Commandments

"He's getting even...by breaking all the rules."

1997 1h 28m EN

😐

5.0

MID

★5.0TMDB · 19

ComedyDramaRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Seth Warner has reached the end of his rope. Ever since his wife died two years earlier, his world has been in turmoil. He is despondent, his career has fallen apart, even his house has been destroyed. There seems to be nothing left for him to live for. Confused and angry after two years of suffering, he finally directs his wrath at God from the rooftop of his apartment building in New York City. In the midst of a wild thunderstorm he demands to know why he has been betrayed by the god he has believed in and honored his whole life. God's answer is to strike down Seth's dog in a bolt of lightning. Pushed beyond his limits, Seth decides to respond to his years of torment by breaking each of the biblical Ten Commandments.

“He's getting even...by breaking all the rules.”

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Cast

Aidan Quinn
Seth Warner
Courteney Cox
Rachel Luce
Anthony LaPaglia
Harry Luce
Alice Drummond
Mrs. Mann
Pamela Gray
Melissa Murphy
Joanna Going
Karen Warner
Peter Jacobson
Banker
Amy Sedaris
Scholar

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Daniel Taplitz
Writers: Daniel Taplitz
Languages: English

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

88 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 11% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

29 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Daniel Taplitz, shot by Sławomir Idziak. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Joseph Vitarelli. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Michael Jablow shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Aidan Quinn and Courteney Cox and Anthony LaPaglia carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Daniel Taplitz directs. Sławomir Idziak behind the camera. Joseph Vitarelli scores. Michael Jablow cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

188 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Earned back only 11% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
329 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Daniel Taplitz, shot by Sławomir Idziak. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Joseph Vitarelli. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Michael Jablow shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Aidan Quinn and Courteney Cox and Anthony LaPaglia carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "He's getting even...by breaking all the rules.".
10IMDB entry: tt0115927 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Only 19 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.