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 “Dogma” takes shots at organized religion |
by Tom Snyder
Correspondent |
After bearing witness to Kevin Smith's new religious fantasia, “Dogma,” I've made up my mind: faith is a funny thing. And I mean that both literally and figuratively. Most people like to believe that they have it--that sacred trust in an Almighty Deity--but too many are just bullshitting themselves. Most of us do not love God; we just love ourselves too much to risk burning in hell for eternity. As Salma Hayek's character, the heavenly muse Serendipity, declares: "You people don't celebrate your faith, you mourn it."
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He likes it! He likes it!
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That's one of many too-true ideas batted playfully around in writer/director Kevin Smith's latest dialogue-driven film, “Dogma,” a movie loaded with talent, laughs, and Biblical references to make the most staunch religious fundamentalist check their scriptures.
“Dogma” is a fun film filled with great ideas. Smith may revert to toilet humor one too many times (did we really need a scene centered around a shit-shooting demon created from 2,000 year old excrement?) and his visual style may lack definition, but in most cases the humor and comic book-style images work wonderfully. From the very beginning--where Smith inserts several lines of mock "disclaimer notes"--I was reminded of Monty Python and their search for the Holy Grail.
But in the case of “Dogma,” the search is far more important than the cup of Christ. No, our heroes here-- Bethany (Linda Fiorentino), a lonely abortion clinic worker and Smith regulars Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith)--are on a mission to save the world.
What's the crisis? It seems that two Earthbound angels--Loki (Matt Damon) and Bartleby (Ben Affleck), cast down to spend eternity in Wisconsin for defying God, have found a loophole in Catholic dogma. In a New Jersey cathedral run by commercial-crazy Cardinal Glick (George Carlin in a bit of genius casting), plans have been made and set that guarantees that anyone who passes through the church's gates on the 100 year anniversary of the building will be instantly cleansed of all sins and allowed into heaven. The problem: if Loki and Bartleby succeed and return to heaven, they will undo existence by going against God's decree, thus proving him fallible. Confusing? Such is Catholicism.
How can a self-doubting Catholic and two stoners save mankind? The surprise is half the fun. Aided by a muse, Hayek's Serendipity, a black 13th Apostle, Rufus (Chris Rock in a fine performance), and Metatron (Alan Rickman), the Voice of God, the mission is definitely a long and perilous one. I wouldn't want to ruin the experience by revealing any more plot points, but I will add this: it isn't all laughs. Despite great comic stuff by Mewes' Jay: "[we hang out around abortion clinics because] it's a good place to meet loose women," the film is quite serious in its dissection of the many pitfalls of organized religion. And it doesn't get any more serious than Bartleby and Loki's reign of terror on proud and fearless sinners (one scene at "Mooby Inc." makes it painfully obvious why Disney dropped this film like a load of broken bricks).
How sad it is that mankind has taken something so simple and sacred as faith in God and screwed it up so royally with unneeded laws and regulations. Does it really matter which denomination you belong to, or which Christmas holidays you celebrate? No--all that matters is that you have faith. Why are so many wars and campaigns and crusades carried out in God's name? Why doesn't God speak directly to us? Why are we here? Go see “Dogma” and maybe you'll see the light. And hey, even if you don't, you'll laugh your a-- off. |
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