Dogma
When I was 15 years old, I thought that whatever was wearable and “in style” was everlasting and would never change anymore. Even though history taught me otherwise, I couldn’t believe that I would ever want to wear anything else than what I was wearing back then. What boggled my mind even more was that I was unable to make out what this 00’s style was supposed to be, and actually I still cannot. What constitutes 00’s clothing style? Flip flops? Nevertheless, I was wrong. When I was 15, the hipster did not exist and I would never have dreamt that I would one day come to like oversized glasses. I can’t wait another 10 years to pass until I can put into words what went on there, but I know for certain that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s hairstyles in the movie are absolutely ridiculous. If it wasn’t for Ben Affleck’s charming grin, I would have absolutely no idea what would make anyone go for these guys anymore. Today they look silly to me like the Backstreet Boys do.
Enough ranting though, because this movie is a classic, or at least I hope it will become one. Let me begin with this: For a parody of the catholic religion, the film feels much more like a loving parent rather than a bitter satire. There is this underlying endearment of the whole concept of God and the rest, and shows a general positive outlook of the world (which, after all that happened, deserves to be conserved after all). While most parodies are self-deprecating, this one feels openly loving to me. I mean, hey, it has a female God whose humour reminds you of Deep Thought, and she is Alanis Morissette no less. Ahahaha.
I have no strong feelings for the film, but I certainly know that I enjoyed it a whole lot. I think back at how somehow everybody I know has seen the film, but only very few people outright recommended it to me. I can certainly see where that is coming from – when a film has so little artistic subtlety to offer but is fun enough for everyone to know about it, it’s hard to say why you would want anyone else to see it. In my case, the interest to see the film has never subsided and yet I did not feel disappointed. I’d say that is quite a feat “Dogma” accomplished here.