Where art thou, Dogma?

When Kevin smith’s controversial, scatological comedy Dogma was first released on DVD almost a year and a half ago in a rather bare bones, movie-only edition, it was announced that the film would also receive a deluxe, 2-disc special edition treatment in a subsequent release. After months in production, this mega special edition (complete with commentary, documentary, tons of deleted scenes, new cover art and plenty more) was finally bestowed a January 23, 2001 street date, then quickly (and indefinitely) postponed. Since then, fans have been left to wait (and wait) for this much-anticipated set, wondering “Oh, where art thou, Dogma?”

Since Columbia has never publicly revealed the reason for the delay, and has in fact released no further update at all on the situation since the postponement was announced, we contacted the offices of Kevin Smith, aka “View Askew,” to try and find out just what is up. We talked with Vincent Pereira, a participator in all of Smith’s films on laserdisc and now DVD, and who is also a filmmaker himself, having written and directed the film A Better Place (which itself has seen its share of DVD delays, but we get to that in a moment,) Known around View Askew as “The Cleanest Cat In The Entire Operation.” Pereira shed some light on the delay of the Dogma disc and when fans might finally see the DVD edition of the film they’ve been waiting for since the beginning.

The established rumor around the Internet has been that the Dogma 2-disc set was delayed because of something on the audio commentary track, or some other sort of conspiracy on the part of Columbia or even Kevin Smith. Not so, according to Pereira. “There has been a lot of speculation (for the delay), with most people thinking it had something to do with the audio commentary. But from what I understand, Disney was actually concerned with some of the content in the documentary (the 40-minute “Judge Not: In Defense Of Dogma”) and requested the check discs at the last minute.”

But what could be so terrible as to cause Disney to want to inspect the release? As you may remember, Dogma initially was to be a Miramax release, whose parent company is Disney (only in Hollywood, as they say.) But due to the intense controversy surrounding the film’s mixture of comedy and Christianity, and threats and protests from various religious organizations, the film eventually found a new distributor in Lion’s Gate Pictures (and Columbia TriStar for home video.) The documentary focuses in on the Catholic League (and in particular leader William Donaghue) who were the most vocal opponents of the film, even calling for a boycott at one point, though before they’d even seen the film. For family-friendly Disney, “there were concerns that the documentary might be perceived as being inflammatory, and the issue is one Disney just wants to put behind them.”

So when we finally see this Dogma 2-disc set, will the documentary be edited, or even on the release? Even Pereira doesn’t know for sure, though from what View Askew has been told, the anticipated arrival date for the 2-disc special edition is now 6/26. Columbia would not return calls for this story. And what of Pereira’s A Better Place, which has also been on the way for over a year now as well? Better news for fan’s of the action drama. “We’re just waiting for (Kevin) Smith to finish his taped introduction,” and the disc should be on its way. Stay tuned…

How many actors can say skateboarding sent them zooming on a track to stardom?

Jason Lee glided into acting a few years after winning a national skateboard championship in his teens. Since 1995, when writer-director Kevin Smith cast him in “Mallrats,” the Orange County native has turned up in some 15 movies. He’s now balancing two worlds, the indies and the majors, as easily as he used to do the 360 flip, a move he made famous back on the skateboarding scene.

“Jason’s played a lot of `dude’ roles, and he clearly is a bit of a dude,” says Smith, who’s cast him in four films. “But I’ve always seen him as a leading man. I’m glad the rest of the business is finally catching up.” Lee arrives at Canteen in SoHo fresh from the set of “Vanilla Sky,” his second movie for Cameron Crowe. (He played second fiddle to Billy Crudup in “Almost Famous.”) Snow is falling, and he’s wearing only a light parka. Though he’s in desperate need of a smoke and is pissed off at New York cabs, he’s still maintaining that positive L.A. frame of mind: “The snow is awesome, man.”

Despite the unself-conscious elan with which he fidgets with his hair and lights up a cigarette, he insists he has no interest in cultivating a cool-guy image. “That whole James Dean revival thing — looking mysterious, smoking a cigarette with your shirt a little open — that’s so outdated already,” he says. Still, Lee is about to have his debut as a romantic leading man, opposite Jennifer Love Hewitt in the neo-screwball comedy “Heartbreakers.”

“My movies are getting bigger and bigger,” he admits. “But I almost didn’t take `Heartbreakers.’ The guy seemed a little straight — a sweet, nice guy that girls would like. But you can’t just play the weirdo in every movie to avoid being the dork.”

In fact, although his “Heartbreakers” character, a bartender, falls hard for Hewitt’s tough con artist, he’s not a total sap, which is why writer-director David Mirkin chose Lee.

“I didn’t want an actor who would play him totally straight,” Mirkin says. “I wrote the part with someone off-kilter in mind. I like a nice edge, but with heart. Jason has that. He can be emotional, but he’s not mushy.”

A few months later, Lee is in Los Angeles wrapping “Vanilla Sky,” intermittently shooting “Smith’s Jay” and “Silent Bob Strike Back” (which brings back his character from “Chasing Amy” and “Mallrats,” along with Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Matt Damon and a cast of hundreds), prepping “Stealing Stanford” (the first movie from Bruce McCulloch of “The Kids in the Hall”) and doing promotion for a comedy called “Big Trouble” that comes out in the fall.

He’s also recording some of the experimental ambient music he’s been noodling around with for years, participating in and sponsoring vintage-car races and starting a professional-driving school, Road One Racing, with a friend.

