Jason Mewes

Movie Requests – Meet the Guests!

Posted on by Jack Drees

Hey everyone, Jack Drees here! We are 10 days away until the first episode of Scene Before’s brand new video review series, Movie Requests!

For those who have not gotten the memo, the series is no longer going to be called Celebrity Movie Requests, and instead, will simply be known as “Movie Requests.” This is not going to change the lineup of the series or anything that goes into making it. I just think the name flows off the tongue better.

Movie Requests is being published in honor of 10 years of Scene Before. Last year, I asked 10 people what movies they think I should talk about, and each person came up with their unique response. You have seen these people in movies, television, perhaps even the Internet. Each one has a claim to fame as unique as their taste in film. I asked each guest if I could feature them in a 10 second video requesting their movie, and from that point, I will watch the movie, and provide my honest thoughts.

Some of you might wonder, what movies will I review in this series? That is a good question that will be answered in each video. I will leave that as a mystery. But one mystery has been revealed, and that is the list of special guests who just so happened to request said movies! Ladies and gentlemen, here is a dive into the ten guests who will be featured in Movie Requests!

Rosario Dawson

Please welcome actress Rosario Dawson! Rosario Dawson is a performer whose credits date back to the 1990s. Some of her most notable movie credits include the “Clerks” franchise, “Sin City,” “Rent,” “Unstoppable,” and “The LEGO Batman Movie.” Her work in the film “Top Five” earned her a Critics Choice nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy. Dawson has also made her presence known on streaming TV, like in Netflix’s “Daredevil.” In recent years, she has played the live-action version of Ahsoka Tano in the “Star Wars” franchise. This also includes her starring role in the series “Ahsoka,” now streaming on Disney+.

Sandi Harding

Be kind and rewind! Also, be kind enough to welcome Sandi Harding to the series! Harding is the manager of the last Blockbuster Video on the entire planet. As of this publication, the store is still standing. She was also the primary subject of the documentary “The Last Blockbuster,” which dives into her role at the store as well as her reaction to the chain’s continued decline. Harding also takes Blockbuster on the road to various events as part of The Blockbuster Experience, which allows customers to relive the days of the video store and maybe take home a movie or two.

Chris Hardwick

He’s geeky! He’s funny! He’s an all around welcoming guy! It’s none other than Chris Hardwick! His large resume ranges from being an actor to a TV host to a standup comedian. You can find Hardwick in films including Rob Zombie’s “Halloween II,” “A House of 1000 Corpses,” and “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.” Hardwick has also lent his voice to multiple animated productions. One of these includes Nickelodeon’s “Back at the Barnyard,” where he plays Otis the Cow, originally voiced by Kevin James in the film that inspired the show. His hosting gigs include “Singled Out,” “@Midnight,” and “Talking Dead.” Since 2016, Hardwick’s hosted NBC’s high-stakes game show “The Wall,” which premiered its sixth season back in January. As of this publication, Hardwick is preparing to shoot a standup comedy special called The Middle Ages. If you are in the Nashville area and want to laugh, you can request tickets to see the show through 1iota.com.

Bryce Dallas Howard

She’s kissed Spider-Man, fended off dinosaurs, and continued her family’s cinematic legacy. Please welcome Bryce Dallas Howard! As the eldest daughter of “Happy Days” star turned director Ron Howard, this actress has found herself garnering the attention of several big name filmmakers from M. Night Shyamalan to Sam Raimi to Matthew Vaughn. Franchise fans know her face from “Spider-Man 3” and “Jurassic World.” Some of her most recent acting credits include Apple’s “Argylle” and the Prime Video original movie “Deep Cover.” Shared alongside her fellow castmates of “The Help,” Howard has won the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture during the 2012 ceremony. She would go on to be nominated for her own performance in TV’s “Black Mirror” during the 2017 edition of the SAGs. Howard has continuously developed herself as a director, having helmed several short films, a couple documentaries, as well as episodes of various “Star Wars” shows.

