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Kevin Smith and religion have always had a complicated relationship, something made quite evident by his films. His earliest example of skewing religion through his writing was “Dogma,” released in 1999. Per an essay released with the special edition DVD of “Dogma,” Smith revealed that the idea had been percolating since before “Clerks.” Following the runaway success of “Chasing Amy,” Smith finally felt like he had reached the point that he could make “Dogma” properly.
The film follows Bethany Sloane (Linda Fiorentino), an abortion clinic counselor who finds herself thrust into a conflict spanning both heaven and hell. Two fallen angels, Bartleby (Ben Affleck) and Loki (Matt Damon), look to re-enter heaven, which would inadvertently nullify all of existence in the process. Aiding Bethany along the way are Jay and Silent Bob, who enter the film in grand fashion by battering some demonic hockey punks. The film is loaded with some stellar talent, including Chris Rock, Salma Hayek, George Carlin, and Alan Rickman. It also contains one of the most bizarre onscreen portrayals of God, played here by pop singer Alanis Morissette. From start to finish, “Dogma” is Smith firing on all cylinders, and stands as a perfect blend of his standard snark with some legitimately compelling storytelling.
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