Then in the next sequence Matt Damon as a semi-fallen angel named Loki also the name of the Norse god of mischief has a goofy monologue on The Walrus and the Carpenter as religious allegory: The Walrus, he says, stands for Eastern religions, since by his girth he resembles the Buddha and with his tusks he evokes "the Hindu elephant god"; while the Carpenter, naturally, stands for Christ, and by extension Western religion. This is just funny. I had Christian friends in college who did riffs like that; I remember a couple of guys developing a complex theory of higher criticism based on the cartoon-like illustrations in the Good News Bible.
But is it true, as the disclaimer insists, that Dogma is comedic fantasy "from start to finish"? Absolutely not. And what is the gospel according to Kevin? When was the last time you heard a speech like that in a mainstream Hollywood film?
When did you even hear the words "besmirched" and "bestowed" in the same sentence? Well, as the above excerpt implies, unbelief would seem to be bad news. And at times the film takes on a catalogue of sins including idolatry, adultery, suicide, and cheating on taxes. The big one, though, is the factioning of all the religions.
Mankind got it all wrong by taking a good idea and building a belief structure out of it. And here we come to the heart of the gospel according to Kevin: "Faith" is good , but "religion" — systems of belief, dogma, ritual — these are not good or "not so good," as Smith himself amended when I saw him in person. A few men attack him and we later see them lying on the floor. A man hits another demon with a golf club and black goo oozes out. Be aware that while we do our best to avoid spoilers it is impossible to disguise all details and some may reveal crucial plot elements.
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Know when new reviews are published We will never sell or share your email address with anybody and you can unsubscribe at any time. Donate About Us Contact Us. Dogma R - 5. For a long time, any movie dealing with religion had to be run past Hollywood's resident monsignors, ministers and rabbis for approval the habits of actual orders of nuns could not even be portrayed, which led to great ingenuity in the costume department.
On the other hand, nobody has any problem with a movie that treats spiritual matters on the level of the supernatural. This has led to an emerging anti-religion based on magic, ghosts, reincarnation, mediums and other new age voodoo. Talk shows allow "psychics" to answer your questions over the phone, but God forbid they would put on a clergyman to supply thoughtful spiritual advice.
And if a movie dares to deal with what people actually believe, all hell, so to speak, breaks loose. Kevin Smith has made a movie that reflects the spirit in which many Catholics regard their church. He has positioned his comedy on the balance line between theological rigidity and secular reality, which is where so many Catholics find themselves. He deals with eternal questions in terms of flawed characters who live now, today, in an imperfect world. Those whose approach to religion is spiritual will have little trouble with "Dogma," because they will understand the characters as imperfect, sincere, clumsy seekers trying to do the right thing.
Those who see religion more as a team, a club, a hobby or a pressure group are going to be upset. This movie takes theological matters out of the hands of "spokesmen" and entrusts them to--well, the unwashed.
And goes so far as to suggest that God loves them. And is a Canadian. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from until his death in In , he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. Kevin Smith as Silent Bob. Salma Hayek as Serendipity. Ben Affleck as Bartleby.
Jason Mewes as Jay. Chris Rock as Rufus. Alan Rickman as Metatron. Matt Damon as Loki. Linda Fiorentino as Bethany.
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