Commandments (1997)

Seth Warner has reached the end of his rope. Ever since his wife died two years earlier, his world has been in turmoil. He is despondent, his career has fallen apart, even his house has ... See full summary »

Director:

Daniel Taplitz

Writer:

Daniel Taplitz

Stars:

Aidan Quinn, Courteney Cox, Anthony LaPaglia

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Aidan Quinn	...	Seth Warner
Courteney Cox	...	Rachel Luce
Anthony LaPaglia	...	Harry Luce
Shirl Bernheim	...	Sylvia Andrew
Peter Jacobson	...	Banker
Patrick Garner	...	Banker
Marcia DeBonis	...	Receptionist
Pamela Gray	...	Melissa Murphy
Lisa Louise Langford	...	Paramedic
Chris McGinn	...	Nurse
Louis Zorich	...	Rudy Warner
Scott Sowers	...	Detective Malhoney
Pat McNamara	...	Police Chief Warren
Jack Gilpin	...	Gordon Bloom
Amy Sedaris	...	Scholar

Storyline

Seth Warner has reached the end of his rope. Ever since his wife died two years earlier, his world has been in turmoil. He is despondent, his career has fallen apart, even his house has been destroyed. There seems to be nothing left for him to live for. Confused and angry after two years of suffering, he finally directs his wrath at God from the rooftop of his apartment building in New York City. In the midst of a wild thunderstorm he demands to know why he has been betrayed by the god he has believed in and honored his whole life. God's answer is to strike down Seth's dog in a bolt of lightning. Pushed beyond his limits, Seth decides to respond to his years of torment by breaking each of the biblical Ten Commandments. While staying with his sister-in-law, Rachel, much to the chagrin of her shifty reporter husband, Harry, he systematically sets out to break each commandment one by one. A natural at breaking commandments, Harry is drawn to Seth's mission in the hopes of using it to ...

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Plot Keywords:

new york city | reporter | hurricane | ten commandments | widower | 

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Taglines:

A comedy that breaks the rules.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 May 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Commandements

Filming Locations:

Montauk, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$312,438, 4 May 1997, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$488,419, 11 May 1997

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures,Northern Lights Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Rachel talks with Seth about her being betrayed by Harry, her haircut changes - in one she has some hair on her forehead, in the next take she doesn't, and then she does again.

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Quotes

Gordon Bloom: For the record, if you were murdered, how would that make you feel?

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Breakdown/Warriors of Virtue/Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery/Truth or Consequences/Commandments (1997)

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Soundtracks

After Dark
Written by Tito Larriva and Steven Hufsteter
Performed by Tito Larriva (as Tito) and Tarantula
Produced by Tito Larriva, Robert Rodriguez and Mark Goldenberg
Mixed by Joel Soyfter

User Reviews

Although Being One of the Weirdest Movies I Ever Seen, It Is Also an Enjoyable and Intriguing Black Humor Film With an Outstanding Cast

Seth Warner (Aidan Quinn) is a deranged and very confused man, since he lost almost simultaneously his pregnant wife in the sea, his house in a hurricane and his job. He believes God has a plan for him, and he decides to challenge God, breaking the ten commandments, to press Him to show his destiny. After a breakdown, when Seth tried to commit suicide, his sister-in-law and lawyer Rachel Luce (the gorgeous Courtney Cox) invites him to spend some days in her apartment to rest and recover his health. This invitation is made under the protest of her husband, the journalist and scum Harry Luce (Anthony LaPaglia). Many strange events happen along Seth's attempting of pressing God to show the fate He has planned for him. First of all, this is one of the weirdest movie I have ever seen. The story is unpredictable and we never know what is going to happen next. In the middle of the plot, the movie loses the rhythm a little bit, but its conclusion is very reasonable. This movie plays with religion, using a very black humor. But maybe its greatest point is the outstanding cast. In my opinion, Aidan Quinn, Anthony LaPaglia and Courtney Cox are excellent actors and actress, unfortunately underrated in the cinema industry. I have seen many good movies with them, but they are not promoted as other less talented actors and actresses. Courtney Cox is also a very beautiful woman, and it is a great pleasure for my eyes to see her good performance on the screen. This film is not indicated for all audiences, since it plays with religion. Some persons may feel offended with the jokes. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): `Quebrando os 10 Mandamentos' (`Breaking the Ten Commandments)