I don't usually go in for these kind of mimicking, caricature performances where a famous actor transforms themselves through heavy make up and prosthetics into a famous celebrity or historical figure (think Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady) and what "celebrity" is more associated with heavy make up than Tammy Faye Bakker? But like the best of her craft, Jessica Chastain performs underneath all of her trappings to give a pained and powerful performance.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye tells the story of a devout christian woman who believes more in the "love your neighbour" side of her faith than in the conservative political side of it and who is used and discarded by the man she helped build up and the movement they built together. It is a story that explores the gas lighting and abuse rife within the evangelical movement, the corrupt business practices of the movement, and the celebrity gaze itself. At the centre of all this is Chastain balancing bringing forth the honest and subtle emotions while playing the larger than life, and cartoony character to which all of this is happening to.
The film itself goes through its motions with little flare but competently tells its story. It makes its point quite clearly about a woman surviving in her unique way as she is beaten down time and again. Garfield and D'Onofrio do fine in their impressions. Cherry Jones stands out with her seething pursed lips and the breakthroughs of love that shine through. But this is really all about Chastain giving a tour de force.
The film leans into its 80s excesses and for the subject matter I guess that is appropriate. The run time is a little excessive too. Perhaps the film does too much to make her a martyr. However what it does is show us just how much range Chastain can pull off.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, Cherry Jones, Vincent D'Onofrio
Director: Michael Showalter
Writer: Abe Sylvia
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