D O G M A
Starring
Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Jason Mewes, Chris Rock, Salma Hayek, Jason Lee, Alan Rickman, Kevin Smith
Rating
Rating within genre
Rated
R for excessive adult language, sexual content and violence
Directed by
Kevin Smith
Written by
Kevin Smith
Genre
Comedy/with drama *independent*
Film
Color; 2 hrs. 10 min.
Date of Release
1999
Filming Locations
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
Highlands, NJ (USA)
Asbury Park, NJ (USA)
Red Bank, NJ (USA)
New Kensington, PA (USA)
Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
Synopsis
Two renegade angels are determined to get home to heaven no matter what stands in their way, including the great-grand niece of Jesus Christ and her heaven-sent help: two stoner prophets, the thirteenth apostle and a stripper muse.
Summary
Though plenty of people may not agree, others maintain that Kevin Smith is at the high point of his career with this movie. The movie is not only side-splitting hysterical, it's also got an apparent dose of drama to it. The characters are to die for - where else do you find the infamous Jay and Silent Bob playing prophets? Salma Hayek poses as a muse that quit her heavenly job and became a stripper down on earth, opposite Chris Rock's character Rufus, the thirteenth apostle left out of Christian teachings for being black. Ben and Matt hit the screen as a pair of twisted angels that were cast out of heaven and have finally found a way back....except their re-entry would destroy existence.
One of the best comedy/dramas you'll ever see, 'Dogma' shows both the light and dark sides of Christianity with a great cast and awesome character twists like three teenage boys that rollerblade around and kill people with their hockey sticks. The costumes (especially the wings) are amazing, the sets are well done, and the storyline is unbeatable. You'd be insane not to catch this Kevin Smith climax.
Notable Quotes
"If we're not gonna f*ck then what the f*ck did you ask us out for?!" -- Jay
"Christ didn't come to earth to give us the willies. He came to help us out." -- Cardinal Glick
"...out of fear of some intangible parent figure who shakes a finger at us from thousands of years ago and says do it and I'll f*ckin spank you." -- Loki
"Go back to your paper routes you mighty duck f*cks!" -- Jay
"Christ? You knew Christ?" -- Bethany
"Knew him? Shit, nigga owes me twelve bucks." -- Rufus
"Now, now, now....things are getting too intense in here." -- Azrael
"Well, it's a good thing you were never the deciding member on a jury, is all I'm saying." -- Bartleby
"Thanks." -- Silent Bob
Reviews
Stygian Films: "It doesn't get much better than this. Funny as hell, and absolutely ingenious, Dogma brings out the best and worst of organized religion with outrageous characters that'll blow your mind!"
Film.com: "Smith has crammed the film with enough genuinely funny moments and insightful bits to make it well worth seeing."
NZone: "While not one of the best films of the year, "Dogma" is a thoroughly interesting experience full of surprising audacity."
Flick Filosopher: "And even if you don't [know the Catholic beliefs], Smith's own deep belief, overflowing from the screen, is more than enough to sweep you in and keep you enthralled for a couple hours"
James Berardinelli: "Most of the people criticizing Dogma from the pulpit haven't even seen the movie; if they took the time to view it, they'd realize that the film's intent is far less heinous than they have been told."
Los Angeles Times: "Dogma is a raucous, profane but surprisingly endearing piece of work, a funny and lively film of ideas that combines a breezy save-the-world fantasy with Smith's trademark adolescent sense of humor and a sincere exploration of questions of faith. If you can imagine intense doses of theology and religious doctrine alternating with juvenile sex jokes and a monster that emerges from a toilet, you've got "Dogma" pegged."
Orlando Weekly: "Smith's depictions of [the strivings of a group of young slackers] manages to be smart and profound, yet intentionally juvenile and smart-assed at the same time."
Salon: "Alternately sophomoric and serious, "Dogma" is a movie where earnest questions of faith share time with dick and fart jokes, detailed explanation of Catholic doctrine with a sudden exegesis on the oeuvre of John Hughes, where angels and prophets walk the earth alongside gigantic poop monsters."
Cast List
Ben Affleck.........................Bartleby
Matt Damon........................Loki
Linda Fiorentino...................Bethany
Jason Mewes.......................Jay
Chris Rock..........................Rufus
Salma Hayek.......................Serendipity
Alan Rickman......................Metatron
Jason Lee............................Azrael
Kevin Smith.........................Silent Bob
Barrett Hackney...................Lead Stygian Triplet
Jared Pfennigwerth...............Stygian Triplet
Kitao Sakurai.......................Stygian Triplet
Brian O'Halloran..................Grant Hicks
Jeff Anderson.......................Gun dealer
Dwight Ewell........................Gang leader
Bryan Johnson......................Steve-Dave
Faith is a funny thing.....
Also recommended
Mallrats
Clerks
Chasing Amy
BASEketball
Orgazmo
These pictures were taken from the Official Dogma Website
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