The latest battle in the eternal war between Good and Evil has come to New Jersey in the
late, late 20th Century. In Kevin Smith's comic fantasia DOGMA, angels, demons, apostles
and prophets (of a sort) walk among the cynics and innocents of America and duke it out
for the fate of humankind.
In what can only be deemed a comedy parable, two renegade fallen angels attempt to
jerry-rig the entire cosmological system -- unless a rag-tag group of humans can stop
faith. Bethany (Linda Fiorentino), the heroine of DOGMA, is a woman who feels her prayers
haven't been answered when, out of nowhere, a heralding angel appears in her bedroom and
declares her the potential savior of humanity. This abrupt meeting sets her off on an
extraordinary journey of mystery, comedy and suspense as she is transported to a fantastical
world of celestial characters and spirited adventure. Along the way she will meet up with a
heaven-sent messenger (Alan Rickman), an apostle with a 2,000 year old beef (Chris Rock), a
hotheaded demon (Jason Lee), a heavenly Muse (Salma Hayek) and two unlikely Prophets known
as Jay and Silent Bob as they each discover the power of their own individual faith.
Few comedies have at stake the very fate of humankind, but DOGMA is not your usual comedy.
It is an imaginative and surreal adult fable bursting with wild ideas, fantastical creations
and boisterously funny characters. The film is both Kevin Smith's fantasy about the
relationships, conflicts and lifestyles of Celestial Beings - who it turns out are just as
caught up in the small indignities and large absurdities of the universe as humans -- and a
love letter to the sacred mysteries of life.
DOGMA is written by, directed by and co-starring Kevin Smith. The film also stars
Ben Affleck,
George Carlin, Matt Damon,
Linda Fiorentino, Janeane Garofalo, Salma Hayek,
Jason Lee, Jason
Mewes, Alanis Morisette, Alan Rickman
and Chris Rock. The producer is Scott Mosier and the
film is edited by Smith and Mosier.
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