USA Today piece criticizing the unwarranted criticisms of and attacks on Mel Gibson's upcoming PASSION:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinio...21-medved_x.htm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2003Jul22.html
Lloyd Grove writes today about a secret screening held at the MPAA with many public and private VIP's in attendance: Mel Gibson's Washington Power Play I hope Gibson wins against the intimidation tactics being used against him

Yes, it does appear to be intimidation. I understand (confirmed below) that Groves was NOT invited to the screening, and was escorted out. This interview makes it sound like it's going to be a film not to be missed, even sans subtitles.

Edited by me to remove non-movie-related stuff:

TRANSCRIPT: DRUDGE, MSNBC 'BUCHANAN & PRESS'
Mon Jul 21 2003 18:15:25

PAT BUCHANAN: That's right. He hears it through the grapevine, and he brings it straight to us. Joining us exclusively is the one-man media machine, Matt Drudge of "The Drudge Report", six million view a day. Matt, I understand before we get into this question of the Lloyd Grove issue...

MATT DRUDGE, "THE DRUDGE REPORT": Yes.

BUCHANAN: ... before we get into that, I want to ask you, you apparently have gone to see this movie that Mel Gibson did called "The Passion" that is causing great controversy among some in the Jewish community and in the Catholic community. Is it anti-Semitic? It's about, frankly, the passion and death of Jesus Christ...

DRUDGE: It's...

BUCHANAN: ... and you have seen -- you got an early look at it. What is it like?

DRUDGE: Well Mel Gibson is here, he's in town. He's two blocks away. He sends his regards. He'll be making the rounds on this one. This may be the last movie Mel Gibson makes, Pat Buchanan. This is the ultimate film. It's magical. Best picture I have seen in quite some time, and even people like Jack Valenti were in the audience in tears at this screening. There was about 30 of us. It depicts a clash between Jesus and those who crucified him, and speaking as a Jew, I thought it was a magical film that showed the perils of life on earth.

BUCHANAN: Right. "The New Republic" -- today I read a long report in "The New Republic" said it is an anti-Semitic film, just about flat-out. What's your take?

DRUDGE: They haven't seen the darn film and those of us, every single person in there, and I'm not talking about tears, I'm talking total tears. It is something Mel Gibson stood back at the end and took questions for about an hour, and he is -- he told me he's tired of Hollywood. That this is it. He's going to do it. He's going to do it his way, and this film, I tell you, is magic. It's a miracle. It's a miracle...

BILL PRESS: All right...

DRUDGE: ... and Pat Buchanan, you will be talking about this in -- when it comes out because it's something I haven't seen in quite some time.

PRESS: Maybe it was another miracle.

<snip>

BUCHANAN: No, no it doesn't win. Reagan showed that. Let me ask you this, though. You went to this movie -- I'm very intrigued by this movie. Did -- Jack Valenti was there. Did he host it over at that 16th Street...

DRUDGE: Yes. It was at his plush...

BUCHANAN: Who all was there?

DRUDGE: Well you had a lot of clergy. You had a lot of folks representing the Catholic intellectual community here. You also had a few media types.

PRESS: The cardinal was there...

DRUDGE: You had a cardinal. You had Valenti, but one person they did throw out was Lloyd

Grove of "The Washington Post". They don't want "The Washington Post" to spoil their parade. They're being very specific who they show this to...

(CROSSTALK)

PRESS: You asked them to throw Lloyd Grove out...

(CROSSTALK)

BUCHANAN: Did they do this physically?

(CROSSTALK)

BUCHANAN: But, look, was he invited or did he crash it?

DRUDGE: I'm not sure. You'd have to ask him. But to see a "Washington Post" reporter asked to leave a screening at Jack Valenti's house here in Washington in his office, is showing you a new breeze blowing of different sorts. The Republicans truly are controlling this town.

(CROSSTALK)

<snip>

BUCHANAN: Yes...

DRUDGE: Well, it's going to be progressive with her and Schwarzenegger. I vote for Mel Gibson, however, to run for the governor of California, and he will correct that state in a heartbeat.

PRESS: There's...

BUCHANAN: OK.

PRESS: OK...

BUCHANAN: Listen, you were taken by that film. You were taken by the guy, weren't you?

DRUDGE: It's the best picture I have seen in a long time and just don't take my word for it. You will see it. Total tears by grown men and women in Washington, D.C. in the middle of a summer afternoon.

<snip>

BUCHANAN: Matt Drudge, thanks for coming over. Appreciate it very much.

DRUDGE: Thank you.

END