Who was Tammy Faye Bakker and why is her story being retold in 2021. How did Michael Showalter approach directing ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’. What made Tammy Faye stand out in the world of televangelism. Why is Jessica Chastain’s performance generating Oscar buzz. How does the film explore themes of redemption and false idols.
The Rise and Fall of Tammy Faye Bakker: A Televangelist Icon
Tammy Faye Bakker, with her distinctive mascara-clumped lashes and teary-eyed pleas, became a household name in the 1980s. Her journey from a hopeful Bible college student to a disgraced public figure is the subject of Michael Showalter’s latest film, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.” But who was Tammy Faye, and why does her story continue to captivate audiences decades later?
Tammy Faye, alongside her husband Jim Bakker, rose to prominence as televangelists, promoting the prosperity gospel – a belief that faith is rewarded through wealth. Their empire, valued at $180 million at its peak, was built on a unique connection with their audience. Tammy Faye’s charm, her puppet shows for children, and her distinctive take on gospel singing set her apart from other televangelists of the era.
Tammy Faye’s Unique Appeal
- Emotional connection with viewers
- Innovative children’s programming
- Distinctive musical performances
- Advocacy for marginalized communities
Despite becoming a caricature in popular culture, especially after her husband’s public downfall, Tammy Faye’s impact on American television and religious broadcasting cannot be understated. Her ability to forge a bond with millions of viewers, even in the face of controversy, speaks to her enduring appeal.
Michael Showalter’s Vision: Bringing Tammy Faye’s Story to Life
Michael Showalter, known for directing the Oscar-winning film “The Big Sick,” brings his unique perspective to “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.” Growing up in Princeton, Showalter recalls his fascination with televangelists during the early days of cable television. “I sort of was fascinated by it,” he says. “And I found them to be oddly charming.”
This early intrigue has translated into a nuanced portrayal of Tammy Faye’s life, balancing elements of drama and tragicomedy. How does Showalter approach the complex task of humanizing a figure often reduced to caricature?
Showalter’s Approach to Directing
- Focus on the person behind the public persona
- Exploration of the rise and fall narrative
- Balancing drama with elements of tragicomedy
- Emphasis on Tammy Faye’s unique contributions to televangelism
By basing the film on the 2000 documentary of the same name, Showalter grounds his narrative in historical context while bringing a fresh perspective to Tammy Faye’s story.
Jessica Chastain’s Transformation: Embodying Tammy Faye
At the heart of “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” is Jessica Chastain’s transformative performance as the titular character. Already an Academy Award nominee, Chastain’s portrayal of Tammy Faye is generating significant Oscar buzz. What makes her performance so compelling?
Chastain’s dedication to the role is evident in her physical transformation, utilizing facial prosthetics and exaggerated makeup to capture Tammy Faye’s iconic look. But beyond the visual aspects, Chastain delves deep into Tammy Faye’s psyche, bringing to life her complexities, vulnerabilities, and unwavering faith.
Key Aspects of Chastain’s Performance
- Physical transformation through prosthetics and makeup
- Capturing Tammy Faye’s distinctive voice and mannerisms
- Portraying the emotional depth behind the public persona
- Balancing vulnerability with strength and conviction
Chastain’s portrayal goes beyond mere imitation, offering audiences a glimpse into the heart and mind of a woman who became both an icon and a cautionary tale in American popular culture.
The Prosperity Gospel: Examining Faith and Wealth
Central to the story of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker is the concept of the prosperity gospel. This theological perspective, which suggests that faith is rewarded through material wealth, formed the foundation of their ministry and media empire. How does “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” explore this controversial doctrine?
The film delves into the complexities of promoting a message that equates financial success with spiritual blessing. It raises questions about the ethics of such teachings and their impact on followers. Does the pursuit of wealth compromise spiritual integrity, or can material prosperity be a genuine expression of faith?
Key Aspects of the Prosperity Gospel
- Belief that faith leads to financial success
- Emphasis on positive confessions and “seed faith” offerings
- Criticism from mainstream Christian denominations
- Impact on followers’ financial and spiritual lives
By examining the Bakkers’ promotion of the prosperity gospel, the film offers a nuanced look at the intersection of faith, wealth, and media in American culture.
