Dogma NYC Screening Review
(Mixed/Positive, Spoilers)
The Story: An ultrahip version of the Resurrection, with a rough-hewn Jesus trying to save the world. His J. Crew-looking angels are on board as well, battling unsavory types. I hear Martha Stewart was considered for the Devil.
The Buzz: Picks up where the controversial Jesus Christ Superstar left off. Miramax–which also annoyed religious types worldwide with Priest–is at it again. The trouble is made all the more devlish by parental unit Disney. Expect a Pope-tart. (What doesn’t burn him?)
“People who have seen it say it gave them a real spiritual experience,” Weinstein said, “That’s not what it’s about, but still . . . ”
Is it true that Disney, Miramax’s parent company, objected to the film?
“Not anymore,” he said, “because I bought it. I’m releasing it personally. Disney isn’t involved.”
You can read the full piece HERE.
Hayek, a great beauty, seemed to be loving every moment. She stood up in her car, waving, posing and pouting like a ’50s movie queen. Her boyfriend, actor Edward Atherton, tagged behind the star with his video camera, recording for posterity his beloved’s effect on the world press at the world’s most famous film festival.
Time for the Star Wars Trilogy! Catch you folks later…And try to ignore the reviews and the hype and judge TPM by yourself if you see it tonight or tomorrow. That’s what we’re gonna do.
As a rule of thumb, keep in mind that the release dates we’ve got DO reflect the last we were told, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the books are on track. The lack of advanced buzz on the preview copies also seems to suggest that DD#7 may NOT see a release tomorrow. At any rate, hopefully we’re wrong, but if not, don’t shoot the messenger!
We’re gonna drop some e-mails out there and try to get confirmation on DareDevil. Hopefully we can at least have a new release date if it’s delayed.
I’ll check in after to let ya’ll know how bad we got bashed.
Have to say, though: the response to the flick has been overwhelmingly positive. Nevertheless, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for Friday (I mean, ‘Rats’ had an overwhelmingly positive response prior to its press screenings too).
By the end of Cannes, we should know who’s releasing the flick (right now, the front-runner’s an unlikely but appropriate choice).
This is what we’ve been working all these years toward. The dream was always to return to Cannes with ‘Dogma’, and so far, so good.
But you get older and dreams change. Now I predominantly dream about a healthy, baby girl.
Hmmm…Who could that mysterious front-runner for release be? We’ll know soon enough, we guess. Anyone got the inside track?
Last night they kicked off the ’99 season with ‘Clerks’.. Attendence was pretty good for it being so early in the season ( at least 200-250 people).. Kinda cool to sit in a nice theater.. with full bar.. enjoying a movie that you love so much.
This was my first time to see it on the big screen and it was fantastic. By the time the ‘Hockey game’ was taking place.. about 3/4 of the crowd was half lit and I actually found a table with people playing the ‘Drinks-askew’ version for Clerks.. Complete with printout…
Overall.. I had a great time and I can’t wait till later in the season cause they listed both ‘Rats’ and ‘Amy’ as movies for later in the year..
While executives and members of the press were settling into suites in Cannes last week, Harvey and Bob Weinstein were screening Kevin Smith’s new film, “Dogma,” for a select group of acquisitions folks, executives, and others in New York and Los Angeles, in advance of what will be the film’s world premiere out of competition on Friday in France. Miramax recently announced that it would not distribute the film because of its potentially controversial content involving the Roman Catholic church — the Weinsteins are currently seeking a distributor for the movie.
On Wednesday night the Weinsteins, along with Smith and producer Scott Mosier, attended a screening of the film in downtown Manhattan. While one insider clearly labeled the showing a “distributor screening,” another called it a “research screening without the research.” The showing was hardly a private affair, an audience was recruited in New York at sites including Columbia University, however unlike many such screenings, attendees were not polled with research surveys. The film screened the following night in Los Angeles.
Advance reviews from fans who attended the screenings began showing up late last week on Internet sites including Harry Knowles’ “Ain’t it Cool News” and the “News Askew” site. The NewsAskew site is offering links to a handful of the reviews
Chevy Chase tries a career Hail Mary pass by choosing indie icon Kevin Smith to write and possibly direct a speculative third installment. Smith claims he learned to write dialogue from Gregory McDonald’s classics about the wise-ass crime reporter, and he’s taken a shot at scripts and story lines for Superman and Jaws sequal projects, so he could be a natural.
WHY IT MIGHT NOT SUCK:Because in the right role, Chevy is God. Fletch is the right role.
