The Eyes of Tammy Faye

The Eyes of Tammy Faye

From the 1960's to the 1980's, evangelist Jim Baker and his ambitious wife, Tammy Faye, rose from humble beginnings to to build an empire based on big-time evangelical Christianity--only for the couple to fall from grace because of some all-too-human sins.

  • Released: 2021-09-17
  • Runtime: 126 minutes
  • Genre: Drama, History
  • Stars: Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, Cherry Jones, Vincent D'Onofrio, Mark Wystrach, Sam Jaeger, Louis Cancelmi, Gabriel Olds, Fredric Lehne, Chandler Head, Jay Huguley, Dan Johnson, Michael MacCauley, Grant Owens, Coley Campany, Craig Newkirk, Wes Jetton, Jess Weixler, Maurie Speed, Lindsay Ayliffe, Julie P. Tuggle, Kimberly Ann Parker, Dana Marks, Alan Boell, Randy Havens, Lila Jane Meadows, Carolyn Mints, Kelly Borgnis, Kelsi Chandler, Joe Ando-Hirsh, John Johnson, Grayson Carter, Kimberly Ann Parker, Hugh Downs, Alan Dale, Ronald Reagan, Jay Leno
  • Director: Michael Showalter
 Comments
  • Hitchcoc - 15 June 2023
    Evenhanded Portrayal
    Because Tammy Faye is a fellow Minnesotan and I have friends who knew her in high school, I thought I would finally have a look this film. I assumed it would be somewhat exploitative because the whole TV evangelist thing is, for me, somewhat laughable. As soon as the money came flowing in, it became obvious that Jim and Tammy were up to no good. But in fairness, instead of portraying her as a buffoon, we do get a look at the whole package, one who kept things going and lived her life after the empire crumbled. Jessica Chastain is just plain marvelous in this role. She chose her life and deserves the criticism. But we are human beings and life does go on. I thought I would hate this film, but it was really quite captivating.
  • kerrydragon - 17 December 2022
    Scratched the Surfuce
    Many things were left out and the story wasn't that cohesive. Jim I thought had more the essence of the real Jim Baker and Tammy was missing the tears,vulnerbility and raw nerves that she often displayed. They skimmed by the lives of the children,Jim's affair with Jessica Hawn and Tammys last years on TV and her battle with Cancer. Tammys voice and whine were missing as Jessica Chastain portrayed a more innocent side to Tammy,she also didn't look enough like her. I used to watch the PTL for years and was always taken in by their personalities they realy did have charisma way more than these actors did.
  • bullet-myvalentine-353-90337 - 1 August 2022
    Brilliant
    This movie is so heartwhelming, the acting, the sets and everything was brilliant. I am a Muslim from the Middle East but I have heard of Tammy Faye before and all I knew that she was supportive to the LGBT community and that she does lessons with puppets, that's all I knew about her. The movie was eye opening and made me admire her more.
  • CinemaClown - 4 June 2022
    A Middle-Of-The-Road Biopic At Best
    A story of rise, fall, hope & redemption, The Eyes of Tammy Faye chronicles the glamorous life & glittering career of its larger-than-life figure and illustrates it on screen with the same glossiness that defined her persona. Still, it is a middle-of-the-road biopic at best with not many interesting moments in store and only manages to steer itself past the finish line coz of its charming leads.

    Directed by Michael Showalter, the film journeys us through numerous events in the eponymous character's life but the segments are mere snippets that simply skim through instead of digging deeper and don't pack any dramatic punch. Faye's embracement & acceptance of people from all walks of life is glanced upon but is often sidelined for the scandalous aspects that ended her career.

    Showalter directs the drama with no creative eye whatsoever, for the time jumps are quick & out of nowhere long before the emotions are locked in, and the execution is monotonous throughout. Nonetheless, Jessica Chastain commits to her eccentric, idiosyncratic & inherently kind-hearted role and despite being buried under heavy make-up, her performance exudes an earnest quality that stands out.

    Overall, The Eyes of Tammy Faye does intrigue in bits n pieces but is unable to harness the real potential of its colourful personality's life story. The film chooses to be about both Tammy Faye & her husband when it should've focused more on the iconic televangelist whose preachings of love & prosperity and advocacy for LGBT community made her a legend. Far from best biopics out there but it is watchable.