Chasing Amy (1997)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Kevin Smith

Writer (WGA):

Kevin Smith (written by)

Release Date:

4 April 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

It's not who you love. It's how.

Plot:

Holden and Banky are comic book artists. Everything's going good for them until they meet Alyssa, also a comic book artist. Holden falls for her, but his hopes are crushed when he finds out she's a lesbian.

Plot Keywords:

Comic Book | Lesbian | Friendship | Jealousy | Homosexual

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Ethan Suplee	...	Fan
Ben Affleck	...	Holden McNeil
Scott Mosier	...	Collector
Jason Lee	...	Banky Edwards
Casey Affleck	...	Little Kid
Dwight Ewell	...	Hooper X
Joey Lauren Adams	...	Alyssa Jones
Guinevere Turner	...	Singer
Carmen Llywelyn	...	Kim (as Carmen Lee)
Brian O'Halloran	...	Jim Hicks - Executive #1
Matt Damon	...	Shawn Oran - Executive #2
Alexander Goebbel	...	Train Kid
Tony Torn	...	Cashier
Rebecca Waxman	...	Dalia
Paris Petrick	...	Tory
Welker White	...	Jane
Kelli Simpkins	...	Nica
John Willyung	...	Cohee Lundin
Tse-Mach Washington	...	Young Black Kid at Record Store (as Tsemach Washington)
Ernest O'Donnell	...	Bystander (as Ernie O'Donnell)
Jason Mewes	...	Jay
Kevin Smith	...	Silent Bob
Kristin Mosier	...	Waitress
Virginia Smith	...	Con Woman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mike Allred	...	Himself (uncredited)
Robert Hawk	...	Hooper's Lover (uncredited)
Brian Jude	...	Train Station Passenger (uncredited)
Brian Lynch	...	Bryan White (uncredited)
Jeff Millstein	...	Record store patron (uncredited)
Vincent Pereira	...	Startled Pinball Player (uncredited)
Joe Quesada	...	Himself (uncredited)

Directed by
Kevin Smith

Writing credits (WGA)
Kevin Smith		(written by)

Produced by
Robert Hawk	....	associate producer
Scott Mosier	....	producer
John Pierson	....	executive producer
Derrick Tseng	....	line producer

Original Music by
David Pirner

Cinematography by
David Klein		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Scott Mosier
Kevin Smith

Casting by
Shana Lory

Production Design by
Robert Holtzman		(as Robert 'Ratface' Holtzman)

Art Direction by
Jim Williams

Set Decoration by
John Carlucci
Susannah McCarthy

Costume Design by
Christopher Del Coro

Makeup Department
Jane Choi	....	hair stylist
Jane Choi	....	makeup artist
Kristin Mosier	....	hair/makeup assistant

Production Management
Monica Hampton	....	post-production manager
Monica Hampton	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Klein	....	second unit director
Linda Krantz	....	second assistant director
Chip Signore	....	second second assistant director (as Stephen 'Chip' Signore)
John Tyson	....	first assistant director (as John M. Tyson)

Art Department
Laura Allred	....	artwork: Bluntman & Chronic action sequence
Mike Allred	....	artwork: Bluntman & Chronic action sequence
Scott 'Whitey' Anderson	....	construction foreman
Mike 'Gold Bond' Baker	....	construction coordinator
Kate Bartouldus	....	scenic artist (as Kate Bartoldus)
Matt Brundage	....	artwork: Bluntman & Chronic action sequence
Howard Chelder	....	leadman
Jennifer Cooke	....	set dresser
Augusta 'Gussy' Hopkins	....	property master
Mitchell Landsman	....	scenic artist
Amanda Nanawa	....	art department production assistant

Sound Department
Tim J. Carroll	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Gary Funicelli	....	foley artist
David Glaser	....	foley artist
David Glaser	....	sound designer
David Glaser	....	sound editor
Don Hankinson	....	foley artist
William Kozy	....	production sound mixer
Brian Mackewich	....	foley artist
Brian Mackewich	....	sound designer
Brian Mackewich	....	supervising adr editor
Brian Mackewich	....	supervising sound editor
Susan Mackewich	....	foley artist
Sean McAuliffe	....	foley artist
Sean McAuliffe	....	sound editor
Don Powell	....	foley artist
Dominick Tavella	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dominick 'The Dominator' Tavella)
Joe White	....	boom operator (as Joseph White Jr.)

