Story courtesy Kari

Kevin Smith says a prayer of thanks

Dogma, Kevin Smith's controversial film which features Alanis Morrisette as God, looks at though it has finally attracted a distributor. The film had failed in its mission to be snapped up by a backer during a promotional stint in Cannes, despite the fact that heavyweight independent supporters Miramax had secured the rights.

The latest news is that Lion's Gate have taken it on, a fledgling-yet-courageous company who brought us Gods and Monsters and will be distributing the sure-to-cause-trouble adaptation of Brett Easton Ellis' American Psycho.

It's certainly a risk, especially as even Miramax were cautious in their role as production backer, buying out parent company Disney's interest to ensure that Disney doesn't suffer any slurs. In the best tradition of creating a furore around a movie, Dogma is the subject of numerous religious pamphlets citing blasphemy, Sodom & Gomorrah etc., etc. Naturally, the authors of much of the anti-Dogma propaganda can't possibly have seen the movie.

Kevin Smiths forth film (following Clerks, Mallrats and Chasing Amy), dogma boasts Ben Affleck and Matt Damon as two fallen angels, Linda Fiorentino (The Last Seduction) as a good angel, and the aforementioned Morrisette as The Creator Of All Things.