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''Hollywood Vs. Religion'' Michael Medved, Co-Host, Sneak Previews

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''Hollywood Vs. Religion'' Michael Medved, Co-Host, Sneak Previews Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan 49242 December 1989 Volume 18, No. 12 ''Hollywood vs. Religion'' Michael Medved, co-host, Sneak Previews Editor's Preview: In this edited transcript unbearably boring two-hour-and-forty­ of his remarks at Hillsdale's Center for Con­ minute extravaganza that proved consid­ structive Alternatives' March 1989 program, erably less interesting than the controversy "Popular Entertainment and Its Impact on surrounding it. Society," film critic Michael Medved dis­ From Hollywood, most of the noise in cusses how and why Hollywood is overtly that debate involved smug and solemn pro­ hostile to religion. nouncements in defense of Mr. Scorsese's y job involves watching as many First Amendment rights-inconsistently as six movies every week. This coupled with condemnation of those who Mmay strike strangers as an all but chose to exercise their First Amendment ideal occupation, but that is only because rights by protesting the film . For several they forget that I have little choice as to weeks, on the airwaves and in private con­ which films I am required to review. As versations, you couldn't escape the defenses a critic, I'm compelled to sample almost and denunciations of this particular every new product which Hollywood offers picture-provided, in most cases, by people up to the waiting world. At times, I feel who had never seen the movie. that I deserve hazardous duty pay. Unfortunately, I did see the movie-in Just recently, I had to endure an extra­ its nearly insufferable entirety-at an early, ordinarily offensive fl.lm called Parents. It's pre-release screening, and I can assure you been promoted as a light-hearted comedy phosphorescent, glow-in-the-dark con­ that the experience is about as satisfying about a typical middle class family in the doms. I'm not kidding- this was the and uplifting as two hours and forty 1950's, but it is actually a graphic, horri­ artistic highlight of a multi-million dollar minutes in the dentist's chair. The pre­ fyingly detailed, and very stylish illm about major studio project. It's no wonder that vailing tedium is relieved only by great suburban cannibalism. Mary Beth Hurt and my job sometimes gives rise to the feeling bouts of gore that seem to splatter the Randy Quaid play a friendly neighborhood that I'm actually working as a glorified screen at irregular intervals. The fl.lm opens couple who steal bodies from a local sewer inspector. with a sequence that shows Jesus himself morgue, grind them into meat loaf, and There are rare occasions, however, when engaged in crucifying someone else. As the then force-feed this hamburger surprise to a new movie comes along and , against all victim's feet are nailed to the cross, blood their terrified little boy. The meat grinder odds, offers a chance to address some spurts out and covers Jesus ' face. sequences alone would be enough to give serious issues. Like all other critics, I'm The members of what you would have nightmares to any sane viewer. eternally grateful for these fleeting to call "the supporting cast" fare no better. I have also recently suffered through moments-even if the film that inspires In this picture, Mary Magdelene was Blake Edwards ' latest offering, Skin Deep. them happens to be a pretentious and sadly covered from head to toe with tattoos­ This has become a controversial picture muddled mess. resembling no one so much as that char­ even before its release, and the producers acter Groucho Marx used to sing about , have actually encouraged that controversy The Last Temptation Lydia the Tattooed Lady. And she wasn't by promising potential moviegoers "The of the Critics the only one- you 'd think that director Most Outrageous Scene of the Decade.'' Scorsese had discovered in his research Now, just what is this scene? It's a ten his was the case with Martin about ancient Judea that there were tattoo minute sequence about two men fighting Scorsese's overwrought epic, The parlors on every comer catering exclusively in a hotel room while wearing colorful, TLast Temptation of Christ-an to females. In reality, however, it was against Jewish and Biblical law to decorate defend it. I remember a conversation with contemporary filmmakers. Agnes of God yourself with even a single, small tattoo. one of my colleagues who had prepared offers us the elevating image of young nun Meanwhile, the actor who played Judas what I considered an unaccountably Meg Tilly murdering her own baby and Iscariot, Harvey Keitel , provided us with generous review. He explained himself with attempting to flush the tiny body down the what must rank as one of the most out­ surprising candor. "If I was too rough on toilet of her convent room . The