Camera and Electrical Department
Kelly Baldwin	....	first assistant camera (as Kelly S. Baldwin)
Lorenzo Bevilaqua	....	still photographer
Andrew Blauner	....	additional electrician
Eric Boncher	....	additional electrician
Jay Chandrasekhar	....	additional grip
Divine Cox	....	additional grip
Raphaelle Gosse-Gardet	....	additional electrician (as Raphaelle Gardet)
Jeremy Graham	....	rigging electrician
Kevin Hackenberg	....	additional electrician
Monica Hampton	....	still photographer: opening credit stills
Takeshi Hattori	....	third electrician
Alan Jacobsen	....	best boy electric
Learan Kahanov	....	gaffer (as Learan 'Skippy' Kahanov)
Michele Lee Kirwan	....	second assistant camera
David Klein	....	Steadicam operator
David Klein	....	camera operator
Seth Loft	....	third grip
Roberto Lopez	....	rigging grip
John McEnerney	....	additional grip
Malcolm Murray	....	additional grip (as M.C. Murray)
Christian O'Reilly	....	additional grip
Michael 'Rodi' Rodia	....	best boy grip
Michael 'Rodi' Rodia	....	ice dolly grip
Nat Russell	....	rigging grip
Ron Stone	....	grip and electrical equipment supplier: R.D. Sparks Inc.
Peter Vietro-Hannum	....	key grip
Elizabeth Wick	....	additional electrician

Casting Department
Paris Petrick	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Melissa Crawford	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
David Glaser	....	assistant editor: avid
Fred Heid	....	color timer
Noëlle Penraat	....	negative cutter
Arnold Shuster	....	additional negative cutter

Music Department
Lisa Brown	....	music consultant
Jennifer Chouinard	....	music clearances
David Glaser	....	music editor
Bonnie Greenberg	....	music consultant
Brian Mackewich	....	music editor
Sean McAuliffe	....	music editor
Jill Meyers	....	music business affairs

Other crew
Mike Allred	....	artwork: Bluntman & Chronic 'Chasing Amy'
Paul Brennan	....	legal services: Sloss Law Office
John T. Copeland	....	caterer
Christopher Cram	....	office production assistant
Nicole Duryea	....	set production assistant
Randi Eaton	....	office production assistant
Doug Edwards	....	office production assistant
Nick Giovannetti	....	set production assistant
Shai Halperin	....	set production assistant
Monica Hampton	....	auditor
Mike Hansen	....	set production assistant
Carlo Hart	....	office production assistant
David Hurlburt	....	set production assistant
Bryan Johnson	....	assistant production coordinator
Brian Lynch	....	key craft service
Colleen Lynch	....	caterer
Ian MacGregor	....	location manager
David McCole	....	firearms specialist
Glenn Mobley	....	key set production assistant
Gary Muscato	....	avid supervisor
Jimmy Palmiotti	....	artwork: "White Hating Coon"
Jodi Peikoff	....	legal services: Sloss Law Office
Karen Phillips	....	location assistant
Joe Quesada	....	artwork: "White Hating Coon"
David Rhee	....	location assistant
Lance Rosario	....	security: New York
John Sloss	....	legal services: Sloss Law Office
Luis R. Soto	....	security: New York
Ritamarie Stapleton	....	caterer
Devon J. Start	....	set production assistant
Bryan W. Strang	....	craft service assistant
Peggy Sutton	....	script supervisor
Gary Vander-Voort	....	key office production assistant
Kirk Van Wormer	....	artwork: "Idiosyncratic" & "Baby Dave"
Kyle V. White	....	set production assistant
Mike Zittle	....	set production assistant (as Mike Zittel)
Neal Bennett	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Vincent Pereira	....	set production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Brooke Adams	....	thanks
Mike Allred	....	thanks
Jack Anderson	....	thanks
Mike Brodzik	....	thanks
John Burzichelli	....	thanks: Hill Studio (as John Burzachelli)
Mark Cohen	....	thanks
Chris Davis	....	thanks
John Gordon	....	thanks
Robert Hawk	....	thanks (as Bob Hawk)
Charles Herzfeld	....	thanks (as Charlie Herzfeld)
Jason Lee	....	thanks
Brian Mackewich	....	thanks
Jimmy Palmiotti	....	thanks: Event Comics (as Jim Palmiotti)
John Pierson	....	thanks
Scott Purcell	....	thanks
Joe Quesada	....	thanks: Event Comics
Tony Romano	....	thanks
Matt Zoller Seitz	....	thanks (as Matt Seitz)
Joe Violante	....	thanks (as Joey Violante)

Production Companies

• Too Askew Prod. Inc.
• View Askew Productions (as View Askew)

