Call off the Dog, Ma! Time for Another Kevin Smith Review!
Oooh, there’s special layer of hell just waiting for me after I did that subject line, it’s the one just down the hall from the reserved child molesters and people who talk in the theater.
But damnation is apropos for this review, so hop into the nearest hand-basket, oh not-so-faithful reader, as we’re reviewing Dogma.
Kevin Smith is no stranger to controversy. His films are filled with vulgar language, he accused of gay-bashing in Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, promoting gays in Chasing Amy, and he also had Bennifer 1 in Jersey Girl shortly after the whole Gigli fiasco. But no film of his garnered as much media attention as Dogma. Why? Well because it deals with religion, and as we all know, religion is serious business!
The story revolves around two angels, Bartleby and Loki (Ben Affleck & Matt Damon), who were banished to Earth, or to be more precise, Wisconsin, for defying God. However they might have found a loophole out of the Earthly plane of existence and back into heaven. They merely have to get to a church in New Jersey, which has received plenary indulgence and by walking through the doors all their sins will be forgiven and they can return to heaven. The only problem is that reality exists on the idea that God is infallible, and if they sneak around Gods decrees it will, in fact, unmake reality. So the voice of God, the Metatron (Alan Rickman) taps Bethany (Linda Fiorentino), a Catholic who’s in the middle of a crisis-of-faith, to stop the angels. Along the ways she meets up with a diverse cast of characters to help her including Jay & Silent Bob, the 13th apostle Rufus (Chris Rock) and an angelic-muse-turned-stripper Serendipity (Salma Hayek). In her way is Azrael, a demon, and street-hockey geared demonic triplets as his goons.
This is a good film. It’s perhaps as not as good as it could have been though. The story is epic, but the limited budget and Kevin Smith’s style of filming I think hamper the story to some degree. Nothing looks bad but nothing really looks good either. I’ve often thought that this is a story that might have been better served if it had been made into a comic book. It would have allowed Smith to take more time with the story (the film itself is just over 2 hours but there is around 100 minutes (!) of deleted scenes). The story also just feels like a graphic novel, bits and pieces reminding me of parts of Neil Gaiman’s “Sandman” or Garth Ennis’ “Preacher.”
That said, even if it didn’t live up to its potential, the product we do get does work. It’s a good story with a message about faith, religion and belief systems. I personally don’t understand the controversy though, as I don’t see this as an attack on the Catholics or any religion really. Oh there’s a few things invented here for the screen, like the 13th apostle Rufus, but a lot of it is based on real Catholic beliefs and mythology (though some of it apocryphal). I suppose the idea that a complex belief system isn’t as important as having a good idea and having faith where one can find it rather than being told to believe something because that’s what you’re supposed to believe might be somewhat controversial to some but to me that so close to what I believe it seems like someone saying “The sky is blue.” But that gets into a debate I’m not prepared to nor desiring of delving into today’s blog.
Anyways, I’m not a theologian. But this is a fun story, some epic parts and some great gags. Easily my favorite character is Metatron. “Human beings have neither the aural nor the psychological capacity to withstand the awesome power of God's true voice. Were you to hear it, your mind would cave in and your heart would explode within your chest. We went through five Adams before we figured that one out.” He’s perfect as someone with a powerful and commanding voice who will then take the piss out of what he just said.
Damon & Affleck work well together, though neither gives the performance of a lifetime, but they have good patter together and some occasional glimpses of being really good. Chris Rock is actually really good here, Rock normally is just played for laughs (which he does here as well) but here he does seem to show a bit of wisdom beyond his years. Lee is actually really, really good as Azrael, both sinister and yet somewhat charming. George Carlin has a minor role as Cardinal who hilarious, trying to make Catholicism seem hip and cool and instead just making it seem corny (though the Buddy Christ is awesome). I have to admit I’m not terribly fond of Fiorentino. It’s not that I think she’s a bad actress, but there’s something about her that just doesn’t quite mesh with the rest of the cast. I think it’s somewhat telling that Smith, who loves to reuse actors in new roles in his films has never had her come back.
So would I recommend this film? Yes, probably one of the more easily recommended ones he’s done. Why? Because while it contains the same vulgar humor Smith is known for and I can quibble some details, there is a really fascinating story here. It pokes at religion but you get the sense that this was something born out of his beliefs and faith and never seems to take anyone’s personal belief for granted. For a guy who has built his life on dick & fart jokes, it carries a complex tale and makes it work.
