Story courtesy of Stephen Walsh

Cross fire: 'Dogma' pits Christian satire's creator vs. Disney in a heated battle

By JEFFREY WELLS

Storm clouds are gathering over "Dogma," the Kevin Smith satire from Miramax that gives certain Catholic beliefs a pretty rough going-over. Disney is expected to release the recently wrapped movie comedy later this year, but the satirical grenades in Smith's widely circulated script are viewed as so explosive that Disney -- which owns Miramax and distributes its films -- is allegedly concerned about triggering protests.

"Dogma" is a fantasy about a pair of renegade angels, played by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, who have been kicked out of heaven. It's essentially a jokey diatribe against Catholic and Christian mythology that will almost certainly cause a stir when it hits theaters.

Smith's characters include a black 13th Apostle (played by Chris Rock) and a female God (played by rock singer Alanis Morrisette). The comedy, written before the success of Smith's 1994 film "Clerks," was inspired by Smith's irreverent attitude toward his Catholic upbringing. Linda Fiorentino, Selma Hayek, Janeane Garafalo, Alan Rickman and Smith are co-stars. Affleck, who spoke about "Dogma" recently during a press junket to promote Disney's "Armageddon," said the script also advances the notion that "Mary and Joseph had sex, and they had a kid, and therefore there's a female descendant of Christ on Earth . . . who works at an abortion clinic." These and other plot points in Smith's script, Affleck said, "are definitely meant to push buttons. There are clearly things about it that will be incendiary."

Disney's top honcho Michael Eisner allegedly has told Miramax's Harvey Weinstein that he's sick of taking heat from Christian activists because of various hot-button social issues, which have included conservative objections to what was interpreted as Disney's overly supportive attitude toward gay couples, as well as Disney's 1995 release of "Priest," a Miramax drama about a closeted gay priest. Eisner allegedly has asserted that, given this history, he doesn't want "Dogma" making matters worse. Disney representatives declined to comment on the matter. Miramax is contending that Disney is contractually obliged to release its films as long as they haven't been rated NC-17.

Eisner's alleged reservations are based on Smith's script, which has been kicking around Hollywood since last fall. (A recent draft can be found on Smith's Web site: www.viewaskew.com.). "Dogma" completed principal photography early last month and is in postproduction.

Affleck, who won an Oscar for co-writing "Good Will Hunting" with his "Dogma" co-star Damon, is a friend of Smith. Affleck got a career boost from him with his co-starring role in Smith's "Chasing Amy," which was released by Miramax last year. Smith is "someone I'd like to keep working with until they plant me in the ground," Affleck said during the interview.

Nonetheless, Affleck admitted "it would not surprise me if the political situation around 'Dogma' was very tenuous. I know Harvey Weinstein has his trepidations about this situation, and he's gotta answer to Disney." "Is Michael Eisner nervous about it?" Affleck rhetorically asked. "Probably. For a $5 million movie, which is small beans, he may take a disproportionate amount of heat over it. So if I were Eisner, I might be a little nervous . . . but I certainly hope Disney supports the movie and stands behind it and is brave enough to say, 'Listen, this isn't necessarily Disney's credo -- this is Harvey Weinstein and Miramax, whom we allow to make the kind of movies they want to make.' "

Affleck called "Dogma" "one of the most original, funny, smart, interesting movies I've ever done."

It would be ironic if "Dogma" were to draw fire from religious types, he said, "because Smith is a devoutly religious Catholic. This is a criticism of the Catholic Church by someone who was raised in it . . . and grew up within it. He's a firm believer in Christianity and God and a believer in the Catholic doctrine.

"I don't necessarily liken (Smith) to Thomas Aquinas or Martin Luther," Affleck said, "but I do contend that there is a history of reformers and people who criticize the Church, and I think that's important. And he's criticizing certain aspects of it, and he's doing it in an entertaining way, and it will promote a certain amount of discussion."