Runner rageously miscalculated performances of the film ;' he said, "then people would Stumbles presents Dick Van Dyke as yet recent years-delivering all his lines with associate me with Jerry Falwell'' -and that another priest involved in an affair with his Bronx accent fmnly intact, and wearing was an association he could not accept. a nun, while many more films, including an orange fright wig which made him look True Confessions, Mass Appeal and The like a Biblical Bozo. The Gospel Mission, use some of the best actors in the The Last Temptation of Christ was, by According to Hollywood business to play well-intentioned idealists any honest and objective standards, an who are overwhelmed by the pervasive artistic disaster-a bitter embarrassment he movie industry 's resounding cynicism and hypocrisy of the church for a genuinely gifted director. endorsement of The Last Temptation hierarchy. Yet many of my colleagues in what Tof Christ is only the latest and per­ Protestant pastors suffer the same rough passes for ''the critical community'' hailed haps the most grotesque illustration of the treatment at the hands of Hollywood as it as a masterpiece. One of America's best overt and pervasive hostility to religion and their Catholic brothers and sisters. In the known movie reviewers even annointed it religious values that has taken root in last two years alone, independent feature "The Greatest Film of 1988." The Academy Hollywood. films like Pass the Ammo, Salvation and of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences went To maintain a sense of perspective, it Riders of the Storm have savagely satirized so far as to nominate Mr. Scorsese for an is important to remember that this is a greedy and greasy evangelists lusting after Academy Award as best director of the year. relatively recent development in movie sex and money. To me, nothing so forcefully reveals the history. In the past, the major studios Even when religion isn't the primary clouded lens through which Hollywood churned out biblical blockbusters like The focus of a film , religious figures frequently views the world as the utterly undeserved Ten Commandments, Samson and Delilah , turn up as convenient heavies. In Light of praise which this film received. The Robe and Ben Hur, specifically designed Day, a 1987 stinker written and directed I would argue that the response to The to appeal to religious sensibilities. These by Last Temptation screenwriter Paul Last Temptation represents the film sandstorm-and-sandals epics may not stand Schrader, the family minister is a pious, industry 's "Circle the Wagons" mentality today as examples of deathless works of pompous fraud who impregnates the hero's at its most hysterical and paranoid. Since art , but they did earn millions at the box teenaged sister and then takes no respon­ religious figures across the country were office and even won a measure of critical sibility for the child. Malone gives us a attacking the picture, the members of the acclaim . chance to watch Burt Reynolds battling a Hollywood community felt called upon to In years past, Hollywood also turned out Christian para-military cult in the Pacific popular and sympathetic portrayals of con­ Northwest. In Crimes of Passion, Tony About the Author temporary clergymen . Bing Crosby, Pat Perkins is a crazed, sweating skid row O'Brien and Spencer Tracy played earthy, preacher attempting to murder prostitute Michael Medved is well known to millions compassionate priests who gave hope to Kathleen Thrner in the most sickening and of Americans as the co-host of the weekly underprivileged kids or comforted GI's on sadistic manner imaginable. Even last sum­ PBS television program , Sneak Previews. After the battlefield. Nearly all men of the cloth graduating from Yale University in 1969, he mer 's horror remake The Blob offers some worked for several years as a speechwriter who appeared on screen would be kindly oblique commentary on organized religion , and political consultant. In 1976 he co­ and concerned, if not downright heroic. when the bespectacled small-town pastor authored What Really Happened to the Class In the last ten to fifteen years mains­ (Del Close) turns out to be a secret drunk. of '65? which became a bestseller and the tream moviemakers have swung to the The last scene in the movie shows his basis for a weekly series on NBC. His other other extreme. If someone turns up in a crazed sermon threatening the end of the works include The Shadow Presidents (New film today wearing a Roman collar or world as he fiendishly contrives to bring York Times Books, 1979), Hospital: The Hid­ bearing the title "Reverend," you can be the title monster back to earth . den Lives of a Medical Center Staff (Simon & fairly sure that he will be either crazy or Poltergeist II is an extreme example of Schuster, 1983), and, with his brother Harry corrupt-or probably both .
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