Posted by Drunken Uncle Hal at modem-65a.nyc.fcc.net on October 26, 1999 at 23:24:08:
Last night was stellar. Big thanks to all involved.
I liked the film a LOT. In fact, this was the first time since CLERKS that I've really liked one of Kevin's films on the first viewing. I could go on and on about it, but that would get old. Just insert lots and lots of gushing. Use your own words. Be creative.
I can't say that the film really got me thinking about God or religion (I'm a non-religious agnostic, and it'll probably take a lot more than one film to change that about me)... but it did leave me feeling sorta... good. Like I had faith in life in general. All was right with the world after I saw it. I wanted to hug the entire population of Earth.
The only things I DIDN'T like about the film were tiny little things here and there. A few bits seemed very corny (Bartleby looking up to the sky and laughing like a maniac; Bethany's way-cliched "it was only a dream... or was it?" moment... Bethany screaming "why?" in the water, although the rest of that scene totally redeemed it), and I have mixed feelings about putting the characters' names up on the screen as introductions. The hospital scene seemed to be missing something, as some others have said... and with the Fat Albert scene gone, it made no sense for Jay and Bob to suddenly be buddy-buddy with the gang. (Surprisingly, though, I DIDN'T miss any of the other scenes which were cut.)
The entire cast was great, but Affleck totally stole the show. This was the best performance I've ever seen from him. Mewes, Lee, and Rickman also stole their scenes. Jeff Anderson was SO much fun, and Kim also made the most of her cameo. And Alanis Morissette totally surpassed my expectations (thanks for cutting the godawful "plastics" line).
As for the rest of the night...
Kim-- I thought your music was great! I was all the way at the back, so I didn't get to see you (or hear anything you said in between songs), but other than that, the performance was great.
Harley is officially the cutest baby in the world.
Usually, I don't like it when people make fun of me... but Brian Lynch is so funny that my pride and self-respect were SMALL prices to pay.
And everyone else who I met was wonderful. View Askew STILL has the best fans.
Thanks again, to everyone who had anything at all to do with last night...
--Hal