By Shawn Flickinger

Pre-release in Atlanta: Communiqué writer gets first hand interview with ‘Dogma’ director

With such films as "Clerks," "Mallrats" and "Chasing Amy," Kevin Smith has made some of the funniest contributions to film over the past five years. As a writer and director of comedies, Smith’s efforts have had little in common with the work of director Martin Scorsese. Until now.

Both Smith and Scorsese are devout Catholics and both found themselves at odds with Catholic organizations. Scorsese with his 1988 film "The Last Temptation of Christ" and Smith with his latest effort "Dogma."

Smith discussed his film with an audience of student journalists at the recent College Media Association convention in Atlanta. While he admits that Scorsese’s depiction of Jesus’ last days on earth was one of his favorite films, he downplayed the parallel. "Last Temptation is a very serious film, where as ‘Dogma’ has a lot of dick and fart jokes," said Smith. "But if you’re asking if this is my personal story of faith as ‘Last Temptation’ was for Mr. Scorsese, then I guess there is a similarity."

"Dogma" is indeed a comedy, very consistent in dialogue with Smith’s others but with a fantasy setting. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon star as two fallen angels exiled to eternity in Wisconsin. The angels devise a plan to get back into heaven but if they succeed it will mean the end of humanity.

Linda Fiorentino plays Bethany, an abortion clinic worker, who still attends church regularly but finds that her faith in God has long been absent. Bethany finds herself appointed as the potential savior of mankind and must stop the angels from carrying out their task.

The stars are joined by a big name supporting cast. George Carlin plays Cardinal Glick, who is spearheading the "Catholicism Wow" campaign designed to sell Catholicism to a younger audience. Chris Rock is Rufus, the 13th Apostle who is slightly bitter at being left out of the Bible. Selma Hayek is Serendipity the muse who inspires art, poetry and music and Alan Rickman portrays Metratron who serves as God’s mouthpiece.

Also contributing to "Dogma" are the usual conspirators to Smith’s movies: Jason Lee, Brian O’Halloran and Jeff Anderson. Jason Mewes, along with Smith himself, reprise their roles as Jay and Silent Bob, now playing larger parts as prophane prophets who must assist Bethany on her mission.

It is a very unique vision where celestial beings are as fallible as their human counterparts. Smith is still has the gift of writing hilariously verbose dialogue, peppered with the prose of a more blue nature. Taken on its own comedic terms and not as a missing Bible entry it seldom misses the mark in terms of laughs.

It is the often prophane language that may offend some movie-goers. I don’t believe that it is the subject matter, despite the views of the Catholic League who have raised their voices inspite of having seen the movie. Smith is only guilty explaining his faith in his own dialect and on his own terms. Cleaning it up for the Catholic League or Disney (who cancelled distribution of the film at the prodding of the Catholic League) would have only weakened the message.

Instead of being condemned, "Dogma" should be commended. It is the most honest film about man’s relationship with God that I have seen since "The Last Temptation of Christ" and may be a blessing in disguise for the Catholic religion. Geared toward a youthful audience, "Dogma" will provoke discussions from those who maybe haven’t thought about religion since Sunday School.

Does God have a sense of humor? One can only have faith.