'Dogma' causes some Catholic consternation

By STEVE PERSALL Times Film Critic

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 12, 1999

REVIEW Bowing to 'Dogma' The writer/director of this film isn't the Antichrist; he's merely anti-hypocrisy. Look beyond the gutterspeak and exaggerations, and Dogma is a well-researched religious lesson.

Funny, but Kevin Smith doesn't sound like an atheist while discussing his new film, Dogma, and the commotion it has caused among some Christians.

For months, protesters -- especially the Catholic League -- have been on Smith's back about the movie, believing that his irreverent comedy would mock religious faith.

The negative buzz started when the plot outline was leaked: Two fallen angels find a loophole in God's plan that could end the world, with only a descendant of Jesus Christ (who works in an abortion clinic), a black 13th apostle, a stripper and two stoners standing in the way of Armageddon.

In fact, Dogma seems more in touch with the true nature of religion than do some televangelists. Smith, who was raised Catholic, uses the same profane style that marked his first film, Clerks, but there is an addled reverence to the jokes that may surprise his doubters.

"Some people wonder how I can make movies like this and be a Catholic," Smith said in a telephone interview. "But, one is my faith and the other is what I do for a living. Using a bunch of bad words or talking about sex doesn't make me a lousy Catholic; it just makes me a human being.

"Some people assume that you can't talk about that or, God forbid, joke about it, because that means you're coming down against it or flat-out mocking it. I'm not spitting in the face of faith, I'm embracing it. It's a large part of who I am.

"I also find it so ironic that people are afraid of any movie, let alone this one, rattling the foundation of faith. If you're rock-steady in your beliefs, no movie will change or threaten that, not even for a moment."

The Catholic League isn't convinced. The fact that Dogma was produced under the banner of Miramax Films, a branch of the Disney empire, compounded the group's agitation. Its pressure prompted Miramax bosses Harvey and Bob Weinstein to buy back their own movie and set up a distribution deal with Lion's Gate, distancing the hot potato from Disney's family-friendly image.

That still didn't satisfy offended parties, who hadn't even seen the movie.

"We've seen a ton of hate mail," Smith said. "Most of it is aimed at Harvey and Bob because they're Jewish and this movie must be another part of the large Jewish conspiracy against Christians and Catholics.

"The one I'll take to my grave is the one that said: "You Jews better take that money you stole from us and start investing in flak jackets because we're coming in there with shotguns.' That's when we realized there is a far-flung group of Christians out there who aren't very Christian."

The uproar should intensify beginning today, when Dogma opens in wider release nationwide.

"I understand that some people will never get into this movie, or get past the profanity in the movie," Smith admitted. "There's nothing I can do about that, because this movie wasn't made to preach to the choir. They're already there and they will continue to believe.

"This movie was made for the disenfranchised, for people who grew up in the faith and fell out of it later, once it was left to their devices to decide whether to continue being churchgoers or continue a belief in God. It's for the people disillusioned with faith because they're disillusioned (with) religion."

Smith even surprised his mother with how much he understands about Catholicism, he said, although sermons in Dogma aren't the usual Sunday school variety.

"She was a little shocked that I knew as much about my faith as I do," Smith said. "I figure if you're going to be part of a club, you should know the rules and its history, to know what's happening in the moment."

Mother Smith isn't entirely comfortable with her son's oeuvre, however.

"She's still wondering why I have to trade in so much profanity and vulgarity," he said. "Chiefly, she feels it reflects poorly on her. She complains that people think that's how she taught me to speak.

"She really dug (Dogma), but she was afraid for a while that we were going to get excommunicated. I told her even if I'm not forgiven, they will never throw her out of church. She goes seven days a week."

WHAT'S NEW -- Nothing could be farther from the philosophical raunch of Dogma than Pokemon, the First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back, which opened Wednesday and earned a C+

review in Floridian. In fact, the entire Pokemon phenomenon is indirectly spoofed by Smith's jokes about Mooby, a cartoon cow turning youngsters into idolaters.

For the Pok-illiterate, these Japanese anime creatures are the current rage among children, with video games, trading cards and role identification unseen since Dungeons and Dragons ruled the Earth. Nothing sinister, unless you count the prices.

Mewtwo Strikes Back carries on the rachet-jawed animation of the TV series, with a story of a Pokemon character cloned for evil purposes. Don't worry; things always turn out sunnily in this strange universe. The film's dark shadings contrast with the shorter, more enjoyable companion piece Pikachu's Vacation, a trippy trifle that can lull a non-believer into temporary submission. With 151 of these critters on the loose, a sequel is a foregone conclusion.

Another Wednesday opening was Light It Up, a misguided thriller about high school students taking a cop hostage during a campus siege. When the students figure they can use the violent leverage to improve school conditions, the audience is supposed to cheer along with the Dog Day Afternoon mob outside the school.

After Columbine, the whole notion seems tasteless and depressing. Good filmmaking and performances combined with regrettable politics equaled a C grade.