Dogma (Lion's Gate, R)
Starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Linda Fiorentino
Rating:
Four stars - the most original movie of any year, if it weren't for that pesky little "Being John Malcovich." Second best ain't bad, I can vouch.
Sometimes deciding whether a movie is good or great treads a very thin line and requires much hindsight. Of course, the ability to have hindsight would assume that those critiquing the movie actually viewed the movie in the first place.
"Dogma" politely waves with a wink and a smile as it surpasses the inane protests of the Catholic League with a tour-de-force of comedic storytelling, becoming a hodge-podge of glowing superlatives that can only be summarized as a "must see."
The "comic fantasia" is a little story about two ex-angels, Loki and Bartleby (Damon and Affleck). Formerly of Soddom and Gomorrah fame, the duo was exiled for some arguments with the power at the top of the totem pole.
Wasting away in the heaven-on-earth known as Wisconsin, hope ceases to be found until a little newspaper article makes its way into their possession. It seems a certain Cardinal Glick (George Carlin), as part of the "Catholocism, Wow!" campaign, is planning a ceremony declaring all that pass through the arch of his New Jersey church blessed (thus, becoming the only positive thing ever to occur in New Jersey).
If Loki and Bartleby can pass through this arch, they can finally return to the holy Sandals resort in the sky. What the ex-angels fail to realize is if they would return to heaven through the loophole, then the word of God is proven to be not all its cracked up to be. Given Catholic doctrine, this would go against everything and negate the whole of human existance, a.k.a. not the most ideal of situations.
Given the seriousness of the situation, God sends Metatron (Alan Rickman), the mouthpiece for God's will, to seek out a human to stop the renegadeangels. He chooses Bethany (Fiorentino), a Catholic undergoing a reflection of her own faith that just so happens to work at an abortion clinic.
Aiding Bethany's quest include Rufus (Chris Rock) as the ignored 13th apostle, the former muse and current stripper Serendipidy (Salma Hayek) and two prophets known by film fans everywhere as Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith).
But the forces of "evil" are not the lowly underdogs. Aiding and abetting Loki and Bartleby are three hellspawn hockey punks and the ex-muse and current dapper angel Azrael (Jason Lee) as holy thorns in everyone's side.
After a lengthy introductory period that aids the audience in understanding what the heck is going on, it becomes clear that everything is building to a showdown to end all showdowns, the ultimate battle of good and evil in the stadium known as New Jersey.
There are so many strong points in this movie, it is almost impossible to name all of them. Major kudos or "props" shouldbe mailed to Smith's humble abode. Written around the time of "Clerks," the epic, complicated story beautifully balances the aspects of audience guiding as well as letting us figure things out on our own.
It isn't just how the story is told, but also the juicy religious content. Many people will look at this movie and say, "I can't believe it, this movie actually makes a lot of sense about what religion is all about." Who knew a comic book writer and small budget director could be a beacon of holy light?
Helping Smith tell his epic are a host of quality actors and nary a weak point. Affleck, Damon and Rock all shine on in roles that require both comedic timing and a great understanding of the subject matter. Jason Lee continues to be one of this viewer's favorite actors (it never really was in doubt), and who could forget Alanis Morissette's turn as the humor-loving, skee-ball addicted human form of God? While some may consider such an idea blasphemous, it is comforting to think that God likes to laugh, even if her voice can't be heard by mere mortals.
Go see "Dogma." Even She would give it two almighty thumbs up.
Originally published in the 11/18/99 edition of the Northern Star.
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