Jason Mewes

Bickety-bam! Jason Mewes has entered the chat! Best known as Jay in the View Askew universe, Mewes has graced the screen as the cinematic loudmouth time and time again, yet with consistent charisma and energy throughout each go. You can find Mewes as Jay in the “Clerks” trilogy, “Mallrats,” “Chasing Amy,” “Dogma,” “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,” and “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.” Much like his frequent collaborator, filmmaker Kevin Smith, Mewes is born in New Jersey, and has filmed productions in his home state and beyond. Mewes and Smith have forged an excellent partnership as Jay and Silent Bob, most recently seen together in “Clerks III.” You can also find Mewes on Twitch playing games like “Call of Duty,” “Fortnite,” and “Apex Legends.”

Joel David Moore

He’s played dodgeball. He’s talked to blue people. He’s Joel David Moore! Born in Portland, Oregon, Joel David Moore studied acting in college, and later landed his first major role as Owen Dittman in “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.” Joel David Moore also appeared in all three “Avatar” movies as Norm Spellman, the first of which remains the highest-grossing movie of all time. The second film, “The Way of Water,” earned more than $2 billion at the global box office. “Fire and Ash,” which is now in theaters, has also joined the billion dollar club. Moore also made his presence known on television through shows like Fox’s “Bones” and ABC’s “Forever.”

Brian O’Halloran

Despite popular belief, Brian O’Halloran is in fact supposed to be here today! Much like Jason Mewes, Brian O’Halloran is a regular in Kevin Smith’s films. Best known for starring as Dante in the “Clerks” trilogy, O’Halloran’s character often captures the realities of working in retail, whether it is at a convenience store or a fast food joint. Some of O’Halloran’s other works directed by Smith include “Mallrats,” “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,” and “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.” Last year, he appeared as a contestant during the third season of Fox’s game show “The Floor.”

Michael Rooker

He’s Mary Poppins, y’all! He also happens to be Yondu! In real life, you can call him Michael Rooker. Early in his career, Rooker was known as the star of “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer,” which was made in 1986, but did not release until 1990 due to its controversial nature. From there, he would continue his prolific acting journey through films like “Mississippi Burning,” “JFK,” “Mallrats,” “The Belko Experiment,” and “The Horizon Saga.” Rooker has lent much of his career to working alongside director James Gunn through “Slither,” “Super,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” and “The Suicide Squad.” Rooker also had a small role in James Gunn’s latest film, “Superman.” On television, Rooker is known for his role as Merle Dixon in AMC’s “The Walking Dead.”

Katee Sackhoff

Science fiction nerds, you are in for a treat. Katee Sackhoff is frakin’ here! On television, Sackhoff is known for starring on the 2000s reboot of “Battlestar Galactica” as Captain Kara “Starbuck” Thrace. Since 2012, she has also played a notable role in the “Star Wars” franchise as Bo-Katan Kryze. Her “Star Wars” credits include “The Clone Wars,” “Rebels,” “Tales of the Empire,” and “The Mandalorian.” Some of her other television credits include “The Flash,” “24,” “Another Life,” and “Robot Chicken.” Sackhoff’s film credits include “Halloween: Resurrection,” “Riddick,” “Oculus,” and “Fight or Flight.” You can also listen to Sackhoff interview celebrities through her podcast, “The Sackhoff Show.” You can find it wherever you get your podcasts, as well as her YouTube channel.

Amy Sedaris

And finally, we have the funny and talented Amy Sedaris! While many know her through film and television, Sedaris got her start in comedy through the Second City in Chicago. Whether it is the three seasons on television, or the movie that followed, Sedaris is known for her role as Jerri Blank on “Strangers with Candy.” She wrote, produced, and starred in truTV’s “At Home with Amy Sedaris,” a zany and comedic look at entertaining, crafts, and cooking. The show was nominated for four Primetime Emmys, with Sedaris garnering two of those nominations, specifically for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series. Some of her film credits include “Elf,” “Jennifer’s Body,” “Chef,” and “Is This Thing On?”. Her “Star Wars” character, Peli Motto, has been featured in two of the franchise’s shows, including “The Mandalorian” and “The Book of Boba Fett.” Sedaris also has tons of voiceover experience through films like “Chicken Little,” “Puss in Boots,” “The Boss Baby: Family Business,” and “Smurfs…” As well as television shows like “BoJack Horseman,” “Star vs. the Forces of Evil,” “DuckTales,” and “Dicktown.”

Right now, there is no concrete episode by episode schedule for the series, though the plan is to do at least one episode every month. The schedule is subject to change, and more episode dates will be available soon.

