If you haven't watched the Dogma movie, believe me - it's worth it! The ingenious work of director Kevin Smith, released in 1999, received mixed reviews from critics and a wide public outcry. Most viewers were delighted, but there were those whom the film had offended to the core. But the main thing is that there are no indifferents, and isn't that the ultimate goal of the creators of any movie?
About the film "Dogma" a lot of reviews. Let's find out the impressions of the audience and reveal the secret to the success of the sensational comedy.
How it all began?
Prior to appearing on Dogma, director Kevin Smith was known for his comedy drama Chasing Amy. For this work, he received the Independent Spirit Award in the nomination "Best Screenplay of 1998."
Dogma was conceived much earlier, but until the year 1999, the young director filming independent American cinema simply did not have enough funds to implement the project.
The shooting was conducted by View Askew Productions, a production company founded by Smith himself and his friend Scott Monsieur. At that time, the director was only 29 years old. The budget of the tape was $ 10 million, and box office receipts in America alone exceeded $ 30.5 million.
This picture brought Kevin Smith worldwide fame and commercial success. And the first thing that the audience noted after watching the movie "Dogma" in the reviews is how such a young director managed to realize such a grandiose plan?
Enchanting cast
In almost every review, people write that their favorite actors are the main reason that prompted them to watch this movie:
- Ben Affleck by that time had already starred in Armageddon and Shakespeare in Love, and here he perfectly played the role of the disgraced angel Bartleby.
- Matt Damon, along with Ben Affleck, played in the film "Good Will Hunting", and in "Dogma" starred in the role of the second fallen angel - Loki.
- Salma Hayek has already fallen in love with the whole world with a short but vibrant role in From Dusk Till Dawn. In the film "Dogma," she is a muse, and part-time as a stripper.
- Director Kevin Smith (Silent Bob) and Jason Muse (Jay) are a very colorful pair of prophets.
Viewers also mention Alan Rickman and Jason Lee. And, of course, the star of "Dogma" was the beloved by many Linda Fiorentino, who became famous after the painting "Men in Black". With this cast, the film was doomed to success, but the plot became the cause of the attacks.
Briefly about the main thing (without any spoilers)
Judging by the reviews, the plot of the film is stunning and discouraging. No wonder: Kevin Smith turns upside down literally everything that seriously undermines the authority of the Catholic Church and the faith as a whole. But more on that later.
The main thing is that the director issued a completely new idea. Neither before nor after did anyone dare to do so. Judge for yourself.
The disgraced angels of Bartleby and Loki are cast down from heaven. But not to hell, this would be too soft a punishment for them, but to Wisconsin, where they are forced to spend eternity hanging out idle among ordinary mortals.
And to remain there until the end of the centuries, if it were not for a gross violation of church dogmas - the decision of the eccentric Cardinal Glick to absolve everyone who on a certain day passes through the arch of the church in New Jersey. But if the fallen angels succeed in returning to paradise, then God is not so omnipotent, and with the loss of his infallibility, the whole universe will collapse.
Catholic Bethany, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Jesus Christ, who has lost faith, should become the savior of humanity, as she learns from the Archangel Metatron who appeared to her.
It sounds crazy, but judging by many reviews of the Dogma movie, religion here is just a backdrop for revealing important human feelings, relationships, exposing vices and prejudices. Unfortunately, not everyone noticed this, but the problems began at the stage of filming the picture.
Malice intrigues
Kevin Smith never kept secret his projects and became famous for his active communication with fans.
Even before the release of the film Dogma in 1999, the director began to receive threatening letters. He was accused of blasphemy and anti-Catholicism, and this despite the fact that Kevin Smith is a Catholic himself. Then came the protests, and later attempts to disrupt the premiere of the film, organized by various religious groups.
But they didn’t attack that. Kevin Smith is a person with a very specific sense of humor, so he took part in one of the boycotts, where he was seen in a crowd of protesters with a banner Dogma is Dogshit (we won’t translate literally).
In spite of everything, the film was successfully released, collected its millions, and by the end of 1999, video tapes appeared in Russia, which were actively sold out and corresponded.
What people really liked
First of all, the audience is impressed by the new movie format, where the life of ordinary people and celestials is presented in a completely different, sometimes shocking light.
In the positive reviews of the film "Dogma", and most of them, people say:
- amazing cast;
- directing and acting;
- unusual, original, amazing, absurd plot;
- intrigue, dynamics and entertainment;
- the eternal theme of the struggle between good and evil;
- funny characters;
- humor (including black), irony, sarcasm and dialogues;
- soundtrack;
- Russian translation;
- the final.
"There are no minuses and cannot be" - this is the most common assessment of the film "Dogma" (1999). Negative reviews are extremely few, but in fairness we will consider them.
What people categorically did not like
Even in positive reviews, viewers note that they will not recommend this movie to religious, deeply religious people, especially if they are deprived of a sense of humor. Yes, the jokes here are humble and often “below the belt”, although the plot is built on the theme of faith.
Of course, it was disgusting to someone, and the "vulgar, farcical comedy" was scolded for the following moments:
- profanity and obscene gestures;
- it is a slap in the face to all believers;
- too much black humor and vulgarity;
- bloody scenes;
- Golgofinyanin (Crap) is clearly not the topic;
- smoking propaganda.
The only thing in which enthusiastic and dissatisfied spectators agree is that this movie is not for children. And they are absolutely right.
Be sure to watch the movie "Dogma", and do not be too lazy to leave a review. Either you join the cult comedy fans camp, or want to shower them with rotten tomatoes. There are no other options.