There aren't many issues that draw clearer, more divisive lines of disagreement than the debate over the origins of life on Earth—a debate that frequently boils down to supporters of creationism versus supporters of Darwinian evolution—and Ben Stein's new documentary on the subject, Expelled, is no exception. The film is already being spun by both sides of the debate, drawing fire and praise alike from different political factions.

Jack Cashill, commenting in the right-wing World Net Daily, is among the film's early supporters, calling Expelled an "often funny, always engaging frontal assault on the oppressive neo-Darwinist establishment." He goes on to laud the movie as "arguably the smartest and most sophisticated documentary ever produced on the right side of the cultural divide on any subject, ever."

Motive Entertainment—the marketing company that worked on The Passion of the Christ and the first Narnia movie—has been hired to beef up the film's exposure. They've rounded up endorsements from the likes of James Dobson ("a powerful case for Intelligent Design"), Chuck Colson ("an honest debate in the public square"), and Luis Palau ("casting light on today's challenges to academic freedom").

Others are much less gracious toward the film.

Meanwhile, Stein himself has drawn fire for comparing evolution to imperialism—a system, he notes, that was marked by a history of "repression and murder."

The significance of the film's timing—in the midst of a heated election year—is not lost on Paste Magazine, which notes that Stein's movie is opening just two months before Bill Maher's new religion-lampooning documentary Religulous. SlashFilm reports that the relationship between the two films is not lost on executives, either.

In other movie news:

Faith and Film Critics Circle announces year's best (FFCC)
Into Great Silence, There Will Be Blood among the winners

Jason Reitman working with Jim Carrey on new comedy (Variety)
Juno director helming Pierre Pierre

Brad Bird directing his first live-action film (Paste)
1906 likely to be first live-action film from Pixar, as well

Coen Brothers' Burn After Reading coming September 12 (Paste)
Dark comedy stars George Clooney, John Malkovich

DiCaprio considering Chaser remake (The Hollywood Reporter)
Departed scribe to adapt Korean film for U.S. audiences

Krasinski, Rudolph to star in Mendes' "relationship comedy" (Variety)
Written by Dave Eggers, helmed by American Beauty director

Swayze's projects continue despite cancer (AP)
Ghost star has pancreatic cancer, new show still on tap

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