Televangelism and the Media Landscape of the 1980s
The rise of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker coincided with a significant shift in the American media landscape. The advent of cable television opened new avenues for niche programming, including religious broadcasting. How did this changing media environment contribute to the Bakkers’ success?
Televangelism, with its blend of religious messaging and entertainment, found a perfect home on cable TV. The Bakkers’ ability to harness this new medium, creating compelling content that resonated with viewers, was key to their rapid rise to prominence.
Factors Contributing to Televangelism’s Success
- Expansion of cable television networks
- Increased demand for niche programming
- Ability to reach a national audience
- Integration of entertainment elements with religious messaging
“The Eyes of Tammy Faye” provides a window into this transformative period in American media history, showcasing how the Bakkers capitalized on these changes to build their empire.
Redemption and Second Chances: Themes in ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’
While “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” chronicles the rise and fall of the Bakkers, it also explores themes of redemption and second chances. After their public disgrace, both Jim and Tammy Faye sought to rebuild their lives and ministries. How does the film approach these attempts at redemption?
The concept of forgiveness, both divine and human, plays a significant role in the narrative. The film encourages viewers to consider the possibility of redemption, even for those who have fallen from grace in spectacular fashion. Is redemption possible for public figures who have betrayed their followers’ trust?
Exploring Redemption in the Film
- Portrayal of the Bakkers’ attempts to rebuild their lives
- Examination of public and personal forgiveness
- Consideration of the lasting impact of past actions
- Reflection on the nature of genuine repentance
By delving into these themes, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” offers a nuanced perspective on the complexities of human nature and the possibility of personal growth and change.
The Legacy of Tammy Faye: Beyond the Mascara
While Tammy Faye Bakker is often remembered for her distinctive appearance and the scandals that rocked her ministry, her legacy extends far beyond these surface-level associations. How does “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” seek to reframe public perception of this complex figure?
One of the film’s key focuses is Tammy Faye’s advocacy for marginalized communities, particularly her support for the LGBTQ+ community during the AIDS crisis. At a time when many religious leaders shunned those affected by AIDS, Tammy Faye’s compassionate approach stood out. This aspect of her character challenges preconceptions and adds depth to her public persona.
Key Elements of Tammy Faye’s Legacy
- Advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and AIDS patients
- Pioneering role as a female televangelist
- Influence on contemporary Christian music
- Impact on the intersection of faith and popular culture
By exploring these facets of Tammy Faye’s life and work, the film invites viewers to reconsider their perceptions of this iconic figure and her lasting impact on American culture.
The Intersection of Faith, Celebrity, and Scandal
“The Eyes of Tammy Faye” delves into the complex relationship between faith, celebrity, and scandal in American culture. The Bakkers’ story exemplifies the potential pitfalls of mixing religious ministry with the trappings of fame and wealth. How does the film navigate these thorny issues?
The narrative explores the tension between sincere religious conviction and the allure of celebrity status. It raises questions about the nature of authentic faith in the face of material success and public adulation. Can genuine spiritual leadership coexist with the pursuit of fame and fortune?
Key Themes Explored
- The impact of celebrity culture on religious leadership
- The corrupting influence of wealth and power
- Public perception of religious figures involved in scandals
- The role of media in shaping religious narratives
By examining these intersections, the film offers a thought-provoking commentary on the complex relationship between faith, fame, and public morality in American society.
The Art of Biographical Filmmaking: Challenges and Considerations
Creating a biographical film about recent historical figures presents unique challenges for filmmakers. How does Michael Showalter navigate the complexities of bringing Tammy Faye’s story to the screen while maintaining historical accuracy and dramatic impact?
One of the key considerations in biographical filmmaking is striking a balance between factual accuracy and narrative engagement. Showalter’s approach involves grounding the film in historical events while allowing for creative interpretation of personal moments and motivations.
Challenges in Biographical Filmmaking
- Balancing historical accuracy with dramatic storytelling
- Portraying complex personalities without resorting to caricature
- Addressing sensitive or controversial topics
- Managing public expectations and preconceptions
By tackling these challenges, Showalter aims to create a film that is both historically informative and emotionally resonant, offering viewers a fresh perspective on a familiar story.
