Review: THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE Tells a Heartbreaking Story With Outstanding Performances
Director Michael Showalter’s latest film, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, hit theaters this past weekend, and it seems to be paving a path straight to the Academy Awards. The film stars Oscar-nominated actors Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield as Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker, the small town couple who became known worldwide as the highest-grossing and most-watched televangelists in the world.
I remembered them from my childhood, seeing them go from TV to court, and on to prison for Jim. Tammy Faye was seen as a caricature for the media, and low-hanging fruit for comedians to poke fun at, but this film revealed who Tammy Faye really was – a progressive woman who truly wanted every person, especially those who were typically ignored by society or the Christian churches at large, to know that they were truly loved.
Tammy wanted a seat at the table, but as in the tale as old as time, it was built to keep her out. Tammy used her televised platform to talk to people about everything that plagued them. She wanted to reach everyone she could. It was her interview with AIDS patient Steve Pieters that truly revealed her love for the LGBTQ+ community, and launched her future as an activist for the cause. This was also a breaking point for the men who ran the show behind the scenes, as they couldn’t have someone from their camp going around telling the gays they were loved by God.
Meanwhile, Tammy did have a spending problem, and was dealing with her closeted husband and their mismanaged and stolen income. Tammy had a hard life, but this movie highlighted the goodness that was at her core, and Jessica Chastain gave an incredible performance.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye is in theaters now.
