kevin smith's CLERKS II (2006)

i'm surprised, and impressed, by Kevin Smith. Clerks is the only film of his i've retained any fondness for, and as much as i'd written him off in recent years, he' s really done an admirable job of following it up. if the original helped redefine "indie film" as the medium quickly democratized, the second one is in many respects a good example of what Indie Film has become, for better or worse, twelve years later: a quiet, emotionally intelligent ensemble piece. (albeit that very special sort of ensemble piece that climaxes with man-on-donkey action.) Smith still doesn't have quite enough good taste to plug every sentimental or self-indulgent leak in his script, but he shows a remarkable flair for drama in several scenes, and Clerks II seems a lot more comfortable with itself than his previous work, particularly compared to the original's offputting (but endearing) staccato. and though the obscenity-as-comedy bit has worn thin over the years, Smith's casual, conversational (if sometimes overwrought) writing trusts his actors to elevate the material, and here it pays off more often than not. Smith himself would probably admit to being a bit of a hack, but twelve years after his debut he's come as close as ever to matching it, and made his most winning film to date.