'Dogma' raises questions, with predictable protests

Directed by: Kevin Smith

Starring: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Chris Rock, Alan Rickman

Rated: R

A decade ago, much hoopla and gnashing of teeth surrounded the release of director Martin Scorsese's "The Last Temptation of Christ." So much so, in fact, that the film never saw wide release. I had to go to an independently owned theater in Kansas City, Kan., to see it.

Never mind that most of the people claiming the film was blasphemous had never seen it. Heaven forbid anyone might watch it and make up their own mind. And never mind that Scorsese takes his Catholicism fairly seriously and considered the film based on a novel by Nikos Kazantzakis as an examination of Christ's duality of being. If Jerry, Pat, Jimmy and the folks at the Catholic League all say it's bad, it must be bad. I guess freedom of religion has its bounds when governed by the religious hierarchy.

It comes as no surprise, then, that William Donahue's Catholic League is leading a loud protest over Kevin Smith's latest film, "Dogma."

Consider these offenses: George Carlin plays a cardinal, Chris Rock is Rufus, the 13th apostle, Jay and Silent Bob (mainstays of Smith's films) are modern-day prophets and the supreme being is played by a pop star known for appearing naked in a rock video. (No, it's not Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.)

What the naysayers are missing this time around is the fact that Smith, despite his track record with the cult hit "Clerks," and the frank-talk-about-sex wonder "Chasing Amy," is a devout, practicing Catholic. How many big-name Hollywood stars do you think actually attend church every Sunday and go so far as to tithe their income. Darned oh, heck, make that damned few, is my guess.

So what Smith deals with in the decidedly irreverent, but hardly blasphemous, "Dogma" are the feelings of alienation many members of organized religion feel when they perceive dogmatic church doctrines supersede the teachings of Christ.

The film opens, after a few hilarious screens of disclaimers that had the audience roaring, with Cardinal Glick (Carlin) announcing the first phase of his "Catholicism, Wow!" campaign. He unveils a new symbol, to replace the dreary crucifix. A statue with an outstretched arm giving the thumbs up, the other hand in an OK sign and a winking eye is introduced as the buddy Christ.

Glick also announces at the dedication of a newly restored church, that all who pass through the doors will be granted a plenary indulgence, allowing them forgiveness of sin and a guaranteed entrance into heaven.

This comes to the attention of two Earth bound angels (Ben Affleck and Matt Damon) who have been banished for all eternity to Wisconsin. If they can pass through that door, they reason, they can finally go home. There's one little flaw to the plan: If they pull it off, it will prove God to be fallible and all existence will simply cease to be.

The heavenly hosts can have none of this. Many are dispatched to remedy the situation. First, there's the angel Metatron, who through the ages has been the mouthpiece of the Lord. He appears to Bethany, a woman who works in an abortion clinic. While she still attends Mass, she lately has been questioning her faith. She just can't understand why Metatron has chosen her for this important mission. She's to go to the cathedral in New Jersey and prevent the banished angels from carrying out their plan.

Before she goes, she is rescued from a mugging by two modern-day prophets in the form of Jay and Silent Bob, who have been hanging around the clinic with the belief that it's a dandy place to pick up loose women. They, too, are headed to Jersey, and agree to let Bethany tag along.

As troubles mount, Rufus, the 13th apostle left out of the Bible because he's black, literally falls from the sky to aid the unlikely trio. Other creatures, great and small, some commissioned by Heaven, others straight out of Hell, pop up along the way.

In the end there's a somewhat violent finale (not Armageddon, but a fair amount of carnage) and the Lord finally appears.

Some will no doubt find the film offensive, both because of its satirical barbs at the Catholic Church and the crude language, mostly spouted by Jay.

What's most surprising about "Dogma" is the serious, and completely cynicism-free, message that Smith (at times a bit too preachy himself) is trying to impart.

"Dogma" is a courageous, at times even daring, piece of filmmaking. No wonder it's raising protests in certain quarters. It might actually make some people think for themselves.

There's a great line in "Dogma" that seems to sum up Smith's feelings: "I have issues with anyone who treats their faith like a burden rather than a blessing."

(Jim Wunderle works at Associated Video Producers and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.)