Day 14: Chasing Amy.

Day 14: Chasing Amy (1997, Dir. Kevin Smith)

It’s quite easy to forget that Chasing Amy is not just a Ben Affleck romantic comedy or an ironic slice of Kevin Smiths Askewneverse; with Jay and Silent Bob popping up for good measure, but a seriously well crafted moving and heartfelt drama; which can be very funny too.

Queering of relationships and sexual politics was a topic that was delved into a fair bit in the 80’s and 90’s, especially in alternative American cinema. There are varied takes on the subject matter all with varying levels of success and some very different approaches. Chasing Amy is a very unique view of this culture and can be poignantly summed up by its posters tag line “It’s not who you love. It’s how.” This proves to be an interesting standpoint showing how complex a relationship can truly be, and how learning about your lover can cause your whole world to come crashing down. The various opinions about gay life addressed in the film by various characters proves to be a fascinating factor too, further addressing the fact that a relationship and someone’s sexuality isn’t simply black or white. This backdrop for the film is a very effective one, never feeling like it is stereotyping the gay community nor feeling like it is being preachy; but instead showing a very complex and confusing way of life that effects a lot of people.

Ben Affleck delivers a performance which ranks up there with the highlights of his career. Indeed in recent years it became cool to say Affleck is a bit of a hammy actor, but that certainly can’t be said after watching this film. His character Holden, is not only likeable but also annoyingly flawed at the same time, and it is these flaws which make him such an interesting character to follow. This perhaps most effectively climaxes with Holden’s relationships all unravelling into an emotional crash crash, we know what is coming from his confrontation at the end of the film but you can’t tear yourself away from the situation he is creating for himself, whilst also genuinely feeling for him.

Smith too proves he is not just restrained to comic irony, observations and a slew of cultural references, but can deliver an effective emotional punch. Of course the humour that runs throughout this film and can be considered amongst his best, with some fantastic comebacks and one liners. But it is the raw emotion that is tapped into which is Smiths strongest suit, the situations and story telling which all sound like they have came from his real life, and are shown here as a realistic and effective exploration of relationships, a topic that many viewers will be able to relate too.

Jason Lee has to be mentioned too, providing a classic comedy character in Banky, whilst outrageously vulgar he remains undoubtedly funny.

Even if Chasing Amy is beginning to look its age with some questionable 90’s styles on display here (all of Affleck’s wardrobe!) and some ideas that don’t quite manage to work or pan out, the film stands as one of the directors and stars best to date. Effortlessly jumping from being devastatingly witty to painfully heart wrenching, intelligent and unique to provocative and sharp, and then back to incredibly funny again, a must see.

7.5/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118842/

Extra: Also, how young is Matt Damon here?