5. Clerks
Release Date: October 19,1994
Director: Kevin Smith
Starring: Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Jason Mewes, Lisa Spoonhauer, Kevin Smith
First Time I Saw It: In 1994, I was 12. Not the greatest time to see this movie. I actually got to see bits and pieces of it in 1995, when I was obviously older and wiser, not to mention, a TEENAGER. My friend’s older brother and his friends had a copy and we all sat down one day and watched it. I really didn’t remember (or understand) much, but I felt like I was one of the cool kids. It wasn’t until I was a junior or senior in high school that I watched the whole thing through to the the end.
Why I Ranked It So High: Even if this movie didn’t launch Kevin Smith into a geek’s household name, Clerks still would have been a cult classic. Geek humor on the big screen? Had that happened before? Not to mention a small-budget, black and white film that ends up making millions. How many times have we seen that business plan copied?
Why I Love It: How can I describe my love for this movie? Probably only in interpretive dance to be honest. It’s one of the few movies that I can quote. And it has a killer soundtrack. What makes me watch it over and over and over again, is the quick wit and fast talking. I can’t tell you how many times I rewound (yes, VHS kiddos) my copy in order to hear exactly what Randal said. On a deeper level though, it felt like I found my people. These fictional characters that I was 10 years younger than. As I grew up, I felt comforted in the fact that I wasn’t alone in feeling that I wasn’t supposed to be here today. Someone out there knew what it’s like to feel young and lost and working retail. Also, that it was okay to be a geek. It was ok to be nerdy, and that you can be nerdy AND still have sex. It’s also given me some great advice, like always check to see if someone is in the bathroom, especially if the light is out. –Kelly O’Dowd
