LIBERAL BLACKLISTING and intolerance of christians

[rainstorm]

Film May Harm Gibson's Career
By SHARON WAXMAN

OS ANGELES, Feb. 25 — Mel Gibson's provocative new film, "The Passion of the Christ," is making some of Hollywood's most prominent executives uncomfortable in ways that may damage Mr. Gibson's career.

Hollywood is a close-knit world, and friendships and social contact are critical in the making of deals and the casting of movies. Many of Hollywood's most prominent figures are also Jewish. So with a furor arising around the film, along with Mr. Gibson's reluctance to distance himself from his father, who calls the Holocaust mostly fiction, it is no surprise that Hollywood — Jewish and non-Jewish — has been talking about little else, at least when it's not talking about the Oscars.

Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen, the principals of DreamWorks, have privately expressed anger over the film, said an executive close to the two men.

The chairmen of two other major studios said they would avoid working with Mr. Gibson because of "The Passion of the Christ" and the star's remarks surrounding its release.

Neither of the chairmen would speak for attribution, but as one explained: "It doesn't matter what I say. It'll matter what I do. I will do something. I won't hire him. I won't support anything he's part of. Personally that's all I can do."

The chairman said he was angry not just because of what he had read about the film and its portrayal of Jews in relation to the death of Jesus, but because of Mr. Gibson's remarks defending his father, Hutton Gibson. Last week in a radio interview the elder Mr. Gibson repeated his contention that the Holocaust was "all — maybe not all fiction — but most of it is." Asked about his father's Holocaust denial in an interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC, the movie star told her to "leave it alone."

The other studio chairman, whose family fled European anti-Semitism before the Holocaust, was less emphatic but said, "I think I can live without him." But others said there would be no lasting backlash against Mel Gibson. "If the movie works, I don't think it will hurt him," said John Lesher, an agent with Endeavor. "People here will work with the anti-Christ if he'll put butts in seats." Mr. Lesher added, "He put his own money where his mouth is. He invested in himself."

As Mr. Lesher implied, Hollywood is also a place of businesspeople, and Mr. Gibson is a proven movie star, popular with audiences. There are few actors with that kind of bankability, no matter their personal views. Mr. Gibson is also a capable director. So some of the initial reactions to his film may fade over time.

Mr. Gibson not only directed and helped write the $30 million film, but he also paid for it, including production and marketing costs, out of his own pocket, which Hollywood has filled.

As an actor and successful director, from "Mad Max" (1979) through "Lethal Weapon" (1987) and its sequels to the Oscar-winning "Braveheart" (1995), Mr. Gibson has long been a Hollywood pet. But he has also been known as a prankster and a self-confessed abuser of various substances. Many in the relentlessly secular movie industry see his recent religious conversion — he practices a traditionalist version of Roman Catholicism — as another form of addiction.

Last Friday the media billionaire Haim Saban, former owner of the Fox Family Channel, sent a concerned e-mail message to friends about Mr. Gibson and his father.

The message forwarded an article by the journalist Mitch Albom calling on Mr. Gibson to repudiate his father's denial of the Holocaust. Mr. Saban sent the article to, among others, Roger Ailes, who heads Fox News; Norman Pattiz, who runs the Westwood One radio network; and Michael R. Milken, the securities felon turned philanthropist.

Amid the daily dealings of Hollywood, the film and the star have been fodder for unfavorable gossip. Dustin Hoffman has talked to friends about what he called Mr. Gibson's "strangeness" during the ABC interview. The producer Mike Medavoy said Mr. Gibson's religious zealotry made him feel uncomfortable. Mr. Hoffman is Jewish; Mr. Medavoy is the child of Holocaust survivors.

"One question is, `What propelled him to make the movie about the passion of Christ?' " Mr. Medavoy said. "It makes me a little squeamish. What makes me squeamish about religion in general is that people think they have the answer: `I think my God is the right God.' How do you argue against that?"

But many non-Jews in Hollywood have also been unhappy about the religious divisions that the movie has exposed and could deepen. A public relations expert who usually works closely with Newmarket, which is distributing the film, said she declined to work on the film, though she is Roman Catholic. "This kind of thing tends to bring out the worst in people," she said, insisting that her name not be used.

The director David O. Russell, who described himself as areligious, said that although he had not seen the film, he was disturbed by the prospect that "The Passion" could feed anti-Semitism. "There are so many wonderfully provocative things about Jesus' life and death that challenge us to be better people," he said. "If it stirs anti-Semitism, then what a wasted opportunity."

Melisa Richter, a publicist who worked for one of the largest Christian movie production houses in the country, Cloud Ten Pictures, wrote in an e-mail message that the film "feeds into the culture of anti-Semitism that is out there, repeating it again and again in a popular format (the film medium), lacking vital historical context and background."

Several prominent people interviewed for this article said they were curious about the film but would not buy tickets to see it.

Still, some of Mr. Gibson's Jewish friends have been defending him and the movie. The producer Dean Devlin, who is Jewish, said, "It's a phenomenal movie about love and forgiveness, and I personally didn't find it anti-Semitic whatsoever."




make no mistake. the nytimes article is a warning to anyone who portrays christianity in a positive light. does anyone doubt why the liberal media reacted with such vile hate toward this movie? there is real hate towards conservative christians in the mainstream media.

