Dogma

Ben Affleck, Matt Damon(1999, 128 mins, Columbia Tristar, R, also on DVD)

Condemmened by the “faithful”, then commened by critics with retaliatory zeal, Kevin Smith’s biblical berlesque now seems a sanctimoniuos trifle. The story (banished angel Affleck and Damon try to reenter heaven via a doctrinal loophole) is charming nonsense, but behind the laughs lurks a dour passion play, complete with fake blood and vacuous sermonizing. Thank God(Alanis Morissette) for Smith’s slacker-sage patois, which keeps Dogma enjoyable between the spurious epiphanies. B- Scott Brown

Having just chatted with Vincent, he brought to my attention that we have the ‘Dogma’ Cannes print, which is about ten or fifteen minutes longer than the theatrical cut (included are Azrael’s “Evil is an abstract” speech, as well as the Fat Albert scene). Rather than show ‘Rats’ again, I think we’ll be showing this instead. I’m sure some of you will now skip the event, as we all know ‘Rats’ is the only flick of mine worth a damn, but I think the idea of including ‘Dogma’ in a Vulgarthon lineup – especially a longer version – may tickle at least a few of you.