The Role of Music in ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’
Music played a significant role in Tammy Faye Bakker’s life and ministry, and it features prominently in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.” How does the film incorporate music to enhance its storytelling and character development?
Tammy Faye’s unique blend of gospel, pop, and Christian contemporary music was a key part of her appeal. The film showcases this aspect of her personality, using music to highlight emotional moments and illustrate her connection with her audience.
Music’s Function in the Film
- Capturing Tammy Faye’s distinctive musical style
- Enhancing emotional resonance of key scenes
- Illustrating the evolution of Christian music in the 1970s and 1980s
- Providing insight into Tammy Faye’s personal faith journey
By integrating music thoughtfully into the narrative, the film offers a more complete portrait of Tammy Faye and the cultural moment she inhabited.
The Impact of ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ on Contemporary Discussions of Faith and Media
As “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” brings the story of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker to a new generation, it inevitably sparks discussions about the current state of religious media and celebrity pastors. How might the film influence contemporary conversations about faith, wealth, and public ministry?
The issues raised by the Bakkers’ story – the intersection of faith and wealth, the power of media in shaping religious narratives, and the potential for both positive impact and abuse within religious organizations – remain relevant today. The film provides a historical lens through which to examine these ongoing concerns.
Potential Areas of Impact
- Renewed scrutiny of prosperity gospel teachings
- Discussions about accountability in religious organizations
- Examination of media’s role in shaping religious narratives
- Reflection on the nature of forgiveness and redemption in public life
By bringing these issues to the forefront, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” may contribute to important conversations about the role of faith and media in contemporary society.
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Michael Showalter is a director, writer, and producer who most recently directed the 2017 hit The Big Sick. Previously he directed and co-wrote the 2016 film Hello, My Name Is Doris starring Sally Field. Michael’s first film was the The Baxter (2005) starring Michelle Williams and Justin Theroux. Michael is a co-creator of the critically acclaimed television show Search Party on TBS. He also co-created the TV mini-series Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp and Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later on Netflix.
As a writer and producer, Michael’s other film credits include Wet Hot American Summer and They Came Together. Michael is a founding member of the comedy groups The State and Stella. He’s also written two books: Mr. Funny Pants and Guys Can Be Cat Ladies Too.
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‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ director Michael Showalter on televangelism, redemption and false idols
Tammy Faye Bakker’s mascara-clumped lashes jutted out of her eyelids like frozen spiders.
She dabbed them when she cried, but the image of inky streams staining her cheeks is forever engrained in pop culture.
The quintessentially camp TV personality became a punchline and caricature, especially after her husband’s very public fall from grace.
Still, that didn’t erase the truth: Tammy Faye established an undeniable bond with millions of people.
Whether tearfully making a plea for understanding in a candid interview with an AIDS patient, singing disco Jesus songs or preaching the blessings of the good life alongside her husband, Jim Bakker, Tammy found her way into American living rooms.
Director Michael Showalter, who grew up in Princeton, remembers his first cable TV encounters with the ‘80s televangelists.
“I sort of was fascinated by it,” he says. “And I found them to be oddly charming.”
Showalter, director of the 2017 Oscar-winning film “The Big Sick,” takes on the story of the person behind Tammy Faye’s famous face in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” a film based on the 2000 Tammy Faye documentary of the same name.
Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Bakker and Andrew Garfield as Jim Bakker. The televangelists promoted the prosperity gospel, drawing millions of viewers and making millions of dolllars.Daniel McFadden | Searchlight Pictures
Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain is in the Oscar conversation again for her performance as Tammy Faye opposite fellow nominee Andrew Garfield (”Hacksaw Ridge”) as Jim Bakker. The actor uses various facial prosthetics and exaggerated makeup to inhabit the televangelist and her signature look.
“The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” now in theaters, focuses on Tammy and Jim’s rise as spiritual leaders and TV personalities. The drama, which has elements of tragicomedy, follows their journey from hopeful young Bible college students to disgraced public figures looking for a second chance.
Before their downfall, the televangelists established a connection to their devotees that was strong enough to power an enterprise worth $180 million. They did it by selling the prosperity gospel — the idea that faith is rewarded through wealth, and that wealth is somehow a measure of faith.
