I loved this movie and it seems from reading the reviews which preceded mine I am not alone in my opinion. And yet I don't recall this film being on any top ten box office list, either in its theatrical run on video and DVD. It's one of those films that sneaks up on you and I suspect expectations had a lot to do with the less than stellar box office. People expect a certain performance from Steve Martin ("The Jerk", his many SNL hosting gigs, "The Man With Two Brains") but "Leap of Faith" was not about bringing the funny. That doesn't mean there isn't humour in this movie. I laughed, I smiled, I cried and then in the end I was truly amazed. Jonas Nightingale (Martin) has decided to set up shop and "put on a show" for the local faithful. Fate, working through a broken down truck, had brought him to Rustwater, Kansas and somehow he (or was it He...?) creates a miracle. In most of my favourite films there is a point where I come to realize I am watching something above the ordinary: in this film it came fairly early on. Jonas, his posse and his assistant, played by Debra Winger, are out and about town drumming up business and greasing the wheels of the local regulators. Meanwhile, back on a field just outside town the crew sets up the tent while the "Angels of Mercy", Jonas' gospel choir, is rehearsing "Change In My Life" acapella. I was drawn in by both the pacing of the montage and the stirring voices of the singers. "Leap of Faith" might not change your mind about religion or God but that is another one of its saving graces. Kudos to Edwin Hawkins for his direction of the choir (such glorious voices...), Janus Cercone and Richard Pearce respectively for writing and directing this film and God bless everyone else who had anything to do it including you the viewer for giving of your time and attention.
every church is a tent revival
this shows what churches are all about for real.that would be lying,thieving,manipulating and far far worse.steve martin shows up in kansas and breaks down in a small town.he uses a tent revival to rip off the inbred people here using god as his tool to pry open thier pocketbooks.like they say thats not a crucifix.thats show biz on a stick.steve uses a crippled kid to gain approval.thats dirty!the hype comes in the form of a very long leather bound book called the b-i-b-l-e.the reality is theres been more people killed in the name of god than for any other reason.the important message is the only people who can be satanists are those who belive in satan.only christians belive in the devil.therefore only a chgristian could be a satanist!steve martin is all down hill anymore.there are only 3 or so good movies left.this one is 3rd of those 3.la story outranks in at 2.little shop of horrors is light years ahead as his best ever.
The Well Known Correlation Between MEATLOAF & Word Of Faith!
Steve Martin is born to play the starring role of Jonas Nightingale, a travelling huckster, fraud of a faith healer, demon "caster outer", "slay in the spiriter" & more importantly, a money grubbing false prophet. Along with his no-nonsense sidekick manager, Jane, played aptly by Debra Winger, they bilk poor souls from a small town out of their hard earned cash with the oldest profession in the world. No, not prostitution. The selling of the Gospel Of Jesus Christ!
This film exhibits many word-faith doctrines such as "positive confession", "gospel of health", "gospel of wealth" and the whole "name it and claim it" belief. More imporantly, what it also has is some great smaller role performances given by Lolita Davidovich as waitress Marva, Lukas Haas as Boyd, Liam Neeson as Will, Philip Seymour Hoffman as Matt, and MEATLOAF as Hoover!
This movie also has a great soundtrack with samplings from Don Henley, Patti LaBelle, Wynonna Judd and of course, the great Meatloaf with "Paradise By The Dashboard Lights"!
Seriously though... This film has a great ending and shows what REAL MIRACLES are made of and EXACTLY where they are made...
Written, directed, and personally financed by Robert Duvall, The Apostle was the culmination of a 14-year effort on the part of its creator, who also stars as the dynamic, God-fearing Texas preacher Euliss "Sonny" Dewey. Vibrantly authentic with its use of real gospel preachers and extras carefully selected from parishes of the deep South, the film treats its complicated characters with the kind of compassion and moral complexity mainstream Hollywood wouldn't dare muster. This is especially true in the case of Sonny, who responds to his wife's infidelity with a crime of passion that sends him on a new and uncharted quest for redemption. Under the assumed identity of "The Apostle E.F.," he settles in a tiny Louisiana town to revive an old church, where he undergoes a transformation... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Robert Duvall Director(s): Robert Duvall DVD Release Date: Released the 05 November 2002 Usually ships in 24 hours
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A Simple Twist of Fate, Steve Martin's second adaptation of a classic (after his Roxanne-ization of Cyrano de Bergerac), is a melancholy, dramatic comedy about a recluse coming out of his shell. Suggested by George Eliot's Silas Marner, this isn't a cutesy picture akin to Father of the Bride. It's much more heartfelt, gentle, and satisfying, as long as you accept its traditional and predictable conclusions. Scorned by life, Michael McCann (Martin) lives in an auburn-tinted town and goes on with his colorless life. That is, until an abandoned child is left on his doorstep, and he adopts her. A custody battle ensues years later with far too many cheap, unconvincing courtroom dramatics in which money is the root of all evil, but the tone and wholesomeness... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Steve Martin Director(s): Gillies MacKinnon DVD Release Date: Released the 06 May 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
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In 1987, almost a hundred years after its first production, the romantic story of Cyrano de Bergerac found new life in a winsome film written by Steve Martin. Roxanne updates the tale with a smart '80s spin, yet writer-star Martin stays close to the old-fashioned heart of the matter. He plays a small-town firefighter named C.D. Bales, whose otherwise unremarkable existence is crowned by an amazingly long nose. He falls for the world's most beautiful astronomer (Daryl Hannah), but he is embarrassed by the size of his proboscis and prefers to stay on the sidelines. Like Cyrano, the shy C.D. instead helps a handsome friend (Rick Rossovich) woo the fair lady by providing flowery sentiments and soulful poetry. Not only does the story still work, but Australian director Fred Schepisi... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Steve Martin - Daryl Hannah Director(s): Fred Schepisi DVD Release Date: Released the 04 July 2000 Usually ships in 24 hours
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This 1984 Carl Reiner comedy is one of the best film showcases of Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin's sundry talents. Tomlin plays a sickly spinster who is given the chance to transfer her soul to the body of another woman, and thus go on living. But the magic man who is supposed to make this happen goofs up and locks her spirit inside a bachelor lawyer (Martin)--or, more accurately, within the right half of the poor fellow's body. Suddenly, the swinging man-about-town is literally at odds with himself, unable to make a self-determining decision without a huge internal struggle. Martin's physical comedy, always remarkable, is absolutely inspired this time around, as he convincingly portrays a man split down the middle between opposing sensibilities. This is also one of the best films by... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Steve Martin - Lily Tomlin Director(s): Carl Reiner DVD Release Date: Released the 02 February 1999 Usually ships in 24 hours
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