In other words, he’s busy. Not to mention focused. One of the reasons for Lee’s eclectic success is that he doesn’t drink, doesn’t party and, at the ripe age of 30, has been married for five years, to his longtime sweetheart, L.A. photographer Carmen Llywellyn.

“The reason I gave up partying? Been there, done that,” Lee says. “I got it all out of my system. I don’t even drink coffee now.”

“You don’t see many young actors who are that settled down,” says 20-year-old Zooey Deschanel, who worked with Lee on “Mumford,” “Almost Famous” and “Big Trouble.” “It’s nice to be around Jason, because he’s so family-minded, and he’s so in love with his wife. And so funny.”

Of course, he’s not all funny in “Vanilla Sky,” the movie Crowe is directing on a secretive set with Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz and Penelope Cruz.

“It’s dark,” Lee admits. “And when I signed on to do it, that’s all I knew about it. We’re not allowed to talk about it, but everyone knows it’s a remake of a Spanish film from 1997 called “Abre los Ojos” (“Open Your Eyes”).

“And you know what’s weird?” he asks. “Tom Cruise is the most normal guy of any guy actor I’ve met. He loves sports, and he’s a guy who can go to family reunions and get along with the uncles. ”

But is he … cool?

“Who cares?” Lee laughs. “I used to be cool. Cool was all I cared about. But cool is somewhat overrated. I think Tom Cruise would tell you that. And you know what?” He stubs out half of his third smoke. “We’re all just trying to pretend we’re cooler than we really are. Which makes me think I oughta quit smoking. If Sean Penn can do it, I can.”

(Merle Ginsberg is a writer for Fairchild Publications.)

“Making movies, writing comics, running a comic store, and eating as much as I do takes a ton of time (and adds a ton of weight). I can’t always keep up with what’s hot and not in the comic biz. So I log onto WizardWorld.com to get the latest news, buy and sell stuff, and track those creators I feel are my competitors. Seeing the stock rise on another writer only makes me work harder, because I’m a catty, catty little person.”

Rock’s Return, Banky’s Bye-Bye, and Stiffler

So Monday was Chris Rock day on the set. Yes – the busiest comedian/comic actor in town found some time to improve our flick, and was nothing short of brilliant. He turned in a very hysterical performance, and in his interview for the documentary, aptly described Silent Bob (or rather, how I “act” the part of Silent Bob) as “the white Buckwheat”. Too funny.

Also, as you’ve already read, Lee finished up his Banky work, and it was yet another wonderful piece of Jason Lee genius he was kind enough to lend us. Next up (in two weeks), the return of the once and future King, Brodie.

Today, however, was the delightful surprise of Sean William Scott (he of ‘American Pie’ and ‘Dude, Where’s My Car’ fame). Good Lord, I can’t relate just how funny this gent was. Like Will and Rock, he had me in tears at one point (very tough to accomplish without physically hurting me). He took what was a simple part on the page and crafted a very memorable character that blows Jay and I off the screen in his scene. Sean came to play, folks, and walked away owning ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back’ during his cameo.

Tomorrow marks Ali’s last day (and Heavens, she’ll be missed). And Friday we shoot perhaps the coolest cameo of all: a fictional vigilante that’s very close to my heart.

Not much longer to go before we reach New Jersey and the end of this very long sojourn through the View Askewniverse.

I’d like to take a moment to thank all involved, cast and crew alike, for making this closing chapter as pleasant and painless as possible.

Especially the Transpo guys. Derek and Brian and their team of drivers are just about the sweetest people alive. Every time I leave the set at night, I’ve got a full tank of gas – just one of the unnecessary but incredibly thoughtful gestures the Transpo folks have stolen my heart with. They’re the un-sung heroes of every movie: the cats without whom nothing happens. I salute them all – especially the aforementioned pair of gentlemen who were also goodly enough to turn in two fine performances in the film along with their daily driving duties.

Shit like that just made the making of this movie such a heartwarming family affair.

By the by: we’re hearing that the ‘Entertainment Tonight’ piece should be running this week. Keep an eye out for it.

Man, I can’t wait to share this flick with you guys.

No more Banky, ladies and gentleman. Well, that is unless Kevin decides to use him again in the future, perhaps somewhere in Fletch….NOOTCH! It was a treat playing him again after all these years. Kevin is the man, isn’t he? It was amazing to see Kevin give C. Rock plenty of room for playing in the scene we shot today. I’ve never really seen that before. I’m so used to Kevin not allowing it. C. Rock definitely came through. Funny as hell. Just thought I’d share my day, my last day, as Banky Edwards…..one of my favorite characters!

NOW, time for some Brodie Bruce action!!!! Two days as Mr. Bruce, and then bye bye Banky and Brodie. Sad, huh? Oh well, there will be plenty more where that came from, right Kevin?

Almost Famous, which was woefully underappreciated, had three actors who deserved supporting nods. Billy Crudup, who played Russell, the lead guitarist in the film’s fictional band, Stillwater, was remarkably intense as the musician who considered going out on his own. Consider his reaction to the conversation Russell had with William (the lead character)’s mom. Jason Lee, who played the band’s lead singer, Jeff Bebe, was the perfect foil to Crudup. He seethed through the film and you believed his anger. When I mentioned to Lee in October that I thought that he deserved a nomination, he laughed. But after a few minutes, I think that I had him convinced. Consider that two actresses received supporting nods for this film and maybe this argument won’t seem that outlandish. And who can forget Philip Seymour Hoffman’s performance as rock writer Lester Bangs?