The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021 film)

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The Eyes of Tammy Faye
The Eyes of Tammy Faye.jpeg
Official poster
Directed byMichael Showalter
Screenplay byAbe Sylvia
Based onThe Eyes of Tammy Faye
by Fenton Bailey
Randy Barbato
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMike Gioulakis
Edited byMary Jo Markey
Music byTheodore Shapiro
Production
companies
Distributed bySearchlight Pictures
Release dates
  • September 12, 2021 (2021-09-12) (TIFF)
  • September 17, 2021 (2021-09-17) (United States)
Running time
126 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$2.7 million[2]

The Eyes of Tammy Faye is a 2021 American biographical drama film directed by Michael Showalter, based on the 2000 documentary of the same name by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato of World of Wonder. The film tells the story of Tammy Faye Bakker (played by Jessica Chastain), from her humble beginnings growing up in International Falls, Minnesota through the rise and fall of her televangelism career and marriage to Jim Bakker (played by Andrew Garfield). Cherry Jones and Vincent D'Onofrio also star. The screenplay is written by Abe Sylvia, while Chastain is also one of the film's producers.

The Eyes of Tammy Faye had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2021, and was released on September 17, 2021, by Searchlight Pictures. The film grossed $2.7 million during its theatrical run, and received mixed reviews from the critics, who praised the acting performances but criticized the screenplay, deeming the film to be inferior to the documentary. Regardless, for her role in the film, Chastain won a SAG Award, a Critics Choice Award for Best Actress and received nominations for the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award. The film also received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and won the BAFTA for the same category.

Plot[]

The film opens with a young Tamara Faye LaValley and her early beginnings growing up in a religious community in International Falls, Minnesota. Tammy moves to Minneapolis, Minnesota to study at North Central Bible College, where she meets and falls in love with fellow college student Jim Bakker after enjoying his prayer sermons. The two marry the following year and Tammy introduces him to her family. Her mother Rachel disapproves of their impulsiveness and is not as optimistic in her Christian beliefs as Tammy, who is eager to help people in need of inspiration and love. The two drop out of college and set out to drive around the United States to preach and inspire Christian communities, with Jim preaching and Tammy singing and playing with puppets for children. In 1964, their preaching gets the attention of Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) and the two become hosts of a popular children's show, Jim and Tammy. Jim is also able to become the first host of CBN's The 700 Club, a role which Robertson eventually takes back from Bakker, while the two welcome a daughter named Tammy Sue in 1970.

At a party at the home of Pat and Dede Robertson, they are introduced to conservative pastor Jerry Falwell, who expresses interest in working with CBN. After Tammy has a disagreement with Falwell in which she dismisses the politicization of faith and the outcasting of homosexuals, she encourages Jim to instead create their own television network so that the two can create and have control over their own programs. In 1974, the two have left CBN and created the PTL (Praise the Lord) network, as well as their flagship show The PTL Club. The show becomes increasingly popular over the years, with Jim encouraging donations from viewers, while Tammy has also become a successful singer. Tammy invites Rachel and her husband Fred to move in with them at their new compound in Tega Cay, South Carolina, after which Rachel expresses to Tammy her suspicion over how PTL gets its money. She cites newspaper stories of PTL's financial improprieties and tells Tammy that she is naive and blind to manipulation.

Messner with then-husband Jim Bakker during a PTL broadcast, circa 1986.

As the show becomes more popular, the press becomes more skeptical and critical of PTL's handling of their finances, which are used to finance ministries, Christian programs for struggling communities, and the construction of houses. Tammy becomes pregnant with a second child, but also begins to question her and Jim's practices. She becomes flirtatious with her music producer Gary S. Paxton when her relationship with Jim grows distant. In 1975, Tammy gives birth to a son named Jay, but Jim fires Gary after having discovered their affair. By 1978, Jim has focused his attention on building a Christian theme park with consultation from Falwell and Roe Messner, while Tammy becomes addicted to the pills she was given to calm her anxiety.

