Clerks is one of those legendary, self financed, shoe-string budget home movies that started careers, franchises and cultish fan bases across the world, much like Robert Rodriguez did with El Mariachi and Oren Peli achieved with Paranormal Activity. Starring a bunch of Smith's mates and shot in black and white through the night at his local neighbourhood convenience store, it's a series of sketches, observations, and conversations revolving around the two slackers who run the store from noon 'til night on one particular day.
Brian O'Halloran and Jeff Randall are perfectly cast as the constantly complaining Dante and the rebellious, apathetic Randall respectively. Through their differing opinions, and the intersecting oddballs that intersect their work day, we learn much about life, love and our place in the universe. Like most of Smith's work, it's at heart a rom com with Tarantino-esque everyday conversations, fan boy geek references (Salsa Shark) and quotable filthy humour, "My Girlfriend sucked 37 dicks!!!" "In a row???"
Scrappy and amateurish in it's production but first rate in it's script and performances, Smith would go on from this to even better work from the deeper Chasing Amy, the sidesplitting Mallrats and Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back and the thoughtful and provocative Dogma. Yep, every saga must have a beginning and this is way superior to The Phantom Menace.
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