16 A - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 5, 2001 Jay and Silent Bob receive raunchy, drug filled goodbye ARTS , By Andy Taylor-Fabe Daily Film Editor It is clear within a few minutes of watching "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" that it is director Kevin Smith's attempt to give his most well-known characters a last hurrah. Or Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Grade: B+ At Quality Showcase and State perhaps it is just to purge them from his system the way that smokers chain smoke a whole pack to quit. Being the fifth movie featuring Jay, the shit-talking, catchphrase spawn- ing drug dealer, and his "hetero life-mate" Silent Bob, the duo is finally given the lead roles, where they are thrust into an action filled plot filled with chases, sharp dia- logue and even a chance to get the girl. Jay and Silent Bob discover that the superhero conic "Bluntman and Chronic," which is based on their real lives, is to become a major motion picture, and they are Silent Bob, the alter egos of the superheros. So instead of seeking the profits that they are owed, they decide that the best way to even things up is to keep the movie from ever being shot. A seemingly simple task becomes an international manhunt as Jay and Silent Bob are caught up in more than just the simple trashing of a movie set. There are a few things that one must come to terms with before seeing the film. First of all, the whole point of the movie is to have fun. Chock full of references to the other films in the increasingly inaccurately named "New Jersey Trilogy," the film is meant for the fans. Without detailed knowledge of "Clerks," "Mallrats," "Chasing Amy" and "Dogma," the movie would seem like one big inside joke, which, in a way, sort of is. Smith seems to go by the wisdom of a line from "Chas- ing Amy:" "The big money is in dick and fart jokes," and apparently he's right, for the film is ripe with deli- ciously puerile humor, most of which is on target.' The movie features characters from all of Smith's earlier films, making it a sort of Vonnegut-esque "Breakfast of Champions" for gross out comedy, which, once again, could make it painfully confusing for the uninitiated. With multiple appearances by both characters from the films and real life actors playing A)(urtesy ofMiramk " Ben Affleck (right) asks director Kevin Smith (center) why he put him in this movie when he could be making "Phantoms 2." 0 not receiving royalties. What's worse, the Internet buzz is strongly negative and personally critical of Jay and ... ...::. . y. themselves, our universe and the so-called "viewasku- niverse" of Smith's movies collide with highly enjoy- able results. With self deprecating humor from Ben Affleck on everything from his flop movies to his ten- dency to leave dead hookers in his trailer, the film has a atmosphere that is rare. A small role by "Saturday Night Live" star Will Ferrell as a Federal Wildlife Mar- shall adds some true comic genius to an already clever cast. The film's action sequences are, for the most part, lame, but this is only a mild distraction from the posi- tive aspects of the film. However, some of the final scenes, which take place on a Miramax movie set, are more entertaining and have more flow. (Imagine it as if "Jay and Silent Bob" were somehow transplanted into "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure.") "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" is basically a crack on the entire movie industry, from the incessant and uninformed buzz on the Internet by the nation's twelve- year-old's and comic book store owners to the exploita- tion and corruption of fresh material by studios (both personal issues for Smith). This film contains no lofty ideas about sexuality as in "Chasing Amy," nor does it raise any controversial questions about theology as in "Dogma," but it is pure fun, and the constant collusion with the audience by the characters and the complete lack of serious material in any way, shape or form is just what both we and Smith needed to get Jay and Silent Bob out of our system. However, just as the smoker craves his fix even after kicking the habit, Kevin Smith may find himself reaching for his black trench coat and View Askew address book sooner than he thinks. (From Left) Eliza Dushku, All Larter, Shannon Elizabeth, and Jennifer Schwalbach Smith. These lovely ladies lock arms and prepare to take two steps backwards for feminism. Courtesy of Miramax "I'm Jay and this is my hetero life-mate Silent Bob, and you are looking fine!" Shakespeare's 'O' remade as violent high school tragedy. By Jenny Jeites Daily Arts Writer One doesn't have to be familiar with Shakespeare's "Othello" to understand "O," Tim Blake Nelson's teen version of a but knowing the Grade: B- At Showcase, Quaity 16 and State (Mekhi Pfeifer, tragic love story, film's basis sure makes it easier to point out its flaws. With extraordinary complications of jealousy and rage, Shake- speare's story just doesn't quite pull it off when trans- ferred to a bas- ketball court. The story begins when Odin James "Clockers"), a doomed to do something incredibly stupid, as his perception that Desi is cheating on him will throw him over the edge. Unlike Hartnett, Phifer is believ- able. He does more than follow what the script tells him to do and he puts emotion into his lines. This, along with Stiles' excellent acting, at leak allows Shakespeare's story of love t shine through. Unfortunately, this love is not enough to get the audience involved. Due to the poor development of Hugo's jealousy and evil intent, the ending, which would otherwise be a heartbreaking, emotional and some- what heroic climax, is a discombob- ulated flurry of guns, blood and bodies. And that's pretty much it. The end is shocking because it' unexpected, not necessarily becauW it's effective. Except for an insight- ful line of Hugo's at the end of the film, even violence and killing does- n't stir much emotion. That doesn't seem quite right. Rather than feel sad that some special individuals die, one might feel sorry that the hero, Odin, had such little depth to work with in the script and that Hugo ignored any depth at all. young black basketball star at an r otherwise all-white private school,s receives extra attention from Coach s Duke Goulding (Martin Sheen).c Hugo Goulding (Josh HartnettI "Pearl Harbor"), the coach's son onN the team, feels disregarded, especial-l ly when the coach says of Odin that "I love him as if he were my own son." Hugo and Odin are supposed friends, but Hugo's jealously leads him to plot viciously, using both Odin and Miclhael (Andrew Kee- gan), another star player, against each other. The main problem with ".0" is Hugo's lack of depth. Yes, we know Hugo's jealousy is extreme, as the horrifying ending reveals, but throughout most of the film, we are not shown Hugo's rage. Hartnett is v unconvincing in "O" - with such an evil and sinister role, shouldn't one take him seriously? He seems to care about basketball as much as he does baking cookies. F6rtunately, the other characters are more com- pelling. Desi Brable (Julia Stiles, "Save the Last Dance"), Odin's girlfriend, means the world to Odin. Desi is the one thing he cares about more than basketball, and Hugo quickly real- izes that in order to trigger Odin's jealousy, he must buddy up with Michael, who was recently suspend- PA frnm the team fr oetting in a