Dogma

Writer/director Kevin Smith’s sprawling comedy about fallen angels may be the best American film on a religious subject since Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ. Smith can’t hold a candle to Scorsese imagewise, but his screenplay is loaded with the sorts of daring humor and soulful questioning that bespeak resourceful reverence and exceptional faith. Dogma is basically sketch comedy with special effects and teen-movie grossouts, but its ecumenical ebullience has a tonic, healing effect about it.