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God. to make primetime TV appearance By MARK PAlTISON CAT-HOLIC NEWS SERvrcE
more about where God's路 coming from on this issue,'" he added. HOLLYWOOD - So who says Using God and the Devil alyou can't have God on prime-time lows the show to explore issues that otherwise would be difficult network TV? Not Gary Murphy, a Catholic to present, said Murphy, who is a who is co-executive producer and member of St: Monica Parish in a writer for the NBC animated Santa Monica. The producermidseason series "God, the Devil writer helps ouLon occasion at a and Bob." Catholic Worker soup kitchen in Of course, Murphy said, it'll be downtown Los Angeles and also done with an entertaining twist, attends the parish Bible study when he's not busy on writing but also with a message. It won't be the lazy effect of God projects. being on one of Bob's shoulders "So often, shows are developed and the from a fearDevil being "One of the great aspects of ful place ,'let's not ofon the other, fend anyMurphy told the show has to do with the body' Catholic aspect of God, if he's among News Ser- us, knowing enough about and we're not at vice. all intenddiscovering the mundane facts The ing to ofpremise, about mtan's existence./I fend any- Gary Murphy Murphy body. We . TV producer said, is this: want to en"God's tertain first. Absolutely," thinking of destroying Earth and mankind, Murphy said. and he gives man one more chance "But what's really fun about the - and the Devil gets to choose. job is, because God and the Devil And that's why Bob b(~comes are two of our characters, we can God's prophet. Th~ Devil gets to get into some pretty interesting ischoose who will be the man to sues that you would not get into prove that mankind is worth sav- on any other show, where you have ing." the nutty neighbor as opposed to Murphy continued.. "One of the God as one of your characters that great aspects' of the show has to do you're writing for." with the aspect of God, if he's He said they'll explore "any asamong us, knowing enough about pect of life we can get into as long and discovering the mundane facts as we try to be entertaining. For about man's eJ5,istence." the show really to have legs, He said the writers have "won- you've got to have people who derful fun" c.oming up with the identify with Bob and find the scripts: . show interesting, and laugh." "One of the great ideas is that To make sure they're not doGod created us in his image and ing anything theologically or likeness, and any qualities that we morally offensive on the show, have must be in him," he said. scripts were sent to Paulist Fa"And then the role of the Devil ther Bud Kieser, the well-known is very interesting. What about the Hollywood priest, and a rabbi. role of evil in the world? There are "We get their thoughts, and the forces of light and darknei>s in all scripts haven't offended them. of us - and in all the world! - and' They've enjoyed the scripts," that's pretty interesting to explore. Murphy said. "Also because of We know none of the answers." that, we feel we're on safe Murphy said they have re- ground." ceived notes from network execu"God, the Devil and Bob" has a tives "who wanted us to tell them 13-episode order. Due to the long the meaning of life." lead time necessary for animation, "There's one script where a net- the last episode has already been work executive wanted to know, voiced by the actors, but it won't 'Well, that's an interesting thing be back from the animation studio in the script. But I'd like to know until early 2000.
Sisters of Charity launch Web site By CATliOLIC NEWS SERVICE CONVENT STATION, N.J. The Sisters of Charity of Sl. Elizabeth have launched a Web site they describe as a "virtual mothel"house" of information. Developed and created by Sisters Deborah Humphreys and Irma Kessler, the site incl1.!des pages on spirituality, news, mission of the., nuns' ministry, and ways for inter~ ested people to join in their work. Their Web site can be reached
at www.scnj.org. ."The site will always be a work in progress," said Sister Kessler, who added that plans call for weekly updates and audio and video components. Sister Barbara Conroy, the community's general superior, said she viewed the Web site as an important component of their communications efforts. "We need to be a pr~sence' wherever God sends us, including the Internet," she said.
A TOWERING metal robot (voice by Yin Diesel) and Hog~rth (voice by Eli Marienthal) become friends in the animated feature "The Iron Gian~." (eNS photo from Warner Bros.)