The first episode of Movie Requests will be available on my YouTube channel and Flicknerd.com Saturday February 28th, and I am pleased to announce the first guest of the series will be Bryce Dallas Howard! What movie did she request? You’ll have to find out. Do me, and yourself a favor by subscribing to my YouTube channel and hitting the notification bell, that way you will see new episodes of Movie Requests as soon as they drop. Be sure to follow Scene Before either with an email or WordPress account to be notified on all the latest the series has to offer. Also, check out the official Facebook page!

And in case you missed out on the official trailer for Movie Requests, which I premiered earlier this month during the 8th Annual Jack Awards, click the video attached above to check it out!

Now that you know who is in the series, what movies do you think each celebrity chose? Leave your comments down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Clerks III (2022): The Most Personal Clerks Installment Yet

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Clerks III” is directed by Kevin Smith (Mallrats, Dogma) who also appears in the movie once again as Silent Bob. Joining Smith on his latest “Clerks” outing are stars including Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Trevor Fehrman, Austin Zajur, Jason Mewes, and Rosario Dawson. When Quick Stop employee Randall survives a heart attack, he decides he wants to do something with his life and make a movie. What’s the movie? Well, think of it as another version of “Clerks.” With the help of colleagues along with Jay and Silent Bob, they all come together to make a movie based on Randall’s life and experiences.

Hollywood has a tendency to celebrate itself from one movie to the next. This has been done through Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land,” Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” and the trend does not seem to be stopping anytime soon as we’re getting more movies of this sort like “Babylon.” That movie is, coincidentally, also directed by Damien Chazelle. Some of these movies have proven to be industry and award season darlings, which is why it is interesting to see that Kevin Smith is almost going for another approach with this. Kevin Smith has been part of “the industry” for years. As of a few years ago, he officially has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But compared to other individuals, he doesn’t feel like a part of the industry. He often wears a part of New Jersey on his sleeve, his ego is not over the top, and compared to say the recently mentioned Tarantino, his track record with critics is not the best.

In fact, when I did my list of the worst movies of the 2010s, “Copout,” which released early on in the decade, ended up making the list.

But it does not change the way I feel about Kevin Smith as a personality. I met him at a comic con, and I can genuinely say he is the nicest guy I have talked to in this industry. Smith is an avid pop culture geek, extremely humble, and even though critics say he cannot make a movie, he has shown to be appreciative of the art. When it comes to the first two “Clerks” movies, I enjoyed both of them. Both are relatable and funny. I still think about the “Lord of the Rings” storyline joke in the second movie on a regular basis. As an aspiring filmmaker, I look up to to people like Christopher Nolan for his auteur-like traits. But in the back of my mind, I want to maintain the same sense of humility and spirit that Kevin Smith has possessed all these years. I did not know what to expect going into “Clerks III,” but I paid $20 for a Fathom Events ticket because I wanted to support the movie.

Having seen this film, it is probably my favorite “Clerks” installment, partially because of its shift from the other two.

While this film serves a proper sequel to both “Clerks” and “Clerks II,” “Clerks III” shows how much the franchise has evolved with each outing. From the first to the second movie we go from shooting in black and white to shooting in color. What’s the big shift in the third movie? Things get comparatively serious.

Kevin Smith based “Clerks” on his time in New Jersey and working behind counters. That stays true in “Clerks III,” but Kevin Smith has grown up since making his first feature back in the 1990s, therefore it feels natural that the franchise grows up too. This story would have never happened if in addition to the two “Clerks” movies, Kevin Smith never had a serious heart attack in 2017. The attack nearly killed him, but he has since made adjustments to his life, and now he is using his life experience to make “Clerks III” happen. This is a surprisingly sentimental and personal story that tugs at the heartstrings as much as it busts the gut. When it comes to emotional, mature storytelling, I do not often put that thought alongside Kevin Smith. Sure, the movie still has its series of silly shenanigans like a goofy line out of Jay or an occasional joke about drugs or private parts. Although in between that, it is ultimately a story about friendship. It is about people who stick by each other even in the toughest of times.

“Clerks III” feels like a love letter to filmmaking in the same way that “The Disaster Artist” was. Because that movie chronicled a film that would have been doomed to fail if it were not for its insane cult following. While “The Disaster Artist” based its story on the making of a movie that actually happened, “Clerks III” pays tribute to what the franchise has already provided while offering an unfamiliar, but most certainly welcome, sentimentality.

