Commandments (1997)

His wife dies, his house destroyed, gets fired and his dog struck by lightning, when he shouts "Why?" at God. He decides to break all ten commandments. He moves in with his sister-in-law and cheating reporter husband.

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:

downward spiral | new york city | reporter | hurricane | ten commandments | 

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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

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

References Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

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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

Undertones of the Movie

This movie generates serveral undertones and brings several questions to surface. Main plot of defying God's commandments being carried out in a general way still shows that he is a forgiving God in the way he allows him to get a fresh start again.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 May 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Commandments

Filming Locations:

Montauk, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$312,437, 4 May 1997

Gross USA:

$548,561

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$548,561

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