KEVIN SMITH’S SECRET STASH: THE DEFINITIVE VISUAL HISTORY

BOOK KEVIN SMITH | INSIGHT EDITIONS

Bam” is one of Kevin Smith’s most-used words, used to denote moments of serendipitous fortune, creative kismet or high-spirited elation. There are quite a few “bams” in this semimemoir, which charts the filmmaker’s eclectic career from the breakout success of 1994’s Clerks and its culty follow-ups Mallrats, Chasing Amy and Dogma to the more recent run of under-performers (Cop Out, Tusk, Yoga Hosers) that have taken some of the filmmaking shine off this affable geek from Red Bank, New Jersey.

Not that you’d know it from this colourful compilation of dewy-eyed reminiscence, anecdote and personal memorabilia, which sees Smith regard triumph and failure with the same puckish insouciance. “Being Kevin Smith is my favourite thing in the world,” he declares – something that endures even when he’s being butchered by critics, having a heart attack or crossing swords with Harvey Weinstein. (“Clench your asshole because here comes that horrible name,” he warns when the disgraced mogul pops up.)

If you’ve followed Smith’s parallel career as a podcasting raconteur you’ll have heard some of these stories before, not least his savage takedown of a sullen Bruce Willis. Yet that does not make this tome any less enjoyable, bolstered as it is by comic-book artworks, BTS photos and loving messages from friends who have prospered from being part of his View Askew universe. Neil Smith