- Title: The Eyes of Tammy Faye
- IMDb: link
We get the rise and fall of Tammy Faye (Jessica Chastain) and Jim Bakker (Andrew Garfield) in this examination of the televangelist couple. While recreating moments of the pair’s life, there’s no real point or perspective offered to the events. The Eyes of Tammy Faye isn’t a character study. It isn’t commentary of events. Nor is it a satire.
The film is simply a shallow collection of events that never digs beneath the surface to provide anything of much interest. While we see the odd pair begin their their time as televangelists, the movie isn’t concerned with the rise of the PTL Satellite Network nor the good or ills of the The PTL Club, nor really the fall of grace of the Bakker’s which makes up only a small percentage of the film.
I’m not sure exactly what director Michael Showalter is after here as the film feels listless for most of its two-hour running time. We don’t feel sorry for the Bakkers who fall short both as relatable characters or amusing caricatures. We aren’t angered by their actions or amused by their fall. And the film takes no stance on religion or televangelism. If remembered at all, the film may be notable for Chastain in the title role while Garfield, who is perfectly serviceable as the bland Jim Bakker, has had far more interesting performances in the last couple of months alone in tick, tick… BOOM! and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Watch the trailer