Grove/Atlantic, Inc. has just bought the new screenplay, DOGMA, by Kevin Smith-the author of Chasing Amy and Clerks. The film will open on 1,200screens nationwide on November 12, 1999. We will have books off press on November 12th.

PLEASE GET YOUR ORDERS IN ASAP so that we can quickly release our tie-in movie edition.

The Miramax Books edition of Chasing Amy and Clerks has sold over 30,000copies. Lion Gate Films is releasing DOGMA, and the film will have a marketing budget of $10,000,000.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Title: Dogma: A Screenplay
Author: Kevin Smith
ISBN: 0-8021-3679-6
Format: Paperback original
Imprint: Grove Press
Book Off Press: November 12, 1999In-Store: Week of November 22, 1999
Export Rights: US & Canada
Author residence: New Jersey

COVER WILL BE THE MOVIE KEY ART (Poster design)

DESCRIPTION:

“The gospel according to the guy who made Chasing Amy? . . . What’s not to love?”-Entertainment Weekly

Dogma – A Screenplay by Kevin Smith

One of the major hits of the 1999 Cannes Film Festival, a film that proved too hot for Disney to handle, Kevin Smith’s ribald, revolutionary new film dogma is a comic theological fantasy that is sure to be one of this fall’s most provocative offerings. Two fallen angels (Matt Damon and Ben Affleck),sentenced to eternal exile in Wisconsin, are trying to get back into heaven.A renegade cardinal in New Jersey (George Carlin), as part of his”Catholicism Wow!” campaign, has opened a loophole in Catholic doctrine that would give them their opportunity-and, in proving God’s judgment wrong,destroy the universe. An abortion clinic counselor (Linda Fiorentino) who may or may not be of holy bloodlines is tapped as the very reluctant savior-and, accompanied by the thirteenth apostle (Chris Rock), a wayward muse (Salma Hayek), and two very questionable prophets (Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith, AKA Jay and Silent Bob), she sets off on a mission to save the world.

“Dogma blends gross-out humor . . . with loopy metaphysical speculation of the kind that keeps caffeinated college sophomores up all night. Mr. Smith creates unchecked verbal outpourings that veer from disquisitions on freewill to sexual references that would make a broadminded stevedore blush.Seldom has the Catholic distinction between body and soul been so fiercely and funnily drawn.”-Dave Kehr, The New York Times

“As inspired, goofy, subversive, and thought-provoking a pop-culture vision of the battle between good and evil as has been presented on-screen . . .Dogma . . . made it seem like there was something new to be found under the[Cannes] sun . . . At various moments reminiscent of Star Wars, ’60s Batman comics, and the Bible, Dogma has a script as hilarious as the Rocky HorrorPicture Show . . . it demands to be memorized and chanted back at the screen.”-Amy Taubin, The Village Voice

“Dogma is as smart and articulate as it is wildly irreverent, with characters who try to make sense of faith just as his Chasing Amy characters tried to sort out love and sexual identity. And Mr. Smith’s fusion of off-the-wall humor with serious debate never leaves the strength of his religious conviction in question.”-Janet Maslin, The New York Times

“Fast and witty . . . Dogma . . . is reminiscent of 1975’s Monty Python and the Holy Grail and is the kind of satirical take that can be written only from the inside. Only someone of the Catholic faith could use its elements to challenge it so adroitly.”-USA Today

“This comic brainchild of Kevin Smith . . . is boldly funny without ever being blasphemous.”-Rolling Stone

Kevin Smith also wrote and directed Clerks, Mall Rats, and Chasing Amy.

Yes you read right, now available through the Stash, the Official ‘Dogma’ One-Sheet poster. You’ve seen it, you’ve downloaded it, now OWN it! The ‘Dogma’ one-sheet poster measures a standard 27 x 40 inches and features the principle cast (A winged Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Alan Rickman, Linda Fiorentino, Jason Mewes and KevinSmith) against an orange sky background. The ‘Dogma’ logo is featured prominently underneath along with the cast and crew credits. And to top that off – it comes signed by Kevin. $30.00 + s/h ORDER HERE!

We’ve got 50 copies of the Wizard #96 Exclusive issue of Daredevil ready for sale at the Stash. Features include the Smith, Quesada, Palmiotti issue of Daredevil #1/2, a special Wizard protective cover, and a Certificate of Authenticity. All this for only $10.00 + s/h ORDER HERE!

Now available at the Stash:

1) Dogma Bumper Stickers – if you’re an owner of the ‘Clerks’ bumper stickers, you’ll know all about these. White ‘Dogma’ logo on a black background. Measures 11 1/2 x 3 3/4 inches and laminated to protect it from the weather. Fits perfectly on any bumper. $3.00 each. ORDER HERE!

2) Mooby Corp. Magnet Set #1 – These high quality magnets feature the fun-loving cartoon characters from the Mooby Corporation: Mooby the Golden Calf, Surly Duck, Enoch, and Pat-Pat the Monkey King. Sticks to most metal surfaces. $7.95 each set. ORDER HERE!

