YNOT at the Movies

Whether you are a Christian or not, you probably have heard about Tammy Faye and remembered her gigantic eyelashes. She had a phenomenal personality and was one of the best known televangelists. Based on the 2000 documentary, the director Michael Showalter crafted an engrossing biopic "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" (Canada/USA 2020 | 126 min.) that captures the rise and fall of her career, and Jessica Chastain should receive her third Academy Award nomination for her tour de force performance as the flamboyant Tammy Faye spanning over decades in time.

As if born to be a performer, in her early teenage years, Tammy Faye (Chandler Head) is already eager to be in the spotlight at church despite her divorced mother Rachel's (Cherry Jones) discouragement. During her studies at North Central Bible College in Minneapolis, Tammy Faye (Jessica Chastain) falls in love with Jim Bakker (Andrew Garfield) and they get married soon after.

Together, they begin their ministry career in the '70s and start to travel around with their puppet show. As their audience grows bigger, so do their ambitions. They begin to get into television, and build the Praise the Lord (PTL) network empire. Their lifestyle begins to change; they collect more pledges from their shows; they move into fancy houses; and Tammy Faye's appearance begins to be more extravagant. But one thing is unchanged, Tammy Faye continues to be a great performer, if not better. Regardless of what might have just happened off camera, when the light shines on her, she can sing a song and put on a show with a snap of fingers.

In addition to being a great performer, she is also a strong woman with unwavering conviction and determination. She never retreats to the sideline nor is content to be in a supporting role. She wants to be in the spotlight and make important decisions and business deals. She is the star.

After Jim Bakker's adultery scandal was unveiled in 1989, and subsequently, was convicted and imprisoned for fraud, Tammy Faye's life also falls to the bottom. She must adjust to her new lifestyle and faces rejections for her new shows, but her eyelashes always remain as big as her personality and ambition.

Even if you already know everything about Tammy Faye, you will want to see this film to appreciate the exhilarating performance by Jessica Chastain. She terrifically captures the demeanor and spirit of Tammy Faye, and subtly conveys Tammy Faye's inner struggle that hides underneath the over-the-top appearance in front of a TV camera.

It's interesting that the film left out the two children of Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker, as if they don't even live in the big fancy houses, while Tammy Faye's lovely no-nonsense mother Rachel has a constant presence throughout the film. The film also doesn't cover Tammy Faye's second marriage after her divorce with Jim Bakker. It seems the material in the film is confined by the scope of the 2000 documentary. It creates a glamorous stage for Jessica Chastain to shine.

"The Eyes of Tammy Faye" opens on Friday, September 17, 2021.