Leap of Faith (1992)

LEAP OF FAITH stars Steve Martin as Jonas Nightengale, a fraudulent faith healer who makes a living visiting small towns and giving hope in the form of prayer. Aided by his no nonsense manager, Jane (Winger), Jonas sets up his tent in a small suburb of Kansas where he soon learns that their hidden mikes, cameras and computers can’t fool the neighborhood sheriff (Neeson). But, when Jonas is touched by a local waitress (Davidovich) and her disabled son Boyd (Haas), he learns something new about truth and what real miracles are made of.

A Modern-day Parable.

Leap of Faith is Hollywood's take on the disturbing subject of 'stealing in the name of the Lord', the lowest form stealing. It's understandable why Christian believers would not want any part of seeing this movie.... but than again, they should be the first to see it as it's premise is nothing new and in no way maligns or mocks their faith, rather, the film is a commentary about fake evangelists and faith-healers out for a buck. The Gospels record such goings on in the first century when Jesus ran everybody out of the temple for turning it into "a den of robbers". OK so the acts were different but the idea is the same: preying on those in need and on their vulnerabilities. In the temple, it was people who came from all over to make sacrifices to atone for their sins, and with bogus evangelists and faith-healers it's their need for salvation and healing.

Steve Martin does a wonderful job at pulling off the heartless con man who cares nothing about the people in a town that has fallen on hard times particularly because of an extended drought. As I stated before, the movie is not jab at Christianity. If anything, it defends it as it makes commentary not only on this bogus faith-healer but also how God - as He does in the pages of the Bible - can take any situation and use it to His Glory and to the benefit to those who believe. In this movie a real miracle takes place that upstages the players. Through the efforts of corrupt sinners preying on sinners looking for help, God is totally in control to bring a blessing and even make the preying one take note. To quote Joseph "What you meant for evil, God meant for good". All in all, we are all in the same boat - sinners needing salvation, not only from Hell but also from our own ways that cause us and others pain and suffering and what a way God chooses to bless humanity not only to allow Himself to become one of us via His Son Jesus but also through humanity itself regardless of the condition.

The movie concludes wonderfully as we find our preacher man having repented and the town is once again blessed.... Rain! June 9, 2008

I wonder if Benny Hinn has seen this?

Christians stayed away from this movie when it was released. They should not have. For Steve Martin is not spoofing God or Christianity, but the absurd idea of putting Faith in a walking carnival of a Minister who claims to hear repeatedly from God. It is the blind leading the blind. The irony of it is that as much as the Church objects to Hollywood, it was Hollywood that made a movie pointing out what Christians refused to speak out on. Steve Martin watched hours and hours of tv evangelists before creating this film. He told his wife that these guys were better actors than anyone in Hollywood. The fact that the film features more than one answered prayer makes me think that God wanted this movie made. As Christians didn't want to do it, God recruited Steve Martin. March 23, 2008

Good fun

I had the unique opportunity to review scenes from this film a year before it was released. I was at a mall and got asked if I wanted to participate in an exercise involving film and desserts. I chose film. They lead me into a room and explained they were going to show me proposed preview from an upcoming film release, nothing more.

So the film began and Leap Of Faith was the film.

Afterward, they asked my opinion about the effectiveness of the preview and I told them it needed more information for the viewer as to just what the bloody thing was about. The preview was incomplete with regard to giving me a sense of the film's direction, or at least the basic elements of the plot.

Potential spoiler here:

Well, I later saw the film and fell in love with it because it was not so much about slamming tent "revivals" as much as it was about a huckster being "one upped" by God. The irony was quite wonderful.

So I do recommend this because Steve Martin puts in a great performance that is in line with his more creative schtick. He was a great choice to play the lead for this reason... he really fits the "type", at least what we perceive as the "type" who would become such a person as the character portrayed. January 30, 2008

Fantastic Steve Martin Vehicle

Steve Martin, without his funny-man routine, turns in a great performance as the leader of a ministry of con men who is out-conned by none other than.........Jesus.

This is a film for people who wonder about life under the "Big Top" of traveling ministries where miracles MAY take place--for a price. There's always a fix in to find the truly needy under the big top and its great theatre watching Martin on stage as the man "GOD" speaks to. Until one day he actually, by hook or by crook, pulls off the big miracles no one in his gang can figure out! Martin as well!

I hated the ending, you may see why. I wanted him to go on to bigger and better cons, but the spirit got to him.

An excellent film also starring Meatloaf and Debra Winger (Winger's chacter disappoints for some reason, maybe just too unbelievable a woman would act as she does in the end.)

Overall, Martin and cast are fantastic in this film, with George Duke Gospel songs throughout, Meatloaf on the radio, and the Glen Frye title track.

I want a sequel, where Martin goes back to the pulpit and cons all the suckers again. I hope Jesus dosen't mind.

Somebody say "Amen!"

May 31, 2007

A good picture of the spiritual chaos of modern society

Very good film about a fake travelling faith healer and his entourage of employees/followers.

The story is simple enough, almost cliché, but there are a few elements that raise the film above the garbage of Hollywood industry (post 1960's). The end has been commented enough, and I agree it's a nice ending. But what interests me most are the roles played by Debra Winger, the fake man's assistant, and the nice-guy sheriff. Watching this movie from a believer's perspective I must say that they both represent the real lost, no matter how nice human beings they are. Jonas Nightengale at least faces reality with honesty; when he leaves the town we know he will not be the same man after all that happened. No matter how big his sin was: using God and the gospel for his own profit. His attitude is sincere. He is not a manipulator, as he said, because his modus operandi is too obvious, only suckers don't notice it. So who is the real smooth operator? Debra Winger?. She acts like she cares about people's feelings getting hurt, and so complains about it to Jonas, but she takes the money. Isn't she more hypocrite than him? This contrast of characters really interested me, the way it was portrayed, subtlely. What about the sheriff, such an (apparently) well-intentioned and nice man? Same thing. Obviously, one does not see him in a bad light during the film. It's afterwards, when one thinks it over. Jonas and the sheriff. The first, may have even accepted Jesus, for real this time, in spite of what he did; the second, such a nice and good fellow though, goes and sleeps with "the devil". Humm, these are the elements that make a film worth watching, that keep you thinking once it's over.

I have to write down the following lines from thescript, I think they are great: JONAS: "-I KNOW I'm a fake. KID: -But what difference does it make if it gets the job done? JONAS: -Kid, it makes all the difference in the world."

That last line is the key line to the movie. Without it the film would be also a whole world different.

One last word about the company of employees that travels along with Jonas. It's a pity there isn't more time devoted to individualize these folks a little, because they are the crowd, the ones who enter the 'wide door' instead of the 'narrow one'; the ones that shouted for Jesus to be crucified, for money, in spite of knowing Him to be innocent. Jonas may enter the narrow door (Christ); these folks are happy as can be with a wide door to hell. Tells you something about lack of character in people. Don't blame others for your faith or the lack of it. Faith is a gift from God. The lack of it is when you become a willing puppet in the hands of manipulators, for money.
March 22, 2007

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