Jersey Girl

Artist: Tom Waits
Album: Heartattack and Vine, 1980

This slow, rather blues-y ballad was written for Tom Waits' then-girlfriend, Rickie Lee Jones, even though she was living in New York at the time and hailed from Chicago by way of California. The song was largely ignored, however, until it was covered by Bruce Springsteen during his 1981 tour; the song even appears on his Live 1975-1985 box set. It was Bruce who added his oh-so-special third verse. Apparently, Waits was accepting of Springsteen's addition, since in one concert recording a duet performed by the pair includes said verse (included below). The song has also been covered by Holly Cole, Pale Saints, the Radiators, and (once) by Pearl Jam at a concert in Holmdel.

At some point during performances of the song, a more genteel version of the first verse appeared (mostly used by Bruce Springsteen, but apparently also done by Tom Waits on at least one occasion) in which the word "whores" was replaced with "girls". I suppose "ladies of negotiable affection" or "seamstresses" just didn't fit the meter.

The cover version by Bruce Springsteen has, unsurprisingly, become a staple in the music collections of most die-hard Jersey-shore inhabitants, to the point where few actually know the original artist. More's the pity.

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Sources:

http://covers.wiw.org/artist.php/436
http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=tom_waits
http://www.greasylake.org/magic/songs/jerseygi.htm
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002GWR/002-3463491-5056848?vi=glance

Jersey Girl (2004) - Weasello Rating: {>>>>} (Suprisingly Good)

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Please note that this review is laden with spoilers.

Body count: 1 (pretty high for a movie dubbed as a Romantic Comedy)

One-sentence plot summary: A borderline romantic comedy taking you on an emotional roller-coaster as the bachelor dad and his daughter try to figure out their futures.

Plot Outline: This movie is not to be confused with the movie of the same name, released in 1992. This would be the 2004 release directed by Kevin Smith.

Ollie and Gertrude (Bennifer, respectively) are a somewhat powerful couple living the high life in New York City, and we are treated to a few opening scenes of their lovey-dovey life in the Big Apple. When Gertrude gets pregnant, the movie really begins.

Sadly, Gertrude dies while giving birth to the their later-named-daughter "Gertie," and after an emotional (and disgusting, at points) downward spiral, father and daughter end up living with Grandpa (Bart) in New Jersey.

The rest of the movie is a tale of the bachelor dad trying to raise his daughter, while trying to come to grips with his own life and how it is changing.

In the end, Ollie ends up getting a new girlfriend (the cute one that works at the video store) and settles down to live a "quiet life" in the suburbs, giving up his fame and power from the big city... All for the sake of his daughter.

What I Thought: Kevin Smith usually doesn't make movies like this, and in fact he's been the subject of some mockery for this film. But, for a brief moment, suspend the thought that Kevin was behind this movie. Don't think "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back." Don't think campy comedy that relies on naught but one-line-jokes in rapid succession.

Think of Kevin Smith for what he truly is - an amazing writer who can take any subject in any context and write well.

This story is a funny, emotionally moving film, written in an excellent manner and it never slows down. You don't have to deal with the long, drawn-out yawn-inducing scenes. Of course, "emotionally moving" seems to be a bit heavy now that movies like "The Passion" have come out. But you get what I'm trying to say, right?

I'm not a huge fan of this genre of movie, but I have to say that this is likely the best movie in the genre that I have seen. Of course, now it makes me want to have kids, but that's besides the point.

This movie also has a good message. A moral, if you will... And the tagline says it all. "Forget who you thought you were, and just be who you are." A lot of people today are striving to be something that they thought they'd like to be, and in the end, they'll all end up unhappy. I'm a little sick of movies trying to push on us the same old values - "Be kind to your family." "Respect your elders." Can't the moral be original for a change? Well, in this movie, yes.

All in all, the movie was wonderfully acted, had an excellent message that isn't just another load of tripe, and the score, scenery, casting, and everything else is definitely worthy of the 4 out of 4 I'm giving this movie.

I wouldn't say it's so amazing and awesome that everyone must own it - but I did enjoy watching it, and wouldn't mind seeing it again.

Critical Acclaim: Hoo-boy, I don't think the critics agree with me. Ebert agrees with most of what I say, but Roeper and hundreds of other critics are all starting to say the same thing: tired, re-hashed, lame-old romantic comedy plot.

What gets me is that this is better than the other romantic comedies out there - it's just that most people are all looking for Jay.

Interesting Notes:

• The movie's advertising used to have Jennifer Lopez plastered all over it - I've seen posters, commercials, trailers, radio spots - everything had a line from J-Lo. Since the failure of Gigli, however, Kevin Smith had J-Lo removed from all advertising, and her name was even taken off of the "starring:" blurb on the bottom of posters. Kevin didn't want the movie to be touted as "Just another Bennifer movie."
• The movie was based off of Kevin Smith's own experiences as a father.
• Due to Ben Affleck's work on Daredevil at the same time, production was put on hold in mid-2002, delaying the movie several months.
• Several scenes were shot at Paulsboro High School, and as a "reward" for the excellent time he had filming there, Kevin Smith showed a special screening to the school. The school also enjoyed Kevin's company, and named the street in front of the school after him - "Kevin Smith Way."

Lead roles:

Raquel Castro - Gertie Trinke
Ben Affleck - Ollie Trinke
Jennifer Schwalbach Smith - Susan (as Jennifer Schwalbach)
Jennifer Lopez - Gertrude Steiney
George Carlin - Bart Trinke
Stephen Root - Greenie
Mike Starr - Block
Jason Biggs - Arthur Brickman

Directed by: Kevin Smith

Writing credits: Kevin Smith

Tagline: Forget about who you thought you were, and just accept who you are.