Distributors

• Miramax Films (1997) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Communications (1997) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (1997) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1997) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Acacias Films Productions (1997) (France) (theatrical) (as Acacias)
• Europa Carat (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Europa Filmes (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (????) (Portugal) (VHS)
• Finnkino (????) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Gativideo (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Herald Film Company (????) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (????) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Líder Films (????) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Metrodome Distribution
• New Films International
• RCV Film Distribution (????) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (????) (Luxembourg) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (????) (Netherlands) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Asbury Park Press  thanks
• Bam Media Services Inc.  post-production sound editorial
• Color Reflections of Philadelphia  thanks
• Comic Shop News  thanks
• Comicbook Buyers Guide  thanks
• Event Comics  thanks
• Gizmo Enterprises  AVID editing at
• Great Northern/Reiff & Associates  insurance provided by (as Great Northern/Reiff & Assoc.)
• Hill Studios  thanks (as Hill Studio)
• In Color of San Diego  thanks
• Keppler Entertainment  thanks
• Marina Diner  thanks
• Mode Moderne  thanks
• Oppenheimer Cameras  Arriflex cameras and lenses provided by (as Oppenheimer Camera)
• Pan American Motel of Eatontown  thanks
• Post Perfect  AVID editing at
• R.D. Sparks Ltd.  grip and electric equipment (as R.D. Sparks Inc.)
• REI Media Group  titles and opticals
• Republic National Bank of New York  banking services
• Ribcage Clothing  thanks
• Sloss Law Office  legal services (as Sloss Law Office)
• The Berkeley Carteret Hotel  thanks
• The Borough of Red Bank  thanks
• The Broadway Grill  catering
• Two River Times  thanks
• Visual Sound of Broomall  thanks
• WHTG-FM 106.3  thanks
• Weissman/Angelotti  publicity
• Wizard  thanks

MPAA:

Rated R for strong graphic sex-related dialogue, language, sexuality and drug content.

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #35184) | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | USA:R | Argentina:18 | Australia:MA | Brazil:18 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Chile:18 | Finland:K-12 (original rating) | Finland:S (video rating) | Germany:16 | Israel:16 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 (video premiere) | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Too Askew Prod. Inc.

Trivia:

Holden and Banky are both characters in J.D. Salinger's novel, "The Catcher in the Rye". (In the novel, "Ed Banky" was a gym teacher who would let students borrow his car so they could make out and have sex with their girlfriends.)

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Holden's radio mike is visible under his shirt in the CD store when he's talking to Hooper.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Comic Book Writer #1: I don't know. I love Chow Yun Fat. I just don't see him playing Madman.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "At the Movies: (#6.2)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Jump Start

The single GREATEST romantic comedy ever made. Kevin Smith is my hero.

I'm probably as big of a Kevin Smith fan as you're likely to see. I've seen all his movies, and look up to him as a god. He is my inspiration as an aspiring filmmaker. This is not only his best, but it's the best movie of the romantic comedy genre. In romantic comedies, their goal is to make us care for the characters, and want to see them end up happy. This movie brings us characters that we not only care deeply for, but would LOVE to hang out with in real life. These are the coolest, and hippest characters you will ever see in a film of any genre.

These characters are Holden McNeill (Ben Affleck), and Banky Edwards (Jason Lee). They are comic book artists, and best friends since childhood. Their comic is about two stoner superheroes named "Bluntman and Chronic," based on their acquaintances, Jay (Jason Mewes), and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith). It's obvious that nothing has ever come between Holden and Banky before. It all starts at a comic book convention. They meet a fellow comic book artist, the beautiful Alyssa Jones (Joey Lauren Adams). She and Holden quickly become friends. Holden falls for her, and intends to ask her out. But he learns the truth the hard way. Alyssa is a lesbian. This devastates Holden, but fascinates Banky, who engages in a discussion with her about different kinds of sex.

Holden and Alyssa become good friends. Holden confesses his love for her in the most touching love confirmation scene I've ever seen. They start dating, much to the dismay of Banky. Banky is worried about losing his lifelong friend to a "dyke," as he calls them. He schemes to break them up. He lets Holden in on Alyssa's sexual past, and all hell breaks loose, in the romance, and the friendship. Will it be resolved? Just wait and see.

This movie brought me and my best friend closer together. It has a sad ending, and if you watch it with a friend, I guarantee that it will get you into a discussion about love and romance, like it did with me and my friend. This movie captivates us with it's hilarious sense of humor, which is in the first half. By the time the more dramatic second half begins, we're so into the movie, that even the film becoming a drama can't turn us away. It is the kind of movie that will have you begging for more when it's over. I give you the strongest recommendation of 10/10.

It is rated R for Strong Graphic Sex-Related Dialogue, Language, Sexuality, and Drug Content. Sex: 8/10 Violence: 3/10 Swearing: 10/10 Drugs: 4/10