The Kidd here...
I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Kevin Smith right now. There's a part of me that will always love his earlier films - CLERKS, CHASING AMY, DOGA, JAY & SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK, CLERKS II. But that's been diminished some over the past couple of years since he made COP OUT, which he swore to everyone up and down was really funny (it wasn't). Since many critics including myself railed about how horrible the film was, Smith has been extremely combative against the very people who had been supportive of his career to that point, and that's not limited to the press. That includes you the fans. Basically, if you're not in-step with everything Kevin Smith does at this point, then you're the enemy.
I watched RED STATE, and I didn't think it was any good. I caught an episode of COMIC BOOK MEN, and that was enough for me to never tune in again. I haven't even given his Hulu show SPOILERS a look, and I probably won't. For some reason, critiquing films has become a dirty thing to Smith, and he doesn't want to be associated with anyone doing it... that is, unless they're going out and paying for it on their own, which he believes somehow factors into people's opinions of movies in general, but more specifically his movies. I hate to break it to him... but COP OUT would have pissed me off even more if I had to drop 10 bucks on it.
In spite of how I now feel about Kevin Smith, who seemingly has put his own self-promotion ahead of everything else, I would still sit and watch this guy talk for hours on-stage in a Q&A. He may have grown to be quite different from the filmmaker I once respected a great deal for his clever dialogue, but he's still one hell of a storyteller. I could hear him tell his Superman/giant spider story countless times, and have always wanted the opportunity to see the guy speak.
I'm not so lucky this time around, but maybe a few of you are, as I have the chance for a few of you to see BINDLESTIFFS in its limited theatrical tour, under Smith's Smodcast Pictures Presents banner, which will be followed by a Kevin Smith Q&A.
What's the film about?
Three underage, virgin, prep-school misfits, suspended on a bogus graffiti charge, flee to the inner city in an attempt to live the plot of The Catcher in the Rye – a book they have neither read, much less understand. This motion picture graphically portrays their noble quest to surrender their virginities (as well as shed their sobriety and sanity) to the encountered gatekeepers of “real experience”: vagrants, prostitutes, and crack fiends. Hot on their tail is Charlie, a paranoid, deranged security guard, who, convinced that they plan to stage a school shooting, aims to shut them down and save his piece of America.
Well, where's it going before it hits VOD on June 19th?
June 12th - New York City – Cinema 123
June 13th - Philadelphia – Ritz East Theatre
June 17th - San Antonio – Park North, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
June 18th - Austin – South Lamar, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
I have a pair of premium seating tickets for each stop on the tour, and, along with that, you'll also get a DVD of the film, a poster of the film and a limited edition t-shirt. Worth playing for?
Then, if you want to take your best shot at landing the tickets for either NYC, Philly, San Antonio or Austin, all you need to do is submit to me your best question to ask Kevin Smith during the Q&A.
No, I'm not doing any pre-screening for Kevin Smith and making sure a friendly plant gets into his audience. But I want someone who may enjoy themselves while at the show, but who'd also make the most of their opportunity to ask Kevin something really good.
Send in your question, along with your name and which city you want to attend to Contests@AintItCool.com with the following subject line exactly (in all CAPS):
SNOOTCHIE BOOTCHIES
You've got until 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, June 10 to get your entries in. If they're missing a name, location or entry, they might as well not even exist, so make sure to include all the vital info.
Winners will be notified on Monday, and then posted online with their entries. Only enter if you are definitely going to make these screenings, if selected.
Good luck to you.
-Billy Donnelly
"The Infamous Billy The Kidd"
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