Michael Showalter in August at his home in Los Angeles. The director grew up in Princeton.Ian Maddox | for The Washington Post via Getty Images
But Tammy Faye added something to the televangelist tradition promoted by Oral Roberts and other men who practiced charismatic Christianity. And it wasn’t just her early puppet shows for kids on the Christian Broadcast Network or her special take on gospel singing.
She occupied the role of “preacher’s wife,” but her voice was crucial. Tammy’s displays of raw vulnerability — her tears, joy and lamentation — helped draw millions of viewers to the PTL (Praise the Lord) satellite network, which the Bakkers launched in 1974.
When the televangelist is live on PTL in Showalter’s film, Chastain is often looking directly at the camera.
“We wanted the audience to feel like they were being talked to the way you feel the preachers are talking to you when you watch them on TV,” Showalter, 51, tells NJ Advance Media. “There were moments where we would have the characters look right into the lens.”
Tammy Faye Bakker and Jim Bakker in 1987, the year they said goodbye to their audience on “The PTL Club.”John Barr | Liaison Agency via Getty Images
Why does Tammy feel the need to be in front of a camera, to perform?
“It’s people,” she said years later, after leaving the TV ministry. “It’s someone to talk to.”
In Showalter’s film, Tammy makes puppets and amuses herself with them, creating her own company.
“I think Tammy was always someone who felt rejected and cast out,” Showalter says.
The film shows her as a child, peering in the windows of a church. She isn’t allowed inside because her mother, a pianist there, is divorced.
“She was always searching for a community and for acceptance and for validation,” the director says.
“And so in a way the camera and the fans were a way for Tammy to feel loved and to give love in return, not unlike the way social media is, the way people want to accumulate followers and have that interaction with large groups of people as a way of being seen and heard.
“On the one hand, wanting that connection for a good reason and then on the other hand, needing that connection as a source of validation. And I think at the end of the movie, she sort of realizes she doesn’t need that.”
Jim and Tammy’s sizable TV audience made Heritage USA, their “Christian Disneyland” theme park in South Carolina, a popular destination.
PTL viewers funded the expensive lifestyle that proved to be their undoing.
Jim Bakker, once praised by former President Ronald Reagan for his commitment to “wholesome family development,” resigned from PTL in 1987 after he became the subject of a sex scandal for cheating with model and actress Jessica Hahn, then a church secretary, who with his blessing was paid $200,000 in hush money from PTL donations.
The Rev. Jerry Falwell, a Southern Baptist, took the helm at PTL and turned on his onetime friends, announcing Bakker’s transgressions to the world, alleging he had sexual encounters with men and reading aloud a list of requested amenities and benefits Tammy said he asked her to draw up.
Jessica Chastain and Michael Showalter at “The Eyes Of Tammy Faye” premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival in September. Emma McIntyre | Getty Images
In 1989, Bakker was found guilty of fraud and conspiracy and sentenced to 45 years in prison (he served five, currently has his own ministry and was sued for hawking a bogus COVID-19 “cure”). The televangelist had sold his followers on $158 million worth of shares in Heritage USA, including “lifetime vacations” the park could not accommodate, and used $3.7 million to pay for luxury items in his own home.
Jim and Tammy were done.
But their reign was something to behold. When Showalter would visit his father’s family in Roanoke, Virginia, all the TVs would be tuned to televangelist programming.
“I watched it with sort of a mix of fascination and enjoyment, although I didn’t really understand too much of the religious component,” he says. “I would almost compare it to the way we all sort of get sucked in by watching an infomercial or QVC or something.”
Showalter, an alum of Princeton High School, lives in Los Angeles. He grew up with academic parents — his mother, Elaine Showalter, a feminist literary critic, author and Princeton professor; and his father, English Showalter, a professor of French literature.
The director’s career in film and TV started out in comedy as a cast member of the MTV sketch show “The State” in the ‘90s.
Showalter went on to co-write and star in the ‘80s summer camp sendup “Wet Hot American Summer” (2001). He returned with the enviable cast for prequel and sequel series on Netflix in 2015 and 2017.
He also wrote and directed “The Baxter” (2005), in which he starred, “Hello, My Name is Doris” (2015) and “The Big Sick” (2017), for which married couple Emily V.
Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani won the Oscar for best screenplay. Showalter followed the critical success with the romantic comedy “The Lovebirds” (2020) before diving into the world of Tammy Faye.
