Clerks (1994): Kevin Smith's first film -- the one that put him on the map as in indie favorite -- remains one of his best. With its miniscule budget, stripped-down black-and-white aesthetic and brash dialogue, it established Smith's distinctive, young voice. Nothing happens and everything happens all day as convenience-store employee Dante (Brian O'Halloran) and video-store clerk Randal (Jeff Anderson) mess with customers, complain about their ... more 

Clerks (1994): Kevin Smith's first film -- the one that put him on the map as in indie favorite -- remains one of his best. With its miniscule budget, stripped-down black-and-white aesthetic and brash dialogue, it established Smith's distinctive, young voice. Nothing happens and everything happens all day as convenience-store employee Dante (Brian O'Halloran) and video-store clerk Randal (Jeff Anderson) mess with customers, complain about their jobs, trade pop-culture references and play hockey on the roof and talk. And talk, and talk, and talk. It's funny and rude and profane, but for anyone who's ever worked a minimum-wage job they hated, it can also feel all too real. less