Imaginative theology and a
bigger-than-usual budget make Kevin Smith's (CHASING AMY,
CLERKS) fourth film a kind of post-Catholic fantasy that
only a comic-book enthusiast of his caliber could dream up.
It concerns banished angels, Loki (Matt Damon) and Bartleby
(Ben Affleck) who, after a few millennia in Wisconsin,
discover a loophole in Catholic doctrine that would allow
them back into heaven--but prove the fallibility of God and
destroy the universe. As they make their way to New Jersey
to receive a plenary indulgence, God dispatches a seraphim
(Alan Rickman) to recruit lapsed-Catholic Bethany (Linda
Fiorentino) to stop the angels. She finds help in muses,
prophets (Jay and Silent Bob), and the forgotten 13th
apostle, Rufus (Chris Rock). Before long, all hell breaks
loose (literally), and God (Alanis Morrisette) has to put in
an appearance of her own. Smith's controversial (and very
funny) film is powered by his trademark dialogue, ripe with
observations on pop culture, religion, and bodily functions.
Irreverent enough to merit a disclaimer at the beginning,
DOGMA is nevertheless pro-God and pro-tolerance. The story
involves two fallen angels, Bartleby (Ben Affleck) and Loki
(Matt Damon), who have found a loophole in Catholic dogma
that will allow them back into heaven. However, this breach
would result in the destruction of the world, so a ragtag
group of prophets, scions, and apostles set out to stop
them. The success of the film is in the juxtaposition of
Smith's trademark acerbic attitude and witty dialogue
against the enormous canvas of Christian iconography and
apocalyptic conflict.
DOGMA was screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 1999.
The film was shot on location in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Several groups, including the Catholic League, protested the
film. Smith wrote DOGMA before CLERKS, and the credits of
the latter include the promise "Jay and Silent Bob will
return in DOGMA." Emma Thompson was slated to play the
role of God, but had to drop out when she became pregant.
Connections between DOGMA and other Kevin Smith films
include the character Grant Hicks, who is a cousin to Dante
from CLERKS and Gill from MALLRATS. All three characters are
played by Brian O'Halloran. Also, a bus company in the film
is owned by Rick Derris, a perennial Smith character.
"I feel like I'm Han Solo, and you're Chewie, and she's
Ben Kenobi, and we're in that f@&%#*-up bar!"--Jay
(Jason Mewes), to Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) and Bethany
(Linda Fiorentino)
"...A fiercely ambitious script that never loses its
raucous rhythm....Affleck gives his strongest performance to
date..."
"...Funny, original....A high-wire act..." -- 3
out of 5 stars
"...Mercilessly funny....[The actors] bring great,
understandable enthusiasm to Mr. Smith's smart talk and wild
imaginings..."
"...There are kernels of genius here..."
"...There is a keen intellect behind this devoutly
defiant fable....Stuffed with cheery irreverence and
inspired in equal parts by comic books, sports bar culture
and the Bible..."
