Movie star Mel Gibson -- under fire from Jewish groups and
religious scholars for his still-unreleased film that graphically portrays
the crucifixion of Jesus -- yesterday screened a two-hour rough cut of
"The Passion" for a select group of Washington pundits, clergymen,
cybergossip Matt Drudge and Hollywood lobbyist Jack Valenti,
and at least one White House staffer.
"I've heard people talking about how I can't get a distributor," the
casually dressed Gibson -- sporting sweat pants, sandals and white socks
-- told the four dozen audience members. "Believe me, I can get a
distributor."
A vocal conservative and devout Catholic, the 47-year-old Academy Award
winner has weathered accusations of anti-Semitism for the movie, which is
being produced by his company, Icon Productions. The influential
Anti-Defamation League, which monitors incidents of anti-Semitism, has
been especially critical, pointing out on its Web site the long historical
relationship between passion plays and attacks on Jews: "ADL has serious
concerns regarding Mr. Gibson's 'The Passion' and asks: Will the final
version of 'The Passion' continue to portray Jews as blood-thirsty,
sadistic and money-hungry enemies of Jesus? Will it correct the
unambiguous depiction of Jews as the ones responsible for the suffering
and crucifixion of Jesus?"
Yesterday's secret screening at the Motion Picture Association of
America included columnists Peggy Noonan, Cal Thomas and
Kate O'Beirne; conservative essayist Michael Novak;
President Bush's abortive nominee for labor secretary, Linda
Chavez; staff director Mark Rodgers of the Senate Republican
conference chaired by Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.); former Republican
House member Mark Siljander of Michigan; and White House staffer
David Kuo, deputy director of the Office of Faith-Based and
Community Initiatives.
"I find this sad," said ADL National Director Abraham Foxman,
who hasn't been permitted to see the movie. "Here's a man who appeals to
the mass audience, but he feels he has to surround himself with a
cordon sanitaire of people who back him theologically and maybe
ideologically and will stand up and be supportive when the time comes. My
request still stands: I would like to see the movie, and if it turns out I
was wrong, I'll be the first to say so."
Yesterday when the lights came up, many in the audience -- who were
required to sign a confidentiality agreement before being admitted to the
screening room -- were in tears. Some were sobbing, we hear.
"Heartbreaking," Michael Novak told Gibson. "The Exorcist" author
William Peter Blatty called the movie "a tremendous depiction of
evil." MPAA President Valenti was perhaps the most enthusiastic. "I don't
see what the controversy is all about," he told fellow audience members.
"This is a compelling piece of art. I just called Kirk Douglas and
told him that this is the movie to beat."
Another invitee, right-wing radio host Laura Ingraham, flew here
from San Francisco to see the film but arrived too late and missed it.
"I'm so bummed," Ingraham told us. "I want to see any movie that drives
the anti-Christian entertainment elite crazy."
THIS JUST IN...
• When Laura Bush calls, even staunch Democrats Jeffrey
Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg, along with stars Tobey
Maguire and Bill Macy, answer. The Hollywoodites screened the
DreamWorks movie "Seabiscuit" last night at the White House for
President Bush and his wife, an admirer of the movie-inspiring
bestseller by Washington writer (and dinner guest) Laura
Hillenbrand. "There's no truth to the rumor that sugar cubes and
carrots were on the menu," a White House wag told us yesterday.
• Watch your back, James Carville! Add "Democratic strategist"
to the titles that right-wing hit man-turned-liberal loyalist David
Brock might soon put on his résumé. Brock has attracted the friendship
of Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and admiring words
from onetime target Bill Clinton since last year's release of his
confessional memoir, "Blinded by the Right." Now he's hard at work on "The
Republican Noise Machine," for which Crown has paid a mid-six-figure
advance. We're told that the book, a history of conservative media
dominance, will include Brock's ideas for how the Democrats can reclaim
the bully pulpit and win the 2004 election.
• Speaking of Mel Gibson, he slipped into town Sunday night and
ate dinner with two associates at the otherwise empty Bombay Club after
closing time -- leaving a 30 percent tip and wolfing down two lamb dishes
and tandoori shrimp -- and then played pool till midnight at Bedrock
Billiards in Adams Morgan.
With Anne Schroeder
The Reliable Source
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