'The Iron Giant' proves its mettle with adults and adolescents By GERRI PARE CATliOUC NEWS SERVICE
NEW YORK - The animated "The Iron Giant" (Warner Bros.) is unusual in that older children can enjoy it as a tale of a young boy's adventure with an alien robot while adults may also see in it a political allegory. Set during the era of Cold War paranoia as the Soviets' Sputnik circled overhead in 1957, the story has a giant metallic robot inexplicably crash from outer space into the sea just off nine-year-old Hogarth's hometown of Rockwell, Maine. Hogarth (voice of Eli Marienthal) comes upon the towering metal monster, saves it from accidental electrocution, and discovers it has a gentle nature under its powerful weapon-like exterior. Friendship grows as Hogarth teaches it that guns and kiffing are bad, and tries to hide it from a trig-
film Capsules NEW YORK (CNS) - The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the U.S. Catholic Conference Office for Film and Broadcasting.
"Brokedown Palace" (20th Century Fox) Belabored drama in which two Ohio teen pals (Kate Beckinsale and Claire Danes) vacationing in Bangkok are . tricked into transporting heroin, arrested and sentenced to 33 years, with scant hope of rever-' sal unless an expatriate lawyer (Bill Pullman), can find compelling evidence to prove their innocence. Loose ends and plot contrivances weaken director Jonathan Kaplan's sobering cautionary tale of severely tested friendship. An implied sexual encounter, brief violence, fleeting drug abuse and intermittent profanity. The 路U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-
ger-happy government agent (voice of Christopher McDonald) who's arrived on the scene determined to find and exterminate at all costs what he suspects must be a Russian secret weapon. Hogarth and pal find a protector in anti-conformist beatnik Dean (voice of Harry Connick Jr.), a resident junkyard artist who contrives to make the robot look like just another one of his sculptures made from scrap. However, the G-man calls in the Army and the robot is preprogrammed to defend itself with its deadly laser-shooting eyes, cannon-barrel arms and rocket-fire feet. The climax hinges on whether the robot will behave as a weapon of mass destruction or aspire to a higher calling. Director Brad Bird's effective animation and impressive sound effects stress the mammoth size and power of the robot compared to the child in exciting scenes that will
III - adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 - parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
"Detroit Rock City" (NewLine) Crude comedy set in 1978 has four rebellious teen~ (led by Edward Furlong) doing anything, from stealing to prostitution, to secure tickets to a concert that night by the rock band Kiss. Director Adam Rifkin lionizes the youngsters and their anti-social behavior in what is no more than a raunchy Kiss commercial posing as a movie. Positive depiction of teen recreational drug abuse, demeaning depictions of the clergy, implied sexual encounters including one in a church confessional, some violence, brief nudity, occasion.al profanity and constant rough language. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is o - morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of ,America rating ,is R - restricted. "Dick" (Columbia) Weak spoof of the Nixon administration during the Watergate cover-up has the President (D.an. Hedaya) implausibly
especially appeal to boys. However, the menace and level of intense cartoon violence is such that it is probably best reserved for older children, not the under-eight set. Another concern is that the boy, in teaching the robot to be good, insists that it has a soul, which is likely tb confuse children. Although based on a 1968 children's story by Ted Hughes, its subtext is more sophisticated, dealing with issues of societal conformity, gun control, the nuclear arms race, and dangerously power-hungry bureaucrats. All this is cloaked in an engrossing action story with a heart, and, one that works on juvenile and adult levels. Because of some intense cartoon violence and menace to a child, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II - adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG - parental guidance suggested.
befriending two dizzy high school girls (Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams) who eventually tumble to what's happening in the White House and become the newspaper source known as Deep Throat. Directed by Andrew Fleming, the low comedy proceedings turn the era into a broad, ultimately tiresome farce involving dumb-and-dumber adolescents with dim-and-dimmer Watergate caricatures. Sexual innuendo, coarse humor, drug use, occasional profanity and an instance of rough language. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III - adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 - parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Movies Online Can't remember how a recent film was classified by the USCC? Want to know whether to let the kids go see it? Now you can look film reviews up on America Online. Once you're connected to AOL, just use the keyword CNS to go to Catholic News Service's online site, then look for movie reviews.