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Rating: 3 out of 5
When it comes to church and religion, I am the last person you should talk to. I am a straight-up heathen and proud of it. That doesn’t mean I don’t know about all these preachers or church people on TV. When Sunday hits, there are probably more people trying to preach the word of God than NFL games. This brings me to the world of Televangelism. Televangelism is the use of media, specifically radio and television, to communicate Christianity. Televangelists can be ministers or not, who devote all their time and energy to proclaiming the word of God on TV. Some Televangelists use this platform to strengthen their megachurches and hit a wider audience. Some of the most popular Televangelists in the world are Billy Graham, Pat Robertson, Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, and T. D. Jakes. None were more prominent than Tammy Faye Bakker and her husband, Jim Bakker.
Directed by Michael Showalter from a screenplay by Abe Sylvia, based on the 2000 documentary of the same name, The Eyes of Tammy Faye is the biographical drama about the rise and fall of Tammy Faye Bakker (Chastain) and her husband Jim Bakker (Garfield). In the 1970s and 80s. Tamara “Tammy” Faye LaValley falls in love with Jim Bakker while studying at North Central Bible College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The pair decide to marry and drop out of college to preach full-time and inspire Christianity across the United States. After being on the brink of being broke, they built a multi-million-dollar empire. They created the world’s largest religious broadcasting network and theme park. Tammy Faye was in the forefront with her eye-opening eyelashes, huge ass smile, singing, and eagerness to embrace anyone, no matter their background. Behind the smiles, as temptation came into their lives, financial problems and scandals soon rock the couple and their empire to the core.
I heard that there was a better version of the Tammy Faye story out in the world. I haven’t seen it, so I can’t compare it to this film. This film officially put a stamp on my views that televangelists are just as bad as other people. I think they are worse because they preach the word of God and then are just as corrupt as politicians. It is a shame because people will keep giving money to them like there is nothing wrong.
The story was about the rise and fall of Tammy Faye and her ex-husband Jim Baker. It was interesting to see how Tammy Faye came from a good home with humble beginnings. While at college, she meets Jim, who at the time seemed like an eccentric speaker. The pair marries out of the blue because Jim wanted to get his freak on. The couple drives around to different churches, and Tammy is by far the popular one with her puppets. It was a chance encounter with their car stolen that they were given a television show.
This is where the story diverges into two different opinions on religion. We have the fanatics that believe being gay is a sin and women should know their place and the far more conservative view. Jim and the leaders of the church Jim rolls with believe in this. Tammy, on the other hand, believes everyone should be equal because, in the eyes of God, we are all his children. As you see, the difference of opinions will clash. Tammy convinces Jim to go out on his own, and they build the world’s largest religious broadcasting network because Jim sees the benefits of how satellites reach everyone around the world. With her singing, puppets, and beyond-wild style, Tammy is a star in her own right. Gurl was on another level with her style.
With many things, the story shows that what goes up, must come down. This is where I am like; televangelists are exactly like politicians. Jim is a straight-up, low-down, dirty snake. He claims he is righteous, but it soon is revealed that he is taking all sorts of money and fooling around on his wife, and the film implies that it was with a man. How you going to say being gay is wrong, and then you stick your little worm in someone of the same sex. You should be ashamed of yourself. The film shows that as the pair’s finances spiral out of control with scandals, they put on a happy act. Tammy tries to act joyful, but she becomes addicted to pills and seems like a drunk. Her facial appearance goes from a beautiful woman to a clown. This is where the sharks of other church people swoop in like vultures and kick Jim and Tammy out. Jim goes to prison, and Tammy has disillusioned with what she used to be. The ending shows how far she wants to be in the spotlight, but it’s gone.
I wasn’t impressed and felt NOTHING for any of the people involved. Scratch that; I feel a little bad for Tammy because she was somewhat faithful, but Jim used that against her. Tammy seemed genuinely good, as she wanted equality for everyone. It is also hard for me to accept that you didn’t know what your husband was doing, and you also helped sell a vision.
As far as the acting goes, Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Bakker was the best part of the whole film. She carried this film even if the story was blah. Chastain went hard in this role and completely embodied Tammy from her voice, mannerisms, and personality. I have to give it to Chastain, every film she is in, she gets better and better and is a joy to watch.
Andrew Garfield as Jim Bakker was decent because he showed how much of a low-down, dirty snake Jim was. Garfield showed Jim as this honest man on the outside but straight-up corrupt on the inside. I will give it to Garfield; he tried and has shown growth as an actor.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye is a decent movie. I wouldn’t go out of my way to watch it all over again. Once again, I heard that there is a documentary that is far better and more entertaining. I heard that it really gets into the drama of the pair. Watch this film if you like but find another god-loving film.
