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Commandments

  • 1997
  • R
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
Courteney Cox, Anthony LaPaglia, and Aidan Quinn in Commandments (1997)
Home Video Trailer from Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Play trailer1:47
1 Video
14 Photos
Dark ComedyComedyDramaRomance

His wife dies, his house destroyed, gets fired and his dog struck by lightning, when he shouts "Why?" at God. He decides to break all ten commandments. He moves in with his sister-in-law and... Read allHis wife dies, his house destroyed, gets fired and his dog struck by lightning, when he shouts "Why?" at God. He decides to break all ten commandments. He moves in with his sister-in-law and cheating reporter husband.His wife dies, his house destroyed, gets fired and his dog struck by lightning, when he shouts "Why?" at God. He decides to break all ten commandments. He moves in with his sister-in-law and cheating reporter husband.

  • Director
    • Daniel Taplitz
  • Writer
    • Daniel Taplitz
  • Stars
    • Aidan Quinn
    • Courteney Cox
    • Anthony LaPaglia
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.5/10
    1.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Daniel Taplitz
    • Writer
      • Daniel Taplitz
    • Stars
      • Aidan Quinn
      • Courteney Cox
      • Anthony LaPaglia
    • 22User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Commandments
    Trailer 1:47
    Commandments

    Photos14

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    Top cast26

    Edit
    Aidan Quinn
    Aidan Quinn
    • Seth Warner
    Courteney Cox
    Courteney Cox
    • Rachel Luce
    Anthony LaPaglia
    Anthony LaPaglia
    • Harry Luce
    Shirl Bernheim
    • Sylvia Andrew
    Peter Jacobson
    Peter Jacobson
    • Banker
    Patrick Garner
    Patrick Garner
    • Banker
    Marcia DeBonis
    Marcia DeBonis
    • Receptionist
    Pamela Gray
    Pamela Gray
    • Melissa Murphy
    Lisa Louise Langford
    • Paramedic
    Chris McGinn
    Chris McGinn
    • Nurse
    Louis Zorich
    Louis Zorich
    • Rudy Warner
    Scott Sowers
    • Detective Malhoney
    Pat McNamara
    Pat McNamara
    • Police Chief Warren
    Jack Gilpin
    Jack Gilpin
    • Gordon Bloom
    Amy Sedaris
    Amy Sedaris
    • Scholar
    Stephen Pearlman
    Stephen Pearlman
    • Rabbi
    Frank Girardeau
    • Frank, the Bartender
    Tom Aldredge
    Tom Aldredge
    • Mr. Mann
    • Director
      • Daniel Taplitz
    • Writer
      • Daniel Taplitz
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews22

    5.51.7K
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    Featured reviews

    Stalwart

    Interesting, dark work

    There's good work being done here by the principals--I can't decide which of them I like the most, really, although Anthony LaPaglia's noirish everyday scumbag is the best-written of the three. While the story has its weaknesses, it works fine enough for this sort of unassuming film that tells a story in its own meandering way. Courtney Cox finally comes out of her shell, finally playing a likable character, and she proves a worthy receptacle for most of the camera's adoration. All around, a good date rental for those who won't be put off by the sacreligious plotline.
    IAmAnnoyed

    I COMMAND you to see this movie (if you haven't already)

    This movie is really good. However, be warned, you will probably not like it if you are extremely religious, as it is about a man who tries to break all ten commandments. You will probably also like it better if you're a fan of one of the actors in it, as the plot is very strange and different, as well as dark. It has mostly romance and drama but also some comedy. The only part I really didn't like about this movie was the extremely unrealistic ending. However, that kind of added a sort of irony to the movie, and dry humor. So, in a nutshell, you should see this movie because it's good. Oh, and there's a dog in it too.
    6lastliberal

    The story has it all - death, sex, and God.

    One thing I can say for Courteney Cox, she really got hotter with Kurt Russel in 3000 Miles to Graceland than she did with Aidan Quinn here. Not that she wasn't hot, but Kurt got the better deal.

    This was a quirky black comedy about a man who lost his reason for living and decided to damn god and break all his commandments. Well, damning god is breaking one of them. Hooking up with his sister-in-law was just one of the ten, but what kept you interested was how he was going to break the "Thou Shalt Not Kill" one.

    Good support by Anthony LaPaglia as Courtney's husband, Harry. "I break 5 or 6 commandments every day before lunch." Not a good man, but, you know how that karma thing works. It all ended well.
    5Rammstein-2

    Starts out great but looses it

    This film was pretty good, but could have been a lot better. It starts out great with impressive flashbacks, dialogue and scenery, flattens out into an almost boring retelling of the world's oldest and most used theme: good against evil, and then suddenly lifts itself up again in the last minute with a bizarre, biblical ending that I for one have never ever seen on film before. Parts of the film are very well written indeed, the black humor is great and the characters are actually fairly human and believable. But in the long run, the film ends up just confusing and a bit unsatisfactory.
    8helpless_dancer

    very black, dramatic comedy

    Fine film about a man who lost his wife, and as a result begins to question the motives of God. He has all these emotional problems while his arrogant brother-in-law is doing fine while totally ignoring any religious commitments; which the brother-in-law makes his relative very aware of. However, in the end things do not remain the same for arrogant in-law. Nor for the man who lost his wife. This film may bother some Christians at first, but in the end I think this film will be accepted as giving a positive message about theology. The ending was surprising and gratifying.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This is the last movie featuring the 1991 Universal logo & MCA/Universal Home Video logo.
    • Goofs
      When Rachel talks with Seth about her being betrayed by Harry, her haircut changes - in one she has some hair on her forehead, in the next take she doesn't, and then she does again.
    • Quotes

      Rudy: Who among us knows the way of the Lord?

      Seth: I have a theory. He's a raving psychotic.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Breakdown/Warriors of Virtue/Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery/Truth or Consequences/Commandments (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      After Dark
      Written by Tito Larriva and Steven Hufsteter

      Performed by Tito Larriva (as Tito) and Tarantula

      Produced by Tito Larriva, Robert Rodriguez and Mark Goldenberg

      Mixed by Joel Soyfter

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    FAQ18

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 2, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • De tio budorden
    • Filming locations
      • Montauk, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Northern Lights Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $548,561
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $312,437
      • May 4, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $548,561
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 28m(88 min)
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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