DOGMA'S 13TH APOSTLE SPEAKS OUT (October 15, 1999)
(Courtesy of United States.com)
(UPI) - Chris Rock says he had a blast playing
Rufus the 13th Apostle in "Dogma," the new celestial comedy he
describes as "Star Wars" meets "The Ten Commandments" with a little
"Romeo and Juliet" thrown in.
The acid-tongued comedian says he doesn't understand why some
religious groups are making a fuss over the movie, which co-stars Matt
Damon and Ben Affleck as wayward angels trying to get back into heaven
via New Jersey. Pop singer Alanis Morissette also has a small part in
the movie. She plays God.
Rock is calling "Dogma" a very funny film about faith,
acknowledging, however, that "people do get upset over religion."
"But I think we covered it right," he added.
Even though "Dogma" hasn't been released yet, some religious groups
are already complaining that the movie is disrespectful and blasphemous.
But Rock's not one to shy away from a little controversy.
He says he's not worried because "I don't do shows in church."
On a more serious note, Rock pointed out that many of the people who
are criticizing the film haven't seen it yet.
He explained: "Anyone who judges something they haven't seen is an
idiot. I don't talk about anything I haven't seen. History tells us that
anyone that talks about something they haven't seen, or heard, read is
an idiot."
The popular stand-up comic and one-time "Saturday Night Live" cast
member says he wasn't raised in a very religious home, but confided that
he believes in God even though he doesn't practice an organized
religion.
"It doesn't matter what religion you're in as long as you have
faith," he insisted, explaining that God is whoever or whatever "makes
the most sense to you."
Asked if he thought Jesus Christ was a black man, Rock replied: "I
think he was a brown man. Did he look like Miles Davis? I don't know."
A notorious ad-libber, Rock says he "stuck fairly close to (Kevin
Smith's)
"Dogma" script because I really liked the script. I really respected it."
Rock recalls how the writer/director of "Clerks" and "Chasing Amy"
worried that he would go off on a rant and start improvising on the set.
"I told (Smith) I am a professional comedian. It's OK if I ad-lib a
little. If Salma (Hayek) starts ad-libbing, then you got problems."
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