It seems like longer than 5 years since young director Kevin Smith and his View Askew Productions burst into the movie-making business with the critically-acclaimed “Clerks”. After unfairly suffering from the dreaded “sophomore jinx” with the maligned “Mallrats” (with critics expecting a Clerks 2 of sorts), Smith bounced back successfully in 1997 with “Chasing Amy”.Now, after an incredibly long post-production period due to the editing process as well as some studio-swapping, audiences will finally soon get a look at his fourth film, the already controversial “Dogma”.

Dogma’s plot revolves around two angels, Loki & Bartelby (Matt Damon & Ben Affleck) who’ve been banished from heaven and forced to live a life of purgatory on Earth (in Wisconsin, no less). Due to a loophole that they discover in Dogmatic law, they soon realize a way back in, and plan to “unmake the world” once they get there. It’s up to a very diverse bunch of heroes: Bethany (Linda Fiorentino), Rufus (Chris Rock), Serendipity (Salma Hayek), Metatron (Alan Rickman) and last, but certainly not least, Jay & Silent Bob (Jason Mewes & Kevin Smith).

Unlike Smith’s previous 3 efforts, Dogma covers a fairly vast turf, becoming a “road movie” of sorts. In fact, no two setsare visited twice. The film presents a scene, does its job, and moves along. Clerks and Mallrats both relied on their central locations, and Amy was mostly grounded as well due to the relationship taking center stage. With this film, we’re taken on both a physical and emotional journey through the eyes of a variety of characters, just waiting for the point where all their paths will cross.

Dogma also has the distinction of being the first of Smith’s films to feature physical makeup work, digital special effects, and elaborate action sequences. Kevin’s just got that unique quality of re-inventing himself with every movie that he makes. Each subsequent picture in his career has taken a new direction, a new look, and coincided with his own personal growth as well. While he admittedly kept most of the action off screen to avoid complex direction, Smith’s cuts are, as always, timed cleverly enough that you THINK you saw something, and imagine it for yourself.

The cast choices for Dogma are divine in their own right. Affleck and Damon play perfectly off each other in their scenes,though trailers and news reporters may lead audiences to believe that the duo share more screentime. The bulk of the story lies with Fiortentino, who, after gaining notoriety for a sinister turn in “The Last Seduction”, pulls off the part of the innocent heroine quite well. Other View Askew alumni even get a chance to put on some new faces, with Damon taking on a gleefully evil role along with Jason Lee‘s first journey to the dark side as Azrael. George Carlin shows up in a small role as Cardinal Glick, and seems right at home.

When it comes to Dogma’s funnier elements, there’s no denying that Mewes steals the show. The film’s got lots of laughs,but Mewes himself delivers the film’s most hilarious (and obscene) material in grand style. It’s tough to upstage such an incredible cast, but Jay’s done just that. When he’s in a scene, he OWNS it. Of course, I didn’t expect any less from Jay,but feel that his performance in this film shows an incredible potential for a career even outside of View Askew’s universe would he choose to pursue it.

Digital effects are still just that: Digital. I’m of the old school of visuals and still prefer the physical effects to the computer generated stuff. Some of Dogma’s digital stuff looks better than others. A few things certainly could look a bit more realistic, but as a whole they definitely add to the picture’s comic book feel. To go into further detail may spoil some of the film’s surprises, so I’ll leave it at that. This isn’t a movie that’s made to showcase its special effects, like Phantom Menace. Like all of his films, the dialogue is still the star, and takes center stage.

If there’s anything to fear with Dogma, it’s the fact that the film might almost be TOO intelligent for your average moviegoer. When listening to Smith’s eloquent, detailed musings on faith through the film’s characters, I had to wonder if audiences, especially those without a familiarity with religion, might find themselves a bit lost in the words.Don’t walk in late for this one, folks. From an early scene between Damon & Affleck in an airport, to Rickman and Fiorentino’s early meeting, all the way to a fireside conversation between Rock, Fiorentino, Jay, & Bob, Dogma isn’t content simply introducing an element of religion and walking away. It dwells on it, questions it, sometimes ridicules it, but never backs away. So, in short, pay attention! Dogma could certainly be enjoyed for some of its crude, slapstick humor, but it’s the smart dialogue that ties it all together that truly makes this a special film. I just hope that audiences aren’t intimidated or confused by some of the film’s themes. So far, so good.

I found the key source of Dogma’s charm to be the wonderful way in which Smith intertwines smart, deep, religious themes with moments of absolute absurdity. Like he did with Chasing Amy, the director has once again created a work that can stimulate the brain and the tickle the funny bone at the same time. In one scene, we’re with Loki and Bartelby in a mostly dramatic scene in the boardroom of The Mooby Corporation, which also happens to contain one of the funniest line reads I’ve ever heard as Loki (Damon) scolds their head executive. Moments later, our protagonists are going up against a large monster made of excrement, resulting in one of the “cheapest” jokes in the film. My favorite scene in the film involves a pivotal parking garage conversation between Affleck & Damon in its latter half. It allows the two the chance to show off some of their acting chops unlike they’ve ever done before. Affleck wows in that sequence. Dogma takes pleasure in crossing boundaries of genre, taste, and political correctness to create a world all its own. That’s why I like it so much. It’s a fun ride.

