Word: dogma
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...Dogma's greatest shortcoming, however, is glaring: amateurish cinematography. Not one for lush visuals, Smith has never been overly concerned with the aesthetic aspect of movie making. Although inexpert camerawork is not only pardonable in his previous films, but also considered a Smith trademark, the home video ambiance just doesn't work in Dogma. With few action sequences and even fewer special effects, Clerks, Mallrats and Chasing Amy didn't demand much camera movement (even Smith, before beginning work on Dogma, self-effacingly assured that he'd "move the camera this time.") The inconsistent camera angles are so vexing, they...
...concentrate on what Smith does best. He is foremost a writer; he is out to tell a story, hoping to present new and thought-provoking ideas along the way. Unfortunately, he packs so many ideas into Dogma that his directing cannot always keep up with the ambitious screenplay. At times you feel as though you're listening to the Word according to Kevin; not an expert on subtlety, his characters--particularly Rufus-- windily spell out every religious insight he introduces. It shouldn't be a surprise Smith relies so heavily on dialog. He is incapable of communicating his ideas using...
...Though not conveyed in the most ingenious manner, these themes in Dogma remain provocative, to say the least. They often take the form of shots at the church (to lessen the ennui, a churchgoer reads "Hustler" during a service Bethany attends), but never do they lead to God-bashing. You see, Smith doesn't satirize God, per se--he satirizes the inadequate human perception of God. Our quest to interpret the will of the divine has lead humans to murder, war, persecution, suspicion, and a bevy of other moral wrongs. The funny (and much less extreme) situation that Smith uses...
...best thing about God's anthropomorphism is that it adds to the poignancy of Bartelby's situation. Though it is Bethany's struggle with faith that is supposed to be the centerpiece for Dogma, it is Bartelby's that proves much more intriguing. Metaphysics aside, his story is about a rebellious, frustrated child. Throughout most of the movie, Bartelby is the voice of reason, constantly rolling his eyes at Loki's own version of divine justice ("You didn't say 'God bless you' when I sneezed" Loki chastises, pulling a gun on an innocent woman). But after a theological discussion...
...Dogma's message is undeniably reverent. It probes, mocks, deconstructs, reconstructs and criticizes religion, but never faithit knows better than to mess with faith. Yes, the Catholic League might have some qualms with this movie, and so might film purists. Dogma isn't a spectacular example of cinema--far from it. But the themes are too powerful to ignore, no matter what you believe...