AT THE MOVIES

by Isy Jordan

The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Director: Michael Showalter
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, Cherry Jones, Vincent D'Onofrio, and more.


An intimate look at the extraordinary rise, fall and redemption of televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker.

Those of a certain age will remember PTL and the famous televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker from the 1980s. That group will certainly remember the scandal that rocked their popular ministry and caused them to literally fall from grace. It started with Jessica Hahn and ended with Jerry Falwell.

But most people don't know what really happened.

The Eyes of Tammy Faye was a documentary in 2000 about the iconic woman that was narrated by Ru Paul. Actress Jessica Chastain was so moved by Tammy Faye's story that she acquired the rights to it and developed the 2021 film. The end result is an equally moving film that's both funny and tragic. It's also very relatable.

The focus stays on Tammy Faye from her roots as the oldest of eight children to her later years. We find out her mother, who played piano for the church, kept Tammy Faye from attending church originally because she was divorced from Tammy's father. That was frowned upon. It didn't last long and Tammy's deep faith inspired her to pursue a religious education.

While at school she's enchanted by Jim Bakker who is a kindred spirit in wanting to minister to people and share the word of God. The key difference is obvious from the start. Tammy has a genuine love for people and is sincere in wanting them to be happy. Jim is more interested in being someone.

The story is mapped out from there. We see how their empire came to be and how it came apart. Was Tammy Faye a willful participant in a scam? Or was she a naive believer who never lost her love for people?

What I really appreciated about this film was the candid, unflinching look it took at the Bakkers. Jessica Hahn was only referenced for the story and the focus stayed on Tammy Faye and what was going on in her reality.

The performances here were powerful and accurate. Jessica Chastain shines as the iconic Tammy Faye and managed to perfectly capture her warmth and humility. Andrew Garfield was spot-on in his portrayal of Jim Bakker and Vincent D'Onofrio was perfect as the deplorable Jerry Falwell. Cherry Jones was amazing as Tammy's mother but then, she's pretty spectacular in any role.

The film is rated PG-13 and is just over two hours long. It's an emotional rollercoaster of a film but it's one you will remember. And considering the awards it's already garnering, others are remembering it too. I highly recommend it.

Isy

PS - If you look closely in the penis pump scene, you may just catch a glimpse of yours truly.