Until next time!
But damnation is apropos for this review, so hop into the nearest hand-basket, oh not-so-faithful reader, as we’re reviewing Dogma.
Kevin Smith is no stranger to controversy. His films are filled with vulgar language, he accused of gay-bashing in Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, promoting gays in Chasing Amy, and he also had Bennifer 1 in Jersey Girl shortly after the whole Gigli fiasco. But no film of his garnered as much media attention as Dogma. Why? Well because it deals with religion, and as we all know, religion is serious business!
The story revolves around two angels, Bartleby and Loki (Ben Affleck & Matt Damon), who were banished to Earth, or to be more precise, Wisconsin, for defying God. However they might have found a loophole out of the Earthly plane of existence and back into heaven. They merely have to get to a church in New Jersey, which has received plenary indulgence and by walking through the doors all their sins will be forgiven and they can return to heaven. The only problem is that reality exists on the idea that God is infallible, and if they sneak around Gods decrees it will, in fact, unmake reality. So the voice of God, the Metatron (Alan Rickman) taps Bethany (Linda Fiorentino), a Catholic who’s in the middle of a crisis-of-faith, to stop the angels. Along the ways she meets up with a diverse cast of characters to help her including Jay & Silent Bob, the 13th apostle Rufus (Chris Rock) and an angelic-muse-turned-stripper Serendipity (Salma Hayek). In her way is Azrael, a demon, and street-hockey geared demonic triplets as his goons.
This is a good film. It’s perhaps as not as good as it could have been though. The story is epic, but the limited budget and Kevin Smith’s style of filming I think hamper the story to some degree. Nothing looks bad but nothing really looks good either. I’ve often thought that this is a story that might have been better served if it had been made into a comic book. It would have allowed Smith to take more time with the story (the film itself is just over 2 hours but there is around 100 minutes (!) of deleted scenes). The story also just feels like a graphic novel, bits and pieces reminding me of parts of Neil Gaiman’s “Sandman” or Garth Ennis’ “Preacher.”
That said, even if it didn’t live up to its potential, the product we do get does work. It’s a good story with a message about faith, religion and belief systems. I personally don’t understand the controversy though, as I don’t see this as an attack on the Catholics or any religion really. Oh there’s a few things invented here for the screen, like the 13th apostle Rufus, but a lot of it is based on real Catholic beliefs and mythology (though some of it apocryphal). I suppose the idea that a complex belief system isn’t as important as having a good idea and having faith where one can find it rather than being told to believe something because that’s what you’re supposed to believe might be somewhat controversial to some but to me that so close to what I believe it seems like someone saying “The sky is blue.” But that gets into a debate I’m not prepared to nor desiring of delving into today’s blog.
Anyways, I’m not a theologian. But this is a fun story, some epic parts and some great gags. Easily my favorite character is Metatron. “Human beings have neither the aural nor the psychological capacity to withstand the awesome power of God's true voice. Were you to hear it, your mind would cave in and your heart would explode within your chest. We went through five Adams before we figured that one out.” He’s perfect as someone with a powerful and commanding voice who will then take the piss out of what he just said.
Damon & Affleck work well together, though neither gives the performance of a lifetime, but they have good patter together and some occasional glimpses of being really good. Chris Rock is actually really good here, Rock normally is just played for laughs (which he does here as well) but here he does seem to show a bit of wisdom beyond his years. Lee is actually really, really good as Azrael, both sinister and yet somewhat charming. George Carlin has a minor role as Cardinal who hilarious, trying to make Catholicism seem hip and cool and instead just making it seem corny (though the Buddy Christ is awesome). I have to admit I’m not terribly fond of Fiorentino. It’s not that I think she’s a bad actress, but there’s something about her that just doesn’t quite mesh with the rest of the cast. I think it’s somewhat telling that Smith, who loves to reuse actors in new roles in his films has never had her come back.
So would I recommend this film? Yes, probably one of the more easily recommended ones he’s done. Why? Because while it contains the same vulgar humor Smith is known for and I can quibble some details, there is a really fascinating story here. It pokes at religion but you get the sense that this was something born out of his beliefs and faith and never seems to take anyone’s personal belief for granted. For a guy who has built his life on dick & fart jokes, it carries a complex tale and makes it work.
Until next time!