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Sources: The oh-so-wonderful IMDB, my head, and the theatre.

"Jersey Girl” is the sixth film from one of my favorite, if not my favorite filmmaker working today, Kevin Smith. Its spring 2004 release saw the film receive mixed reactions from both Smith's fan base and critics alike. While it has since made its money back for the studio due to a well-done DVD release (as most View Askew DVDs are well-done) it didn't meet expectations at the box office. "Jersey Girl" will go down most notably as being Smith's first non-View Askewniverse and first non-Jay and Silent Bob movie and his first PG-13. It might be the last of all those things as well as Kevin has already re-opened the Askewniverse with the announcement of a Clerks sequel.

While "Jersey Girl" is not part of the View Askewniverse series, they're a good amount of things in this film that don't stray far from the Askewniverse:

*While a good amount of View Askew regular performers don't appear (aka Scott Mosier, Jason Mewes, Brian O'Halloran) they are many other cameos by View Askew regulars. A blink and you miss it cameo by Ernie O'Donnell (best known as Rick Derris in "Clerks" and various other cameos), John Willyung appears as the Townie who yells "Bullshit!" (best known as Cohee Lundin in Chasing Amy and the killer of Dante in the original ending to "Clerks") and Matt Damon and Jason Lee have a cameo together..both of whom need no introduction.

* Various filming locations in in New Jersey (the towns of Berlin, Paulsboro and Cherry Hill and the borough of Highlands).

* References to "Star Wars" (Gertie telling Ollie to "Punch it Chewie") and comic books (a certain vehicle is frequently called The Batmobile and Ben Affleck's character's name comes from the first name of DC Comics hero Green Arrow)

* A New Jersey video store is a key location in the film (a la "Clerks"). A copy of Askew flick Dogma can be seen on display on the top of the rack to Ollie's right in the first scene in that store.

* Liv Tyler walks out of a men's restroom in a bar, a reference to Chasing Amy in which Ben Affleck and Joey Lauren Adams' characters have a discussion while in the background women go in and out of the men's bathroom and men go in and out of the women's bathroom.

As for the film itself…

In his first five films, I truly believe that Smith achieved what he was trying to achieve. And although his movies are very much remembered for the "cult heroes" Jay & Silent Bob, with some plausible alterations, the premises of "Chasing Amy" and "Dogma" could have easily been supported by their fantastic dialogue, fascinating characters and engaging plots without the lovable duo. In other words, there really isn't any reason why Smith shouldn't of had a problem accomplishing what he wanted to with "Jersey Girl," which is a story stemming from something very personal in Kevin's life (fatherhood) that Kevin felt like he had to make. While from a certain standpoint, I'm glad that Kevin made this film. He felt like it was an important thing to do, so he did it. Unfortunately, I saw "Jersey Girl" as the first time that Smith went out to make a movie and fell short of achieving what he was going for.

The film does contain some moments when you know you are watching a gifted filmmaker. "Jersey Girl" features solid performances from Liv Tyler, who plays one of Smith's most tragically underdeveloped characters, Raquel Castro, who's the kid and never delves even close to putrid Jake Lloyd quality acting and a solid dramatic turn for George Carlin, taking the first truly dramatic role that the 67 year old comedy legend has ever played.

The film plays to a good soundtrack featuring the solid use of "Wandering" by Ben Folds, contains some truly solid Smith humor, including a solid running gag involving a certain celebrity and really, the film runs on an interesting premise. The whole "working man or family man?" choice definitely could hold my interest.

Yet Smith throws us some absolutely terrible gags involving changing diapers, kids saying dirty words, the tragic under use of the talents of Stephen Root and Mike Starr (depressingly referred to as "The mid-life Jay and Silent Bob" in the credits) and a truly embarrassing sequence involving the Stephen Sondheim musical "Sweeney Todd." While some dramatic sequences are done well (I liked the triple dissolve used during the event that kicks the plot into action) a lot of them fell flat on their face. I couldn't help but watch one scene involving Liv & Ben Affleck discussing their futures late in the film, in which I began to think that I hardly knew or cared about these characters at all. I also couldn't help but think to myself that this is the same guy who wrote brilliant pieces of dramatic dialogue such as Dante & Catlin's exchange in the video store in Clerks, Alyssa's explanation of why she chose Holden in Chasing Amy and Bethany's tragically cut sequence inside the abortion clinic in Dogma.

By the time the credits roll, I found myself pretty detached from "Jersey Girl" and the once interesting premise no longer held my interest. While it was certainly was a disappointment, I have no reason to lose faith in Kevin Smith and View Askew Productions in general. In our modern filmmaking world going 5 out of 6 is amazing now-a-days. Especially when the one effort that "missed" definitely had its moments. I have little doubts that Kevin Smith will continue to keep making great films.

NOTE:
In the Q&A session on the Mallrats 10th Anniversary Extended Edition DVD Kevin admits that while he feels Mallrats may be his most flawed movie (citing his lack of shooting coverage on the film) he holds Jersey Girl "in the least regard of all the films we've done." Kevin has been known to go back on his statements though. Is this just Kevin trying to make things up his fans and the critics who disliked the film? Or does he have just cause in this statement? Since the film turned a profit in theatres (although barely: $36 million worldwide against a $35 million budget, it made much more on DVD though) and a large amount of his fanbase still enjoyed the movie. Kevin was quick to claim what he thought of the film before its release ("This isn't my funniest or most original film to date. It's not the most controversial or clever either. But it is my most personal.") and still continues to support it, having screened a cut extended by 40 minutes at his Vulgarthon '05 film festival and planning a DVD release of that cut sometime down the line. Either way, bring on Clerks 2.