Clerk. Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Clerk. Blu-ray Movie Review

Beh-zuurrr-kuuuur....

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown December 6, 2023

What a pleasant surprise. When I placed my pre-order, I was expecting a documentary detailing the production of Kevin Smith's debut feature, Clerks. After listening to audio commentaries, digging through special features, subscribing to a number of View Askew podcasts, and being a part of the live audience in several Smith college visits and Comic Con appearances, I thought I knew everything there was to know about his first film, so I was interested but far from excited. A bit of an origin story: I've long been an unapologetic Kev-Head. I came to Clerks, Mallrats and Chasing Amy at the perfect age. Fumbled my way out of adolescence alongside Jay and Silent Bob as they began their cross-country misadventures. Even stuck with Smith through his roughest years, where he didn't quite know what to do with his work and struggled with critics calling him on it; Jersey Girl, Zack and Miri, Cop Out, Red State and Tusk, some of which I genuinely enjoy, some of which... well, he tried.

Thankfully, the aptly named Clerk doesn't focus on one film, nor on rises or falls or resurrections. It goes far beyond Smith's $30k black- and-white critical darling and keeps the camera on 2023's Smith, telling the story of the man today reflecting on the man of yesterday. He talks at length about his childhood dreams, his career in Hollywood, his movies and evolution as a filmmaker, his more recent forays into podcasting, and the unlikely low-rent multimedia empire he runs seemingly out of his own backyard. If you consume as much View Askew content as you as I do, very little of it will be news to you. Even then, it still moved me. Kevin Smith isn't a filmmaker, or a podcaster, or a '90s indie monolith. He's a passionate, kind-hearted, insecure kid in an adult's body who one day decided to stop trying to be "someone" and decided instead to focus on encouraging others to pursue their dreams, their careers, their lives, and to let absolutely no one tell them achieving any of it is impossible.

From 1091 Pictures, 'Clerk' is an immersive behind-the-scenes documentary examining the life and career of indie filmmaking and cultural icon, Kevin Smith. Featuring never before seen interviews with friends, family, filmmaking peers and icons of the film, comedy, and comic worlds. From director and personal friend Malcolm Ingram, the documentary features interviews with Smith, film producer Scott Mosier, actor Jason Mewes, the late great Stan Lee, actor Justin Long, actress Joey Lauren Adams, actor Brian O'Halloran, performer and television host Penn Jillette, actors Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, former Marvel Comics head Joe Quesada, filmmaker Richard Linklater, actor Judd Nelson, director Jason Reitman, and many more.

Early career Kevin Smith was more aggressive. Hungrier. More determined. And you see it in Clerk, which opens with a VHS manifesto of sorts where Smith lays out his future. Very little of which comes to pass, or at least not in the way he envisioned it as a young man. You also see it as the film and its interviewees recall the same qualities in the filmmaker as they worked to help him climb the Hollywood ladder, from Sundance to... as it turns out, not much higher. But this isn't the story of a man who tried but failed. This is the story of a man who tried, began to fail, but pivoted. And in that pivoting, discovered a path that, rocky as it was at times, led to a place full of family, joy and sharing himself with anyone who would watch or listen. He stopped trying to live up to the expectations of critics, producers, even fans. He started asking a more real question; a question that became more entrenched as his daughter, Harley, began to grow up, and a question that solidified after a heart attack nearly killed him. The Smith that drives us through Red Bank, New Jersey, to the QuickStop and other hot spots, this is a different Kevin Smith than the Kevin Smith we saw in the VHS opener. And it's in tracking and watching that growth that makes Clerk more than a career retrospective. It's a documentary of Smith coming into his own as a human being, as a performer, as a filmmaker, as a podcaster, as a fan of fandom, as a man who lives to enjoy the simpler things, being thankful for where he is and what he has rather than longing for the career heights of others.

Clerk. Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Mercantile and 1091 Pictures's 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation looks pretty good. My only complaint, and it's a somewhat significant one, is that the various clips from Smith's movies aren't as striking or as technically sound as their counterpart scenes on his films' official Blu-ray releases. It's not a deal breaker by any means, but it's apparent, especially in scenes from Clerks. Ah well. The rest of the documentary fares much better and looks exactly as you'd expect. New interview segments are crisp and clean, with beautiful colors, contrast and detailing. Still photos and more recent B-roll footage don't disappoint either. Archive footage is extremely hit or miss -- the older an element is, the rougher it looks -- but that's hardly a surprise. It's par for the documentary course and traces back to the condition of the original elements. Pixelation, blocking, scuffs and scratches, specks and poor clarity; it's all unavoidable with the materials at director Malcolm Ingram's disposal.

Clerk. Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Hm. Clerk offers two audio options: lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 surround and Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo. The 5.1 surround track is obviously the mix of choice but it earns little more than a shoulder shrug. Voices are clean and clear, prioritized well, and only take a hit in quality when Smith or another interviewees step outside, drive through town, or move about inside of a house. Film clips from Smith's movies take a lossy smack as well (similar to the dip in video quality compared to their corresponding Blu-ray releases) and vintage footage audio is all over the place. There's no huge disappointment to uncover, though. It's fine, as a documentary audio mix goes.

Clerk. Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentaries - Two commentaries are included, one with Kevin Smith and Malcolm Ingram, the other featuring editor Sean Stanley and his brother, teaser poster designer Warren Stanley, who've been longtime fans. Note that neither commentary is listed in the Special Features menu. You have to go to the Audio Options menu to access them.

• "The Kids" Alternate Ending (HD, 4 minutes)

• "Kevin Smith VHS Tape" Extended Intro (HD/SD, 12 minutes)

• Uncut Interviews (HD) - Six uncut interview segments are included with Ralph Garman (32:41), Stan Lee (2:58), Judd Nelson (6:39), Jason Reitman (13:49), Richard Linklater (15:02) and Joe Manganiello (19:43).

• Clerk Trailer (HD, 2 minutes)

Clerk. Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Kevin Smith always finds a way to stab me in the feels. Just look at that screenshot? The tears? Goodness, when he breaks, I break. And this is a man looking back on a rich life that he didn't always appreciate. But he's a happier man for it all, and this look at his past, present and future is inspiring and touching. Mercantile Instinct's Blu-ray release is hit or miss. It offers a solid video presentation (despite some problems) but only lossy audio. And while special features may look extensive, you'll realize it isn't all that comprehensive once you dig in. Smith and Ingram's commentary is the highlight, but more extended interview footage must exist and number in the hours. Still, Smith's followers and completists will find picking up Clerk to be money well spent.