Chasing Amy

This movie has been referenced many times here, and not just by me. Now many people don't know what it's about, having not seen it, and you do owe it to yourself to see it. At any rate I will give a synopsis and then we can discuss it, so be forewarned about the spoilers below.

Holden McNiel and Banky Edwards are best friends and with their comic book Bluntman and Chronic, mildly successful. While at a comic book convention the two meet up with a friend of thiers, another artist named Hooper who just happens to be gay. Hooper introduces them to Alyssa and Holden is instantly smitten witht the young woman. Going to a bar after the comic book convention Holden and Alyssa get to spend some time getting to know one another while Banky and Hooper argue about the Archie and the Riverdale gang are all homosexuals. Holden is obviously attracted to the girl.

The next day Holden is invited to a club to hook up with Alyssa. Banky tags along. While Alyssa is telling Holden how they grew up close to one another, just a town apart, and how much they have in common, Banky notices something about the bar being mostly made up of women, but dismisses it. When Alyssa gets up on stage to sing a sappy ballad Holden lets Banky know in no uncertain terms how he feels about this girl without using words. The look on his face is more than enough. Imagine his suprise when Alyssa comes of stage and passionately kisses a woman. It is only then that Banky realizes they are in a lesbian bar. Banky, Holden, and Alyssa all sit at a bar table and while Holden, obviously in shock and wanting to leave, just sits there Alyssa and Banky pontificate about sex and compare sex related injuries. Holden and Banky then leave abruptly.

The next morning Banky and Holden meet with TV executives who want to meet with the two and discuss creating a TV show based on the comicbook. Banky is overjoyed at the idea because it will get him all kinds of money. Holden on the other hand is worried about artistic integrity. Before the meeting, banky lets Holden know that he thinks all every woman needs is a man and that is why he doesn't buy lesbianism.

Back at the studio Holden is suprised to meet Alyssa who wants to know why Holden bolted the previous night. Holden and Alyssa discuss her lifestyle and she tells Holden she has never been with a man but doesn't consider herself a virgin because she has been with so many women. The two become close friends.

Eventually Holden falls for Alyssa and he falls hard. He even starts becoming more gay friendly, even rebuking Banky for passive agressive gay bashing. This is the last straw for Banky who confronts Holden about his behavior and Holden tells his best friend about his love for Alyssa.

Alyssa and Holden are spending more and more time together and eventually Holden tells Alyssa that he is in love with her. At first she tells him to go away but then falls into his arms. The next morning Banky goes tot he studio only to find his best friend and a lesbian intertwined in each others arems on his couch. He just walks out. Holden follows him and the two discuss what happened and Banky predicts that this will all end badly and that Holden can't count on his friend for support. From this point out Holden will be experiencing something that Banky can't help him with. Banky does thing that Alyssa has an agenda and Banky will keep Holden's back to protect the friendship.

After Alyssa breaks the news to her friends that she has a man, she and Holden discuss why she turned to lesbianism in the frst place. It was because she looked for a guy and failing to find one who loved her she turned to women. Banky then drops a bombshell oh Holden. He finds out that not only has she been with a guy but with two at one time and has a past she isn't telling Holden. Holden wants nothing to do with it.

Holden eventually confronts Alyssa and she confirms that banky is right, that she does indeed have a serious past, but she lied to Holden because it made him feel special. She then goes on

 

The Criterion Collection DVD does add a lot to the story, especially in the director's commentary. Kevin Smith makes the point that while the ending was left open and doesn't answer whether Banky is gay, the end shot of Alyssa crying is because she is proud of him, that he got the point, but is also sad because it is too late. He missed his chance to be wth her.

 

A great film. Unusually harsh in many areas, which in this case is a good thing. Anything less and the film would have suffered. And of course it's very funny.

 

Sounds good. So Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is a sequel to Chasing Amy? Shows how little I know about this stuff...

 

I think one of the reasons it is so powerful is that it is harsh. It didn't take any of the mealy mouth Hollywood outs. Banky is clearly against Alyssa, not becuase he is just jealous, but because he is in love with Holden and doesn't realize it. Alyssa and Holden don't get together in the end. And Hold, ostesibly the main character is a total jerk throughout the film, to Banky to Alyssa, to everyone.

And of course there are the frank discussion about being gay and what women want and all of that.

