Clerks is a film that oozes the era in which it was released. Anybody that grew up in the 90's can identify with the movie in one way or another. In my opinion, that is what makes this movie so good.
Clerks is a film that tells the story of a day in the lives of two convenience store clerks. What makes the movie so remarkable is that there is not a linear story or dramatic character arcs. This film shows and describes to us what working in this line of work can be like. It also shows that going into work on what was supposed to be your day off can turn out to be the craziest day of your life. The jokes are well-timed throughout the film, and the payoff for each one of them is incredibly gratifying. Finally, in a genius "small world" moment, we see that a couple of guests actually know Dante and have an unexpected and detailed past with him.
Brian O' Halloran and Jeff Anderson play Dante Hicks and Randal Graves, respectively. The best part about this movie are the bullshit sessions between Brian and Jeff. Anybody who grew up in the 90's and watches Clerks knows that these B.S. sessions that happen at work are an everyday occurrence for people who do not want to be there. Also, as I mentioned before, even the topics of discussion are relatable.
There are two female characters in the film and, ironically enough, both seem perfect for Dante. Marilyn Ghigliotti plays Veronica. Veronica is a woman who is perfectly happy with where Dante is in his life, and does not really expect or want him to change. The conversations that she and Dante have are genuine, and that is due to the genuine performance of Ghigliotti. She brings a "girl next door" vibe to her character that leaves you wanting Dante to end up with her.
Lisa Spoonauer plays Caitlin Bree. What makes the scenes between Dante and Caitlin so special is that you know that they have a past history. In their scenes together, you can see that they almost pick up right where they left off. Spoonauer is solid at conveying this aspect of her character, right down to her body language. Caitlin is the girl that always has Dante's back, and it is because of Spoonauers' performance that you believe this.
Kevin Smith is the director of Clerks. What drives the story of Clerks is the relationship between Dante and Randal, and that is mirrored in Smiths' directing. Virtually every shot in the convenience store is a 2-shot with Dante and Randal talking to each other. It is because of the direction that you care about these guys right up until the end of the film. Smith may not be the greatest filmmaker in the world, but he knows how to craft a good character piece.
Clerks is one of the best directorial debuts in modern cinema. It has relatable themes, and it firmly established the kind of filmmaker Kevin Smith would come to be known as. If you are a fan of great dialogue and characters, I highly suggest checking this movie out.
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