Review of Leap of Faith (1992) by John L — 19 Jul 2011

It takes a leap of faith to find a great Steve Martin movie, and Leap of Faith is just that movie. A well directed and well performed drama. Leap of Faith looks at preaching through a different perspective and makes it very entertaining.

Steve Martin stars in one of his best serious roles of his career. False preacher and healer, Jonas Nightengale and is band of con artists make an unscheduled stop in a small and poor Kansas town when one of their buses needs repair. But they make due anyways and perform like they always do. They run into difficulties with the local sherif, but Jonas' act goes off without a hitch. But there are even some miricles that happen that Jonas can't fake. Leap of Faith is an interesting movie for a number of reasons. 1. We learn the tricks of the trade of televangelists and "healers". This movie shows a lot of neat little acts and tricks that can be pulled off to fool people that miricles have happened. The best one being the woman in the wheel chair. 2. Unlike most movies where preachers are presented as wackos or greedy, evil men, Leap of Faith has a more humane look at its characters who just try to earn a living. They're con artists and they suck, for sure, but even they have feelings and a sense of morals and real faith, and believe it or not but Steve Martin pulls off his role perfectly, presenting himself more like an anti-hero than a bad guy. We actually enjoy watching Jonas NIghtengale's act and his views that he is actually helping people. But as the movie goes on, there is even more to the characters than what we first think.

Richard Pearce does a great directing job in Leap of Faith. It's simplistic, but thoroughly well shot and taken seriously. This movie isn't done like a comedy, but just the reality of the story and all is enough for this movie to still be hilarious. But when those more serious moments hit, they are shown in a way that make us think about what it means to the characters. That being said, the director does a great job pacing this movie is presented wonderfully. I love the transitions during Jonas' act switching between him and his partner Jane. The whole revival scenes are presented like a working play and we get to see how it's done. And it's pretty funny and clever. But the revival act is done with great cinematography, flashing lights, nice looking costumes, an GREAT choir, a big Jesus in the back, and everything else in between. There's a montage moment where Jonas' team sets up their revival tent edited and paced very well with a great song from the choir making it an enjoyable movie moment.

Leap of Faith is an enjoyable and original look into evangelists, how they work and what true miricles are. It's funny at times, and this movie includes a great cast including Debra Winger, Liam Neeson, Philip Seymore Hoffman and even Meat Loaf. But Leap of Faith is also dramatic, interesting, and very well made.