 

Dogma is actually the sequal to Chasing Amy and JSBSB is the sequal to Dogma. But don't watch Chasing Amy to see Jay and Bob. For one thing they are only in it for one scene. The other, and Smith goes into this on his commentary, is that many people went to see the film for those two and they aren't the point. They are only in the film to give Holden another viewpoint and then leave.

 

Quick note: also the best SW reference in Smiths films. In my opinion anyway.

It's a beautiful film. Very personel.

I wish Australias DVD had the commentry.

 

This is an awesome movie. I love. I own it on DVD, along with the other four Kevin Smith movies. It's my favorite so far. I have yet to see Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, so that's why I say so far. My cousin hated the ending, so it ruined it for him, but I love how it was left to the imagination, so to speak.

 

I think that's part of why it is my favorite Kevin Smith film. For one thing it is personal. I went through something very similiar to what Banky went through. For another thing, it and Clerks are the only two films without the slapstick humor (although is Dogma it is pulled of well).

It is just a very personal film and it is a shame that it was so overlooked by everyone, especially by those fans that think Jay and Bob are the whole point of the film.

 

Great movie, one of my favorites!

If memory serves me, the order of the Jay and Silent Bob movies are: Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, and then Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

And while we're on the subject, I'd like to nominate Hooper's Star Wars scene as the funniest speech EVER.

 

Without a doubt Hooper's Star Wars speech was the best.

Although I thought the Death Star discussion in Clerks was great, I was rolling when I saw Hoopers.

Hooper X: And Jedi is the most insulting installment, because Vader's beautiful black visage is sullied when they pull off his mask to reveal a crusty old white dude. What their saying is we alls want to be white!

Banky: Well don't you?

 

Actually Goofy it's Mallrats, Clerks, Chasing Amy, Dogma, then J&SBSB. Clerks was made first, but in the timeline Mallrats is first. Mallrats takes place on Friday I believe, and Clerks on Saturday. The death that was mentioned in Clerks took place in Mallrats, or was mentioned at the beginning.

 

Oooh, I didn't realize that! Good to know, thanks DJ!

 

It's kind of like SW, ANH being made first, but TPM comes first in the timeline. Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

 

When is a wake usually held? The death happens on the morning of the day of Mallrats, and in Clerks Dante and Randall go o the deceased's wake.

Then comes Chasing Amy... when does this happen? What about Dogma? JASBSB?

 

Chasing Amy, Dogma, and J&SBSB all happen a couple years after each other, with Chasing Amy starting a couple years after Clerks.

 

it actually says when the events happen in relation to each other in the Chasing Amy DVD liner notes (at least up to Chasing Amy), but Dogma takes place not long after Amy (maybe two weeks).

 

I am a big Kevin Smith fan and only recently saw Chasing Amy. For some reason, I hadn't thought I would want to see it. Probably because I associated him with this irreverent sense of humor and didn't know how a "serious" film of his would play.

But I was really impressed and think it is his best film. I've heard other people talk about how Kevin isn't the best filmaker, but I think what makes him good is his honesty. He doesn't pull any punches and is very good at examining people.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't think J&SBSB was deep , but Dogma, Chasing Amy and, I thought, Clerks, really had some good insights.

 

Yeah, Clerks really made me think about things. I can't watch Return of the Jedi anymore without crying for those poor independent contractors!

 

Needed to be funnier IMHO. It's only my 4th favorite of the Kevin Smiths.

I love the "I'm sorry Alyssa... wherever you are". My favorite part (besides Hooper's Star Wars speech).

 

Hooper: "You got cracker farm boy Luke Skywalker, Nazi poster boy, blond hair, blue eyes. And then you got Darth Vader, the blackest brother in the galaxy, Nubian god!"

Banky: "What's a Nubian?"

Hooper: "Shut the **** up!"

Classic!

 

Bankey: "Because the other three are figments of your ******* imagination"


Edit// IF you want to use a quote with a curse please * out the entire word.

Thanks.

 

Banky: What is it about this girl? You know you have not shot at getting her into bed!

Holden: Because I'm ******* in love with her, okay?

 

I think its Kevin Smith's best movie. And its the one that makes me think he can have a career outside of the New Jersey series. It doesn't rely on humor the way his other movies do, it's just pure emotion and done better then most other movies put out by Big Time Directors. It puts the story first and uses humor to make ti better.

 

It is his most powerful film. And between Chasing Amy and Dogma, he shows me that he can make films with something to say. And he writes them well, but he didn't play Chasing Amy up for laughs when he could have.