“Clerks III” feels like this year’s “Bill & Ted Face the Music.” It is a sequel to two movies that despite their charm, are not exactly Oscar-worthy, but come loaded with entertainment value. Both of the franchise’s third installments keep that same entertainment value, but also come off as a slightly, and I do mean slightly, more mature variant of what came before.

If you are a fan of Kevin Smith’s work over the years, there are particular scenes that could resonate with you. My favorite part of the film is when Randall’s movie is in pre-production and they are trying to find the right people for the right roles. This brings out a great number of Kevin Smith’s colleagues, friends, and a few other celebrities who I am quite surprised managed to take time to be in a movie like this. I will not say any names, as I did not know any of these going in, but the audition montage alone was worth the $20 I paid to see this movie. If you are looking for cameos, Smith’s got em. And they are all here!

Although there is one big name in this movie that I would like to reveal, and that is Amy Sedaris (At Home with Amy Sedaris, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt). Amy Sedaris not only plays a cardiothorasic surgeon, she kills the part in every way. Every line out of Amy Sedaris is delivered with a sprinkle of flair and I cannot see anyone else playing this part except for her. Also, there is a particular exchange between her and Randall that caught my attention. For those of you who remember “The Martian,” there is a scene featuring Sean Bean of “Lord of the Rings” fame, and his character has to explain what Project Elrond is to a group of people. To those who do not know, Project Elrond is the secret meeting in “Lord of the Rings.” Attentive “Star Wars” fans, most notably those who are familiar with “The Mandalorian,” may be able to notice a reversal of this in “Clerks III.”

To spoil the ending of “Clerks III” would be like spoiling the ending to a lot of movies, it would ruin the grand effect of what’s to come. Although if I had to give my quick thoughts on the ending of “Clerks III,” I would say that it is one that I would not have predicted, but it is definitely earned. There is a particular moment between Randall and Dante that hit me. It feels weird to say because I am not that attached to these characters. From start to finish, I only saw both “Clerks” movies once. I liked both, but nevertheless. But these characters have a moment together that adds up and delivered the feels. There is more to the ending, and it nearly feels choppy, but it is a kind of choppiness that I was willing to appreciate.

If I had to give my biggest problem with the film, it weirdly enough has to do with one of my positives. The drama. There is a fundamental shift between the characters in the film in terms of how they view each other and their current situations. While I appreciate the fact that for the most part, this film goes for drama, and succeeds, this is the one blunder. This shift feels seismic to the point where I could not buy it. Maybe if it were written differently, it would have been executed better. Maybe less dialogue, maybe different words. But there is a hot second in the movie that has a moment of tension that almost feels forced.

Even so, “Clerks III” is a funny yet heartwarming conclusion to a trilogy that started nearly thirty years ago. There is a saying in that you should write what you know. And that is what Kevin Smith did. He took what may have been the worst situation of his entire life, and now he is telling what could be his most emotional story yet.

In the end, “Clerks III” is a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy that mostly blends comedy and drama to an admirable degree. Kevin Smith movies always provide a likable vibe, even if it is not up to the caliber of say a Spielberg flick. The “Clerks” movies look cheap, but have occasional moments that feel like a million bucks. With “Clerks III,” Smith arguably hit the jackpot. When it comes to pure fun, there are few other movies this year that were able to deliver what this movie did for me. “Clerks III” is not my favorite movie of the year, but when it comes to genuine good times, there is are few rivals in terms of 2022’s cinematic calendar. I am going to give “Clerks III” a 7/10.

“Clerks III” is playing in theatres for a limited time and is going on tour across the United States and Canada! For those who live in certain areas, Kevin Smith will be bringing the movie to a city near you like Los Angeles, Chicago, or Montreal. For tickets and more info on “Clerks III: The Convenience Tour,” visit clerks3.movie/roadshow.

Thanks for reading this review! Guess what guys? My next post is going to be very special because I will be reaching 600 posts on Scene Before! Per usual, I will be doing a long-winded update on my Blu-ray collection. That video will also be available on my YouTube channel, but I will be sharing said video here as the 600th post for those who read my blog. If you want to see more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Clerks III?” What did you think about it? Or, did you see the other two “Clerks” films? Tell me your thoughts on those! Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!