Chasing Amy

The concluding chapter of Kevin Smith's "New Jersey" trilogy, Chasing Amy stars Ben Affleck as Holden, a successful comic-book creator who falls madly for Alyssa, a fellow artist played by Joe Lauren Adams. The first major shock awaiting Holden is Alyssa's apparent lesbianism. The second is that she's really bisexual, and the two begin an affair, despite his nagging doubts about her promiscuous past. Smith's most ambitious film to date, much of Chasing Amy forgoes the outrageous shock humor of his previous work in favor of a mature examination of sexual identity and emotional risk. His reach often exceeds his grasp, but nevertheless, the film is a major turning point in the continued evolution of one of the American independent scene's most vital and original voices.