Posted by Placenta Jones at dpsnet.detpub.k12.mi.us on November 09, 1999 at 11:51:28:
If you're interested...
This is AP's review of Dogma. It's mixed, although it does have some very complimentary comments. The reviewer's basic complaint is that the movie starts out strong and then (thanks to pacing) the flick loses momentum.
Oh well, get ready to cast stones...
At the Movies: `Dogma'
By CHRISTY LEMIRE Associated Press Writer
Hype and controversy, fire and brimstone surround the release of Kevin Smith's ``Dogma.'' Angry Catholics who haven't even seen the movie besiege Smith with hate mail, which he's only too happy to post on the film's Web site.
But the devout need not worry - ``Dogma'' isn't the first sign of the apocalypse. The film's cardinal sin is its unevenness: It starts out enormously funny and then grinds to a halt without ever regaining momentum.
Writer-director Smith bills his movie as ``a comic fantasia.'' Its surreal, for sure, and tackles religion in a totally innovative way.
Try to follow the premise: Loki (Matt Damon) and Bartleby (Ben Affleck) are fallen angels who have been banished from heaven to a place they imagine is worse than hell - Wisconsin. They figure if they can get to New Jersey and walk through the doors of a 100-year-old church, they can re-enter heaven and prove God fallible, therefore negating existence. But God has chosen Bethany (Linda Fiorentino), an Illinois abortion clinic worker and wavering Catholic, to stop them from entering the church and save the world.
The basic plot isn't even the most convoluted part. There are so many layers of activity going on at once, it's hard to figure out who is doing what to whom. Smith adds to the mix a stripper/muse, a trio of homicidal skate punks from hell and even himself - re-creating the role of Silent Bob from his previous films like ``Clerks.''
``Dogma'' boasts a strong ensemble cast, including George Carlin, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Alan Rickman, Janeane Garofalo and Jason Lee. There's even Alanis Morissette as an ethereal, goofy God who takes human form so she can visit Earth to play skee-ball.
But there are almost too many stars, each of whom gets a lengthy monologue on faith, God and the world as we know it. Like ``Clerks,'' Smith's first film, ``Dogma'' is talky. It's also too long, although it reportedly began life at three hours and has been trimmed to just over two.
Much of the dialogue is extremely funny, though. The film begins with Carlin, as Cardinal Glick, announcing a public relations campaign called ``Catholicism WOW!'' that features a smiling, winking ``Buddy Christ'' who gives the thumbs-up sign. ``Christ didn't come to Earth to give us the willies,'' the cardinal says, pointing to an austere looking crucifix.
Meanwhile, Loki and Bartleby kill time at the Milwaukee airport by talking nuns out of believing in God and reading the thoughts of people walking off airplanes. After the first half hour, though, the pacing slows, and there are endless stretches of time between the quick bursts of humor.
Several elaborately constructed scenes go nowhere, including one in which Loki and Bartleby ambush a board of directors meeting of ``Mooby the Cow,'' a cartoon golden calf in boxer shorts that's clearly a spoof of Mickey Mouse. Bartleby catalogs the sins of all the directors before Loki uses them for target practice with his new gun. The scene is not funny - it's not even biting social commentary.
But Damon and Affleck have great chemistry as always, and each turns in a strong performance - especially Affleck, who is proving himself increasingly versatile.
Fiorentino functions well as the only ordinary person in the bunch; she manages to go along on this wild journey without losing her sense of self.
Rickman gets some of the best lines, and is perfectly wry and uppity as the voice of God. She can't speak for herself, so why shouldn't she have a rich English accent instead?
And the subject matter - which has caused such a tizzy - is mild, indeed. Ultimately, the characters enjoy redemption and a real shot at faith.
``Dogma'' is rated R, containing strong language and violence. It began life as a release of Miramax Films - a Disney subsidiary - but controversy over the movie's subject matter forced it to the more independent Lions Gate Films. Running time: 125 minutes.