In the 1980s, Tammy becomes more discouraged by Falwell's conservative political oversight over PTL and Jim's willingness to please him. In the midst of the AIDS epidemic, Tammy invites AIDS patient and Christian pastor Steve Pieters on the show for an emotional live interview about supporting the gay community and those who have AIDS, much to Falwell's disapproval. Tammy later overhears a sex scandal about Jim. During a later separate live show recording, Tammy collapses due to an overdose of the pills. The next day, Jim confesses to his own infidelity to Tammy before the two argue over their strained relationship and differences. News scandals about PTL's financial debt and Jim's sexual affairs (with a woman and a male co-worker) cause intense scrutiny from the media and public. Jerry Falwell takes control of PTL and eventually shuts the entire operation down, despite promising the Bakkers that they would be able to return once they settled their affairs with the government. Tammy stands by Jim and defends their actions. Jim is arrested in 1989 for fraud, and Tammy gives a speech to reporters outside the courthouse.

By 1992, Tammy and Jim officially divorced while he is in prison, and her mother has died. In the mid-1990s, she struggles to revive her career and find television gigs. She gets a call offering to be the special guest for a Christian concert at Oral Roberts University, which she hesitantly accepts, having not performed at an Evangelical event in years. She preaches before performing Battle Hymn of the Republic, in which she imagines a rousing gospel choir performing with her, moving the audience. In a text epilogue, it is stated that Falwell died in 2007, Jim had been released from prison and returned to televangelism for a revived PTL, and Tammy had continued to support LGBTQ+ communities until her death in 2007.

Cast[]

Production[]

It was announced in May 2019 that Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield were cast to star in the film, with Michael Showalter directing. The film was produced through Jessica Chastain's production company, Freckle Films.[3] Chastain detailed in an August 2019 interview she had acquired the rights to Tammy Faye Bakker's life in 2012.[4] In October 2019, Cherry Jones joined the cast of the film. Chastain and Jones had both starred on Broadway in The Heiress, and Chastain was an admirer of Jones' work.[5] In November 2019, Sam Jaeger, Vincent D'Onofrio, Gabriel Olds, Mark Wystrach, Chandler Head, Fredric Lehne and Jay Huguley joined the cast of the film.[6][7][8]

Principal photography began in October 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina.[9][10][11]

Chastain stated in interviews that the makeup for the film took between 4–7 hours in the makeup chair having prosthetics added to her face. Chastain also wore false teeth in certain scenes to match the way Tammy Faye smiled.[12] Chastain performs several songs from Bakker's musical catalog in the film. Tammy Sue Bakker-Chapman, the daughter of Jim and Tammy, performed on the film's soundtrack with a cover of "Don't Give Up (On the Brink of a Miracle)".[13]

Release[]

The film had its world premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2021, and was also an official selection at several other film festivals including San Sebastián International Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival, Sedona Film Festival and the Sydney Film Festival.[14][15] The film was released on September 24, 2021.[16][17] The film hosted a pink-carpet premiere in New York City on September 14, 2021, at the SVA Theatre.[18]

The film was released on Blu-ray on November 16, 2021.[19] The film was later made available to stream on HBO Max in February 2022.[20]

Music[]

The films soundtrack was released on September 17, 2021, by Hollywood Records. The score for the film by Theodore Shapiro was also released as a separate album.[21] Chastain worked with music producer Dave Cobb to record the soundtrack.[22]

Soundrack[]

No.TitleWriter(s)Performer(s)Length
1."Don't Give Up (On the Brink of a Miracle)"Mike AdkinsTammy Sue Bakker-Chapman3:58
2."Battle Hymn of the Republic"William Steffe, Julia Ward HoweJessica Chastain3:43
3."Jesus Keeps Takin' Me Higher & Higher"Gary S. PaxtonJessica Chastain3:25
4."The Sun Will Shine Again"Mike MurdockJessica Chastain5:20
5."Somebody Touched Me"Savana C. FoustJessica Chastain ft. Mark Wystrach4:31
6."We are Blest"Margaret Pleasant DourouxJessica Chastain6:21
7."Don't Give Up (On the Brink of a Miracle)"Mike AdkinsJessica Chastain4:00
8."The Eyes of Tammy Faye Score Suite"Theodore ShapiroTheodore Shapiro7:42
9."Puppet Medley (Give a Hug, Jesus Loves Me, Up with a Giggle)"Heidi Webster, Anna Bartlett Warner, William Batchelder Bradbury, Danny O'FlahertyJessica Chastain1:46
Total length:40:47