[Derek Ortt]

An example that the book of Revelations is coming true. Prehaps the 1,000 years has ended and this modern "liberalism" is the anti-christ that was discussed as it is seeking to deny the existence of Christ by playing upon the fears of many. The movement that succeeds in denying the existence of Christ, IMO, is what was discussed in the book and it does seem to be gaining a foothold.

Note; This is not saying that liberals are the anti-Christ, just that there are elements within the movement that are quite scary indeed

[rainstorm]

its that liberals are intolerant. they are now the party of blacklisting and intolerance

[Anonymous]

An example that the book of Revelations is coming true. Prehaps the 1,000 years has ended and this modern "liberalism" is the anti-christ that was discussed as it is seeking to deny the existence of Christ by playing upon the fears of many. The movement that succeeds in denying the existence of Christ, IMO, is what was discussed in the book and it does seem to be gaining a foothold.

Note; This is not saying that liberals are the anti-Christ, just that there are elements within the movement that are quite scary indeed

They ARE quite scary indeed... if you take scripture, that has been around (and in all likelihood significantly altered at various points) for two millennia, to be the source of all Truth in the universe. Not flaming, just responding to your views.

And I personally found it laughable that a Christian/conservative would accuse the other side of "playing upon the fears of many" ... could the threat of eternal damnation and suffering for those unwilling to conform fit this definition any better?

[Derek Ortt]

I prefer to stick to the truth that the gospels are accurate and not follow speculation. That is just my personal choice and everyone has the right to make their choice

[sunnyday]

It is everyone's choice to believe or not, to accept the Bible or not. For believers, the Bible is the inspired word of God, period. One either believes it all or not. Thank the Lord, I know it is true, and I rejoice in my choice.

[blizzard]

An example that the book of Revelations is coming true. Prehaps the 1,000 years has ended and this modern "liberalism" is the anti-christ that was discussed as it is seeking to deny the existence of Christ by playing upon the fears of many. The movement that succeeds in denying the existence of Christ, IMO, is what was discussed in the book and it does seem to be gaining a foothold.

Note; This is not saying that liberals are the anti-Christ, just that there are elements within the movement that are quite scary indeed

Oh come on now, what exactly are you saying??

[GalvestonDuck]

This is exactly why I don't think the movie will have as big of an influence on people as we'd hope it would. Not everyone will see it, so they won't be affected by it. And not everyone who does see it will be open to its message. A very small few will see it and come to accept Christ as their personal Savior. And those of us who already have and see the film will be touched more deeply by its message.

As for hurting Gibson's career, not gonna happen. Any reporter can find and quote a handful of bigoted, intolerant studio execs in an effort to make all of Hollywood appear intolerant -- the same as what's happened with that vocal majority of celebs who are opposed to the war. But since they refuse to talk to (or at least quote) those in favor of Gibson's film, they're aren't really reporting the full truth of the matter.

[furluvcats]

I don't feel it's anti-semetic, and I feel it's the reality of the times back then. I've never hated Jewish people, and I certainly don;t hate them after seeing the movie.I think it's got a lot of people talking and hopefully thinking about their salvation...if just 1 person is moved to the point of salvation, then isn't this a glorious thing?

[rainstorm]

Gibson Receives Standing Ovation on Leno


Mel Gibson appeared on Jay Leno’s "Tonight Show" – and was greeted by the live audience with a prolonged standing ovation.

Gibson’s appearance on the top-rated late-night program came on the heels of new box office results showing that his new film, "The Passion of the Christ," may be one of the biggest hits of all time.

But box office success hasn’t stopped controversy from swirling around the religious epic.

"Some people thought it was a bad idea," Gibson told Leno about his desire to do the movie on Jesus’ death. The actor said anytime one touches upon politics or religion, that person runs the risk of touching a nerve.

"I didn’t expect to hit a main artery," Gibson said to chuckles from the audience.

Gibson said his film first germinated over a dozen years ago. He said he was unfazed about Hollywood’s criticism of his work.

He said that he discovered in Tinseltown that "you can get a shiv between the shoulder blades and it’s done with a smile."

Still, Gibson said he was shocked by the "pre-judgment and condemnation" that began over a year ago – before anyone had even seen the film.

He told America’s favorite comedian that he was surprised by the attacks against him, including the charge that he was anti-Semitic.

"It’s wrong, it’s unconscionable," he said.

Leno questioned Gibson about the film’s violence.

Gibson readily admitted the film is violent and deserved the R rating it received. But he added that the violence was not "gratuitous" and, in his opinion, drew a different reaction from audiences than from those who, for example, watch horror films.

Gibson said the film’s message is one of tolerance. He told Leno he chose actor James Caviezel to play Jesus because he projected both a childish innocence and masculinity – consistent with the biblical Jesus.

Gibson’s decision to produce "The Passion" may have earned him at least one fan in Hollywood.

"Thanks for the courage of your convictions," Leno told Gibson as he concluded his interview.

so much for the intolerant left