The 2021 American biographical drama film The Eyes of Tammy Faye is a compelling look at the controversial, yet sweetly charismatic, Tammy Faye Bakker (later Messner), a televangelist who rose to fame in the '70s and '80s, only to have a humiliating, and very public, fall from grace following a major scandal in 1988. The biopic is named after a 2000 documentary on the evangelist, with both titles referencing her iconic, heavily made-up — and often tearful — eyes. As far as biopics go, The Eyes of Tammy Faye is a largely flattering account of its subject; however, the documentary finds ways to reveal the late televangelist's flaws — humanizing her in the process.
The Eyes of Tammy was directed by Michael Showalter and stars Jessica Chastain in the titular role. Andrew Garfield co-stars as Jim Bakker, Tammy Faye's former husband and the co-founder of their Christian network The PTL Club. Both actors are transformed in the film, bearing a strong resemblance to their real-life counterparts — both in terms of appearance (thanks to makeup and prosthetics) as well as mannerisms. The story, which was written by Abe Sylvia, focuses on Tammy Faye's perspective, showing her experiences with religion at a young age up to the aftermath of her fall from grace, focusing on the key milestone moments in her life, like her meeting and falling in love with Jim, their early years building a ministry, the development of the Heritage USA theme park, and even her groundbreaking interview with the openly gay Christian minister Steven Pieters.
Showalter handles the material in The Eyes of Tammy Faye with care, expertly balancing out the televangelist's eccentricities with moments of genuine compassion. Tammy Faye is undoubtedly a flawed figure, and it would be easy to fall into the caricature of the hysterical, greedy, and vain clown that critics often made Tammy Faye out to be. Showalter's approach is more nuanced: yes, Tammy Faye was vain, and yes, she was guilty of living off of misappropriated ministry funds — but she also was a deeply loving, talented and altruistic person who was unafraid to take risks. Her willingness to discuss taboo subjects openly and candidly — including advocating acceptance of homosexuality and compassion for those suffering from AIDS — broke down social barriers. This doesn't vindicate her of other wrongdoing, but it does make her a more complicated figure than she's often remembered as in popular culture.
Chastain is the center of The Eyes of Tammy Faye. The actor brings her character to life, giving the chipper, perpetually-bubbly woman a surprising amount of depth. Chastain, who also produced the film, is charming even under the significant amount of makeup, and the positive, loving attitude never feels forced or ingenuine. There are a few emotionally devastating scenes that only work because of how connected Chastain is with the material: Tammy Faye gets to be funny and spunky (and even a little sexy), but also vulnerable, brash and immensely likable. While she plays well against Garfield, whose Jim Bakker is much less complex but believable nonetheless, the real highlight in the movie is Tammy Faye's troubled relationship with her mother Rachel (Cherry Jones). Although it's not the main focus of the film, their story has a well-developed arc and a satisfying emotional payoff.
Even Jim Bakker is also characterized with respect in The Eyes of Tammy Faye; although he's easy to despise, there are efforts made to humanize him, too, and to show why his ex-wife stuck by him through the PTL scandals. The movie suggests that the greed, pride, and general corruption that led to Jim and Tammy Bakker's downfall was inevitable, rather than a byproduct of too much success. Subtle flashes — Jim's interpretation of scripture, or his decision to buy a fast car they couldn't afford — set up the later developments so that they feel like a natural progression. Although the story in The Eyes of Tammy Faye is extraordinary, the audience doesn't have to suspend disbelief in order to enjoy.
While The Eyes of Tammy Faye follows similar beats to other high-profile biopics, it (thankfully) avoids several of the pitfalls. The movie doesn't dwell on the subject's childhood, nor does it try to present her as a victim. Although there are villainous characters (like Vincent D'Onofrio as rival televangelist Jerry Falwell), the movie avoids over-simplifying the events; although Jerry played a significant role in destroying Tammy's public image, ultimately, she has no one but herself to blame. The ending is somewhat frustrating, and some may feel the final act lacks closure — but given that this is a drama based on real events, there's only so much that can be done. Ultimately, The Eyes of Tammy Faye has to compromise its story with real events, and at least it gives Tammy Faye a celebratory note to end on.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye had its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2021, and was released in theaters on September 17, 2021. It is 126 minutes long and is related PG-13 for sexual content and drug use.