Reception[]

Box office[]

The Eyes of Tammy Faye debuted in 450 theaters and grossed $675,000 in its opening weekend (an average of $1,500 per venue). Deadline Hollywood wrote that outside of Los Angeles, New York City, and Austin, the grosses "weren't good", and an indication that "older arthouse crowds are [not] back" to theaters due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[23]

Critical response[]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 70% of 227 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.50/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "The Eyes of Tammy Faye might have focused more sharply on its subject's story, but Jessica Chastain's starring performance makes it hard to look away."[24] Metacritic assigned the film an average weighted score of 55 out of 100, based on 47 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[25] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.[23]

Accolades[]

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Academy Awards March 27, 2022 Best Actress Jessica Chastain Pending [26]
Best Makeup and Hairstyling Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram, and Justin Raleigh Pending
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards January 25, 2022 Best Actress Jessica Chastain Nominated [27]
British Academy Film Awards March 13, 2022 Best Makeup and Hair Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram, and Justin Raleigh Won [28]
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards December 15, 2021 Best Actress Jessica Chastain Nominated [29]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards March 13, 2022 Best Actress Jessica Chastain Won [30][31]
Best Hair and Makeup The Eyes of Tammy Faye Won
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards December 20, 2021 Best Actress Jessica Chastain 3rd place [32]
Detroit Film Critics Society Awards December 6, 2021 Best Actress Jessica Chastain Won [33]
Dorian Awards March 17, 2022 Best Film Performance Jessica Chastain Nominated [34]
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards December 22, 2021 Best Actress Jessica Chastain Nominated [35]
Golden Globe Awards January 9, 2022 Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Jessica Chastain Nominated [36]
Guild of Music Supervisors Awards March 20, 2022 Best Music Supervision for Films Budgeted Under $25 Million John Houlihan Pending [37]
Hollywood Critics Association Awards February 28, 2022 Best Actress Jessica Chastain Nominated [38][39][40]
Best Hair and Makeup Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram, and Justin Raleigh Won
Houston Film Critics Society Awards January 19, 2022 Best Actress Jessica Chastain Won [41][42]
Best Supporting Actor Andrew Garfield Nominated
London Film Critics' Circle Awards February 6, 2022 British/Irish Actor of the Year Andrew Garfield Won [43]
Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards February 19, 2022 Best Period and/or Character Make-Up in a Feature-Length Motion Picture Linda Dowds, Ashleigh Chavis-Wolfe, and Renee Goodwin Nominated [44]
Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling in a Feature-Length Motion Picture Stephanie Ingram, Betty Lou Skinner, Heather Hawkins, and Bryson Conley Nominated
Best Special Make-Up Effects in a Feature-Length Motion Picture Justin Raleigh, Kelly Golden, Chris Hampton, and Thom Floutz Nominated
Palm Springs International Film Festival January 6, 2022 Desert Palm Achievement Award – Actress Jessica Chastain Won [45]
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards January 10, 2022 Best Actress Jessica Chastain Nominated [46]
San Sebastián International Film Festival September 25, 2022 Silver Shell for Best Leading Performance Jessica Chastain Won [47]
Satellite Awards March 18, 2022 Best Actress – Motion Picture Jessica Chastain Pending [48]
Screen Actors Guild Awards February 27, 2022 Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role Jessica Chastain Won [49]
St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards December 19, 2021 Best Actress Jessica Chastain Nominated [50]
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards March 7, 2022 Best Actress Jessica Chastain Nominated [51]
Women's Image Network Awards October 14, 2021 Outstanding Feature Film The Eyes of Tammy Faye Nominated [52][53]
Outstanding Film Produced by a Woman Jessica Chastain, Kelly Carmichael, Rachel Shane, and Gigi Pritzker Nominated
Outstanding Actress Feature Film Jessica Chastain Won

See also[]

  • The Eyes of Tammy Faye – A documentary released in 2000 featuring Bakker.
  • Tammy Faye: Death Defying – A follow-up documentary released in 2005 detailing her battles with cancer.
  • Fall From Grace – A television film released in 1990, starring Bernadette Peters as Bakker.

References[]

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