Leap of Faith (1992)

To me, this movie is perfection.

just watch it!

Better Late Then Never

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

What promise this movie had! Steve Martin gives a tour-de-force performance, perhaps the best of his career in a role where he was tragically let-down by his co-stars. The story fairly meanders for most of the first half, before picking up steam and ending in a climax that packs one of the most heavy emotional punches I've seen in any film.The person who 'cast' this movie should be drummed out of the industry. The supporting roles were filled by B-actors whose wooden performances deflated many a key scene. Debra Winger was particularly awful in this one, reciting her lines robotically without any realism whatever; I've seen middle school plays which were more convincing than some of her scenes.However, I still recommend watching this movie for the last 15 minutes that held up in spite of Winger. Contrary to popular belief, this is not an anti-Christian movie at all, indeed, it is quite the opposite.

LEAP OF FAITH takes an interesting premise but doesn't quite know what to do with it. Steve Martin is Jonas Nightingale, a fraudulent faith healer more interested in money and women then doing the Lord's work as he and his crew criss-cross the country putting on big tent revivals. A largely overlooked film, LEAP OF FAITH tries hard to blend some promising comedic elements with drama, but they mix about as well as oil and water. The film is also far too long, repetitive and lacking direction. Martin as the Elmer Gantryish star puts forth his usual likable effort, but even his considerable talents can't lift this one over the hump. A disappointment.

Steve Martin is Jonas Nightengale, traveling evangelist with a large enough troupe that it takes two buses and two big trucks to haul everything around. We learn that it takes $3500 daily to meet expenses. The story here starts when one of the trucks begins to smoke and they find they are trapped in this small Kansas community for 4 days. So, they make the best of it, set up the revival tenet and hustle attendance. he whole movie takes place here. The local sheriff (Liam Neeson, in a peculiar casting choice) is naturally skeptical and does his best to convince the people that Jonas is really a crook. He knows money is scarce, crops are in danger for lack of rain, and he wants Jonas to go away.Lolita Davidovich is Marva, local waitress Win a crippled younger brother Boyd (Lukas Haas). A different preacher had told Boyd that he wasn't "healed" because he lacked faith. So, even as Jonas is taking a curious attraction to Marva, she too is distrustful and only wants Jonas to go away.But Jonas is persistent, and he is very good at his preacher act.SPOILERS FOLLOW. Jonas (not his real name) was a con man through and through, much like Elmer Gantry was. He doesn't believe in miracles or the power of prayer, just sees his traveling revivals as a good way to make money and enjoy a type of good life. But he is set up for a conversion as Boyd actually IS healed at one of Jonas' services. Fully realizing what happened, Jonas hit the road, as it starts to rain!Jonas will become a different man. The movie is about Jonas' conversion.Debra Winger is good as Jane Larson, who stays in the bus during services and via TV monitors and an earpiece in Jonas's ear, directs him to those having expressed various needs. In the end she stays with the sheriff.

There is much that works well in this movie - Steve Martin is playing a con man, a much fuller and better executed one than the 2nd banana he played in 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels', which he dumbed down with slapstick. Debra Winger is excellent as his partner in running a road ministry built on sleight of hand and working the audience like a carnival. The location shooting works for it, and the supporting cast (Meat Loaf, Philip Seymour Hoffman, MC Ganey in bleached white hair?)is mostly very good, and if you like gospel you'll enjoy this. Music trivia: listen for the song on the radio in the pickup in the first scene. What doesn't work? It ends a scene too early - Steve Martin has suddenly had his cynicism upended and the film just ends. Liam Neeson can barely keep the brogue out of his role as a Texas Sheriff (so many others could have carried this role, why him?). There is certainly a statement about faith at the end of this movie, to wit: faith finds a way even if it has to work through a con man. The payback scene, unfortunately, is very predictable: it rains. For all the dreck Steve Martin has cranked out, this one will pay you back.