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Chasing Amy - Criterion Collection
Actors: Joey Lauren Adams, Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, Matt Damon, and Dwight Ewell
Rated: R (Restricted)
Retail Price (not our price): $19.99
Release Date: 2000-06-13
Theatrical Release Date: 1997
Studio: Miramax
Run Time: 113 minutes
Format: Array
Format: Collector's Edition, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Discs: 1


Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):

1) Amazon.com
Writer-director Kevin Smith (Clerks) makes a huge leap in sophistication with this strong story about a comic-book artist (Ben Affleck) who falls in love with a lesbian (Joey Lauren Adams) and actually gets his wish that she love him, too. Their relationship is attacked, however, by his business partner (Jason Lee), who pulls a very unsubtle Iago act to cast doubt over the whole affair. The film has the same sense of insiderness as Clerks--this time, Smith takes us within the arcane, funny world of comic-book cultism--but the themes of jealousy, deceit, and the high price of growing up enough to truly care for someone make this a very satisfying movie. --Tom Keogh

2) Description
Chasing Amy is the third installment in the "New Jersey Trilogy" from award-winning writer-director Kevin Smith (Clerks, Mallrats, Dogma). Cult comic-book artist Holden (Ben Affleck) falls in love with fellow artist Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams), only to be thwarted by her sexuality, the disdain of his best friend Banky (Jason Lee), and his own misgivings about himself. Filled with Smith's unique ear for dialogue and insight into relationships, Chasing Amy offers a thoughtful, funny look at how perceptions alter lives, and how obsession and self-doubt skew reality.

Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5

1) In the Criterion Collection?   [Rating: 2 out of 5]
Why is this movie in the Criterion Collection?They should spend their time and resources restoring masterworks such as Visconti's "Senso" and "Ossessione" or Bertolucci's "The Last Emperor" and other "gems" that need to be polished.

2) amazing   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
This is the best Kevin Smith movie of all time. It's probably, and almost indisputably, the best comedy of the early 90's. This movie will change your life forever. It grabs hold of every idea you hold sacred and redefines your outlook on life.

3) like a set of chinese finger cuffs!   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Chasing Amy, Kevin Smiths 3rd film, has much more dramatic tones than any of his other films in the "jersey chronicles." that doesnt take away from the greatness of Kevin Smith's Filmmaking though. to be honest the first time i saw Chasing Amy i didnt like it at all. i went into it with a closed mind because at the time all i interpreted from Kevin Smith movies was some weed content and sex jokes. over the years of seeing all his films countless times ive learned about so much more beyond all the F--ks and s--ts. dont get me wrong, thats all good stuff, but he addresses a lot of facets of sexuality and religion.Chasing Amy is no stereotypical, fake love story. to me, its a look at love from different points of view, how we all interpret it, and how it affects different people. in most films the protagonist is perceived as he/she can do no wrong. Chasing Amy is full of so many variables and emotions. i dont think Kevin Smith was saying Ben Afflecs character was truly in love with Joey Lauren Adams character. He thought he was, and that was enough for him. that small glimpse of satisfaction and light was enough for his character to think it was real. sometimes the illusion of love is amazing in itself. however fleeting it may be.

4) Kevin Smith's best film...   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Chasing Amy, the third film in Kevin Smith's classic New Jersey trilogy (along with Clerks and Mallrats), just might be the best of the bunch. It packs Smith's usual envelope-pushing dialogue about sex, relationships, etc. and showcases some great comic performances. If you're feeling tired of boring Hollywood fare, Chasing Amy provides a refreshing slap in the face.Ben Affleck (Good Will Hunting, Bounce) plays Holden McNeil, a comic book artist who's still looking for the right woman. While attending a comic-book convention with his roommate and Bluntman & Chronic co-creator Banky (Jason Lee, Almost Famous), he meets Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams), and they quickly hit it off. Holden is convinced that he's met future girlfriend material. However, there is one minor problem: She's lesbian, a fact that's conveyed in a hilarious bar scene.After he gets over his initial shock concerning her lesbian preferences, Holden enters into a fast frienship with Alyssa. Their close bond is a source of tension between Holden and Banky, who believes that she's bad news (and perhaps is a bit jealous). As Holden and Alyssa's relationship becomes more intimate, he must also come to grips with her wild past. Whether or not you buy into the film's surprising resolution, there's no denying that it's a ballsy one.Smith's writing is so sharp that almost any actor (or non-actor) can come off looking good. That said, Jason Lee gives a classic comic performance, spouting off numerous un-PC lines, whether introducing a young toddler to his collection of porn magazines or asking Alyssa about her lesbian habits: "Since you like chicks, do you just look at yourself naked in the mirror all the time?" Affleck delivers solid work in a gutsy role. How much you like or hate Joey Lauren Adams will depend heavily on how you cope with her nasal, high-pitched voice.Of course, a Kevin Smith film wouldn't be complete without the presence of Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith himself), and their scene is a keeper. While dining with Holden at a restaurant, the two offer relationship advice that's alternately poignant and hilarious.With a writer/director as daring as Kevin Smith, odds are there will be some scenes in his films that you won't like. However, that's a small price to pay for the many hilarious scenes you do get, and it's also part of the reason that Chasing Amy rewards repeat viewings.

5) An almost mature film from Kevin Smith...   [Rating: 3 out of 5]
This is Kevin Smith's best film. It isn't perfect, but it has a lot of real emotion in it, even though Smith nearly ruins it with his usual oversexed, Generation X schtick. I think the reason this film works well for the most part is that it's really quite sincere in its best moments. Kevin Smith was dating Joey Lauren Adams (the lead actress here) at the time, and had problems dealing with her past. So he made this film as a cathartic experience, and maybe that was good for him to do so (even though him and Joey broke up, so it kind of all was for naught...oops). Anyway, you really believe Ben Affleck falls in love with Joey here, and his scene where he declares his love feels very real and sincere (something Gen X types like Smith are NOT known for). But when Joey just gives up being a lesbian right away for Affleck, it doesn't really feel authentic. Her character was a bit of a whore when she was young, she found lesbianism, now Affleck brings her back to straightdom? It's not entirely believable, but Affleck (in probably his only decent performance before he became a celebrity) is rather believable in this scene. And in the scenes immediately following it, Joey's character seems to be really in love with Affleck. Unfortunately, Smith throws in too many over the top sexual references (the scene where Joey Adams and Jason Lee talk about oral sex injuries is ridiculous and just there to be "in your face"), and the scene where Ben Affleck proposes a menage a trois between Jason Lee and Joey is ridiculous. Affleck somehow gets the idea in his head that Jason Lee has been in love with him his whole life (despite Lee talking about his oral sex injuries with women earlier on), which is completely out of place with his character. Affleck proposes this in front of a TV playing "video aquarium" for some reason. But I really like the ending of this film. It's left totally open, and Smith should be commended for ending the film like that. The film is a bit of a mess, with some questionable character motivations, but it has its good moments, and it's Smith's best film in my opinion.