Dogma (1999)
Introduction
Hello you. Make a cup of tea. Put a record on. By 1999, Britain had barely scraped through Britpop’s implosion, Blair’s nauseating grin was everywhere, and everyone was still blissfully ignorant about how shite the millennium would be. Meanwhile, across the pond, Kevin Smith had Clerks and Chasing Amy under his belt, and was about to piss off half the planet with Dogma, a film equally capable of theological introspection and dick jokes.
Plot Summary
Two fallen angels, Bartleby (Ben Affleck) and Loki (Matt Damon), decide to exploit a Catholic loophole to stroll back into Heaven. Problem is, this isn’t some bureaucratic oversight, it’s the end of existence itself. Standing in their way is Bethany (Linda Fiorentino), a cynical abortion clinic worker, recruited by the angel Metatron (Alan Rickman) and accompanied by the world’s weirdest road trip crew: Rufus, the forgotten apostle (Chris Rock), Serendipity, a muse stripping for cash (Salma Hayek), and those reliably foul-mouthed philosophers, Jay and Silent Bob.
Behind the Scenes
Alan Rickman joined on two conditions: no CGI angel wings and zero dialogue changes. Smith agreed instantly, upgrading production prestige and scaring Jason Mewes shitless. Mewes, terrified of pissing off "that Rickman dude," memorised the whole bloody script, not just his lines.
The film, shot cheaply around Pittsburgh, somehow still manages to look like a heavenly apocalypse rather than an industrial shit-heap.
Casting was messy. Miramax vetoed Smith’s muse Joey Lauren Adams, pushing for someone "more recognisable." Emma Thompson dodged the God role due to pregnancy, making room for Alanis Morissette’s wonderfully surreal cameo.
Smith, ever the mischievous bastard, even turned up to protest his own film with a sign reading “Dogma is dogshit,” thoroughly confusing genuine protesters and cementing his place as cinema’s cheekiest sod.
Key Quote
“You people. If there isn’t a movie about it, it’s not worth knowing, is it?”
— Metatron
A perfectly sardonic jab at humanity's need for spoon-fed existentialism.
For Fans Of
The Big Lebowski (1998). Irreverent, philosophical, and unapologetically absurdist cinema at its finest.
Memorable Moments
Golgothan Rampage: A monster of human waste. Yes, Smith actually filmed a shit demon, and it works disturbingly well.
Loki’s Massacre: Matt Damon smiting a boardroom is hilariously dark, showing divine justice gone brutally corporate.
God’s Arrival: Alanis Morissette grinning like an enlightened idiot proves divinity doesn't need thunderbolts and stern frowns.
Easter Eggs
Buddy Christ: Originally a throwaway gag, this grinning Jesus statue became a cultural meme mocking religious commercialism.
Clerks Alumni Cameos: Spot Brian O’Halloran and Jeff Anderson briefly appearing—Smith rewarding loyal viewers with in-jokes.
Mooby’s Universe: Pay attention to references to Mooby’s fast-food chain, Smith’s satirical jab at corporate omnipresence and religious idolatry.
Why You Should Care
Dogma is a thought-provoking, intelligently crafted film wrapped in the guise of a stoner comedy. It refuses easy categorisation, sidestepping lazy satire for a heartfelt, biting interrogation of faith’s absurdities and beauties alike. It treats religion with genuine curiosity rather than smug dismissal. The cast elevates every scene, from Rickman’s dry angelic wit to Chris Rock’s razor-sharp commentary on religious whitewashing. And if theological debate isn’t your thing, there’s still a monster made of literal shit.