A final note: It’s actually quite ironic that it seems folks with some sort of religious background will actually understand and have the potential to enjoy Dogma much better than those without. Kind of funny how a film that gained notoriety by being touted as sacreligious actually panders to those with some sort of spiritual background, rather than to those who don’t have some sort of theological beliefs or background. It’s obvious that Kevin himself was quite schooled in Catholicism, judging from the detailed discussions on the Catholic religion that occur throughout the movie. Dogma may question things, but it also suggests answers, as well as a very pro-faith redemption.

Dogma is a fantastic tale brought to life by a young, talented director & cast, and one I plan to pay my seven bucks to see again this November. Maybe I can hear some more of that incredible script that got drowned out in my own (and others’)laughter this time. Once again, Kevin Smith and View Askew productions have re-invented themselves. Bravo, gang.

Actually barring any unforeseen circumstances, I hope to see the site up sometime this week. That’s not a promise mind you but it is going very well.

The full trailer will run 2:33, it is full frame and will be offered in a myriad of formats. I warn you now that you’ll have a better experience if you go and grab QuickTime 4.0(quicktime.apple.com)

I’m anticipating the following:

Phantom Menace Style:
320 x 240
24 frames per sec
44Khz – 16-bit stereo sound
16-17 megs

Almost as good:
320 x 240
15fps
44Khz – 16-bit stereo sound
8.5 megs

And 240 x 180 and 160 x 120 versions as well as RealVideo and Netshow versions just to be fun.

I just got back from the Dogma after party at the Toronto film fest. The film premiere was cool although only Kevin, Scott Mosier, and Jason Lee were there…and Harvey Weinstein.

I’m a huge Kevin Smith fan but unfortunately this movie wasnt too great. It has some good moments and poignant dialogue, but those are often shattered by Silent Bob and Jay who should never have been written in as major characters. They do nothing but ruin great dialogue with completely inappropriate humour. The movie lost it’s wit and sarcasm with the unhealthy dose of toilet humour. Chris Rock is great as the 13th apostle, and Linda Fiorentino is a great angsty descendant of Jesus. I cannot say that I liked Matt and Ben as the avenging angels simply because their pairing is an unneeded indie film inside joke.

While the film flip flops between toilet humour and much needed religious criticism, it loses its direction…. until the end. Alanis plays god in a fantastic scene that appears to be from the ‘Dogma’ that kevin wanted to make………………. before getting tied down with the obligatory “Jersey Trilogy” references.

I snuck in my digital cam to get some snaps for the net… here they are!

Buddy Christ

Chris Rock & Linda Fiorentino

Associated Press – “Toronto Film Festival Has Problems” **NO SPOILERS**
Interview Magazine – “Kevin Smith Stirs it Up” **MINOR SPOILERS**
CNN Online – “Toronto Film Festival ‘madder than Cannes’” **MINOR SPOILERS**
Indiewire – “Lions Gate Confirms “Dogma” Date on 1,500 Screens’”

“‘Dogma’: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck play fallen angels who try to get back into heaven by using a loophole in church dogma. They’ve been living in Wisconsin for nearly 2000 years, so life had been dull- until they start shooting sinners they catch in the act of commandment-breaking. In the company of and abortion-clinic counselor (Linda Fiorentino) who may be a descendant of Jesus Christ and a smartass named Rufus (Chris Rock), unheralded as the thirteenth apostle because he’s black, the angels head to a New Jersey church for an audience with God, who’s played, as a mute, by Alanis Morisette. This comic brainchild of Kevin Smith, the twenty-nine-year-old writer and director of ‘Clerks’, ‘Mall Rats’, and ‘Chasing Amy’, is boldly funny without ever being blasphemous. But not everyone is laughing-especially not William A. Donohue of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. Bob and Harvey Weinstein of Miramax had to buy the film back from their parent company, Disney, which wanted no part of this hot potato, and arrange alternative distribution. Good for Miramax. Despite the rantings of Donahue, who is notably irked that “God is played by a singer known for her nude videos and songs about oral sex,” Smith says he intends no offense: “The central message of Christ were ‘Love one another’ and ‘Tell other people.’ ‘Dogma’ was my way of spreading the word. Granted, Christ wasn’t a filmmaker, and he didn’t trade in dick and fart jokes, but he did tell stories to get a point across.” Here’s Smith’s parable to explain his intentions: “The way my film treats the church is kind of like the girl you really like in the first grade, and you don’t know how to express yourself, so you pull her pigtails. It’s like that. Affectionately, this film pulls the pigtails of the Catholic Church.” Smith believes that Donohue is raising a ruckus to “increase his own profile” at the expense of a movie he hasn’t even asked to see. “My film is irreverent,” says Smith, “but it’s not cynical. At the end of the day here, faith saves the world.”