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Dogma (1999)

Tous publics | | Adventure, Comedy, Drama | 19 January 2000 (France)
Trailer
2:20 | Trailer
An abortion clinic worker with a special heritage is called upon to save the existence of humanity from being negated by two renegade angels trying to exploit a loop-hole and reenter Heaven.

Director:

Kevin Smith

Writer:

Kevin Smith
Popularity
2,784 ( 290)
8 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bud Cort ... John Doe Jersey
Barret Hackney Barret Hackney ... Stygian Triplet (as Barrett Hackney)
Jared Pfennigwerth Jared Pfennigwerth ... Stygian Triplet
Kitao Sakurai ... Stygian Triplet
George Carlin ... Cardinal Glick
Brian O'Halloran ... Grant Hicks (as Brian Christopher O'Halloran)
Betty Aberlin ... Nun
Matt Damon ... Loki
Ben Affleck ... Bartleby
Dan Etheridge Dan Etheridge ... Priest at St. Stephen's
Linda Fiorentino ... Bethany
Derek Milosavljevic Derek Milosavljevic ... Kissing Couple
Lesley Braden Lesley Braden ... Kissing Couple
Marie Elena O'Brien ... Clinic Girl (scenes deleted) (as MarieElena O'Brien)
Janeane Garofalo ... Liz
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Storyline

An abortion clinic worker with a special heritage is enlisted to prevent two angels from reentering Heaven and thus undoing the fabric of the universe. Along the way, she is aided by two prophets, Jay and Silent Bob. With the help of Rufus, the 13th Apostle, they must stop those who stand in their way and prevent the angels from entering Heaven. Written by Jerel Parenton <J.W.Parenton@student.tcu.edu>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Faith is a funny thing. See more »


Certificate:

Tous publics | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The Mooby restaurant's playground was created especially for the movie - it's shaped like a giant meat grinder. See more »

Goofs

The Catholic concept of a Plenary Indulgence is incorrectly described. When Bartleby describes the Plenary Indulgence offered upon passing through the doorway of the Cathedral during Cardinal Glick's rededication ceremony, he states that by passing through the doorway "all their sins will be forgiven." Additionally, Grant Hicks describes plenary indulgence as a "clean slate." However, an indulgence is not the forgiveness of sins, it is the removal of the need for temporal punishment for sins that have already been forgiven through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, i.e. confession and absolution by a priest. The indulgence allows the removal of the need for punishment through penance in the current life, or through Purgatory in the world to come. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen, the driving force behind Catholicism WOW, Cardinal Glick.
Cardinal Glick: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now we all know how the majority and the media in this country view the Catholic church. They think of us as a passe, archaic institution. People find the Bible obtuse... even hokey. Now in an effort to disprove all that the church has appointed this year as a time of renewal... both of faith and of style. For example, the crucifix. While it has been a time honored symbol...
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Crazy Credits

The director would like to thank: God - whose idea it was to make both this film and me Scott - the most spiritual agnostic I know Jenny - who gives me strength, love, and major booty Mom and Dad - who raised me Catholic, more or less Affleck - a pimp with passion Gordon - our honorary Catholic Jew Harvey - our man on the Inside, who didn't let us dangle The Folks at Lions Gate - who saved us from oblivion Mewes - see? sober living paid off Yeoman - for raising that visual bar Howard - for that sweet Shore score Sloss - the long arm of the Law Phil - for making that cold-call Kim - for holding down the fort Gina and Tony - for the full-court press Bry and Walt - for no end of support and amusement Laura and Monica - for keeping us on time, on budget, and keeping Mosier happy (professionally and otherwise) The Cast - for genius work at shameful rates The Crew - for long hours and even more shameful rates Tom Elliot and Shore Fire Studios - because I forgot to thank them in the "Amy" credits and Harley Quinn - for giving me the opportunity to raise my own little Catholic See more »

Alternate Versions

The UK cinema version altered a line of dialogue to receive a 15 certificate. All video and DVD versions restore that line. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Les pieds sur terre (2001) See more »

Soundtracks

Blue Danube Waltz Opus 314
Johann Strauss (as Strauss)
Courtesy of FirstCom & Chappell Recorded Music Library
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User Reviews

 
This should serve as an eye opener...
19 October 2009 | by CherryBlossomBoySee all my reviews

...provided that people care about it.

Only Kevin Smith knows what his real intentions were when he penned the script for "Dogma". I read somewhere that this is a thinly veiled propaganda for catholic church, or Christianity in general.

I don't see it that way at all. First of all, the surface is not thin at all. There are layers and layers of clever gags, dark humor and satire in this ride of pursuit.

The main premise is relatively simple - two rogue (or rejected or whatever) angels live on through present day, still doing what they've been doing throughout the Bible and trying to get back to heaven. Their only way to do it is through a loophole in catholic dogma, which, if exploited, would prove that god is fallible. For that they must be stopped and an earthly creature is recruited for the task. There is little time and thus the pursuit begins. During it various biblical elements come into play through their present-day form.

To some "Dogma" was eternal biblical struggle relived and modernized to better adjust to modern viewers. There are some argument in favor of that view. I'd say that the sheer fact that it's a satire (some poignant moments notwithstanding) and the campiness of realization actually tell the opposite tale. They show how this stuff the legends are made from (and still worshiped) fares when viewed through a prism of real life.

The two archetypal angels may have been prosecutors of evil in the Bible, but in real life they are just two self-righteous angry mass murderers. A biblical monster is in real life just a pile of crap, a dangerous one but crap nevertheless. God may be an infallible, omnipresent, omnipowerful creature in the Bible, but in reality its set of values, rules and powers are more becoming of a pop star than of a being that supposedly created everything. In fact you have to wonder about the power of "god" that has to follow rules.

Other various gags and skits, such as the black apostle (13th one at that), play on a virgin working in an abortion clinic and the other ones only reinforce the sense of unsubtle ridicule. In that regard "Dogma" did and will repel many a religious viewers and stir certain controversy. But its subtle message that the whole story is ultimately meaningless might finally make some people question their beliefs at last.


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Frequently Asked Questions

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 2000 (France) See more »

Also Known As:

Dogma See more »

Filming Locations:

New Jersey, USA See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,669,945, 14 November 1999

Gross USA:

$30,652,890

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$31,429,330
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Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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