Quote of the Day/Week-Kevin Smith

Last week on NPR, film director Kevin Smith, who is also known for writing comic books, his eccentric tweets and blogs, writing memoirs, acting in his own films and having a row with Southwest Airlines (they apparently kicked him off a flight for being too overweight), announced that after his next film "Hit Somebody," he will retire from filmmaking.

Smith is among the people born in 1970, the year of my birth, that we are quoting this month. Smith turns 42 on Aug. 2. He will apparently not go the way of the legendary Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman who directed film right until his death at age 89 in 2007.

Of course, while Smith has directed some nifty films like "Clerks" and "Chasing Amy," no serious cinephile could ever compare him to Bergman, who directed such classics as "The Seventh Seal," "Wild Strawberries" and "Fanny and Alexander."

Smith, who made "Clerks," a comedy about lazy convenient store employees who discuss "Star Wars" while selling Camels and Marlboros (those brands were never named in the film for legal concerns) for a mere $27.575 in 1994, also runs a comic book store called Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash in Smith's native Red Bank, NJ.

Smith played Silent Bob in "Clerks" and its sequel "Clerks 2," as well as in the film "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back."

Here is his quote which refers to his controversial film "Dogma," with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, which poked fun at the Catholic faith that Smith was raised in:

"I'm going to hell. But I knew that back on Dogma. It's not news to me. I'm just going to enjoy the ride there."

Quote of the Day/Week__Jennifer Connelly

Today, we continue to quote famous people born in 1970, when I was born, with a quip from the talented and lovely actress Jennifer Connelly who turns 42 on Dec. 12.

Connelly won a Best Supporting Actress for "A Beautiful Mind" (2001). Her other famous roles include "Requiem for a Dream" (2000), "House of Sand and Fog" and "Little Children" (2006).

Connelly has also been an active human rights activist with Amnesty International.

Here is her quote:

"I didn't expect to win the Oscar. You grow up watching the Oscars on tv and you think it happens to famous people. It was very surreal."

SIDEBAR: We thought we'd put 'a teaser" (movie lingo for coming attractions) for next week's entry in this series as we will quoting 'retiring' film director Kevin Smith, who was also born in 1970. Yes, the man who made it big when he was quite young when he directed the independent film "Clerks" (1991) about mischievous convenience store clerks in New Jersey told NPR he will quit making films soon, and focus on side projects.

And, though we won't be able to quote the highly outrageous standup comedian/actress Sarah Silverman, who also turns 42 on Dec. 1, has been quoted for saying the following: "I don't set out to offend or shock, but I also don't do anything to avoid it."