this film. He has a whole series of talking DVDs, and they went downhill. But now, we again have a winner. (And, for better or worse, it is not a three-hour ordeal.)

I learned a good way to walk into Affleck's "Argo". And I also learned why Smith wrote this film as separate parts, which I think was brilliant. That movie kept us on our toes, and I am glad it did -- it was the best film Smith has done in a decade, or perhaps ever. And, yes, I learned about the scripted ending that was never shot. Wow.

And yes, Smith has put on a lot of weight.