Michael Showalter with “The Big Sick” writer-actor Kumail Nanjiani and writer Emily V. Gordon in 2017. Nanjiani and Gordon won the Oscar for best screenplay for the film, which was directed by Showalter. Suzi Pratt | Getty Images
The director, who co-created the HBO Max series “Search Party” (formerly on TBS), also helms the upcoming podcast-inspired Apple TV Plus series “The Shrink Next Door,” starring Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell.
He’s producing and directing two other forthcoming shows: Hulu’s “The Dropout,” based on another podcast, starring Amanda Seyfried as Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes; and the Showtime series “I Love This For You,” starring “Saturday Night Live” alum Vanessa Bayer. This year, Showalter inked an overall deal with HBO Max.
Now he’s getting ready to direct another love story.
Showalter is collaborating with fellow New Jersey native Michael Ausiello, founder of the website TVLine, on the film adaptation of the entertainment journalist’s 2017 memoir “Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Other Four-Letter Words.”
“I’m getting text messages from Michael as we’re having this interview,” Showalter said last week.
Michael Showalter will direct “Spoiler Alert,” the film adaptation of the memoir from fellow New Jersey native Michael Ausiello.Amy Sussman | Getty Images
In the book, Ausiello — who grew up in Roselle Park — chronicles his relationship with his husband, photographer Kit Cowan, and Cowan’s fight with colorectal cancer in the year before his 2015 death.
“Big Bang Theory” star Jim Parsons, who optioned the book, is producing and will play Ausiello, who co-wrote the script with Dan Savage and David Marshall Grant. Ben Aldridge (“Fleabag”) will play Cowan, and Sally Field, who Showalter directed in “Hello, My Name is Doris,” is co-starring.
The director is filming “Spoiler Alert” this fall for Focus Features.
“Michael and I grew up in different parts of New Jersey, but at around the same time, and so I think in a way we have a lot in common, just growing up in New Jersey in the 1980s,” Showalter says. “But I’m really excited about that project.”
In the documentary “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” the former televangelist refuses to remove her makeup.
“Without my eyelashes I wouldn’t be Tammy Faye,” she says in the film, released in 2000. She died in 2007, at 65, from cancer.
Her eyebrows, lipliner and eyeliner, all tattooed, complete her signature look: a kind of perma-surprised, fake-tanned Lucille Ball.
In Showalter’s film, Tammy’s embellished features are an important part of Chastain’s performance. Additional layers of adornment — more lashes and jewelry, bigger earrings, fluffier hair — signal the passage of time, like a mask that gets more elaborate as the years go by.
Tammy Faye Bakker — here as Tammy Faye Messner in 2002 — tried to bounce back after a very public downfall.
Lawrence Lucier | Getty Images
But the director wanted to peel back that image to see more.
“I think there’s something really compelling about the idea of looking beyond the surface of somebody, the way in which the media kind of mocked her for wearing makeup and for dressing and looking a certain way,” Showalter says. “There’s an element of ridicule there that was not deserved. And so there’s a part of me that feels a sort of rooting-for-the-underdog element to it of seeing what’s beneath the surface of this person that was mocked so much by the culture at the time.”
In 1960, Chastain’s Faye starts out as a hopeful, bright-eyed student at North Central Bible College in Minnesota, where she meets Jim Bakker. At this point, Tammy’s rapid-fire, tittering laugh is more noticeable than her makeup. She marries Jim, and they become traveling evangelists.
The couple take their talents to TV with “Come on Over,” a children’s show on Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network, where Jim is tapped to host “The 700 Club.
”
Andrew Garfield as Jim Bakker and Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Bakker. The story of the couple’s undoing has been lampooned many times, along with Tammy Faye’s appearance, but Showalter wanted to go beyond the mascara and camp.Searchlight Pictures
Later, when the pair finds success on their own terms with PTL, including their talk show “The PTL Club,” Tammy is ignored by Jim and sidelined by his infidelity, including what the movie portrays as a sexual relationship with a male subordinate. She subsists on Diet Coke, Ativan and blue eyeshadow for days.
Nearly 10 years ago, Chastain, a producer of “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” optioned the feature rights to the 2000 documentary of the same name, which was narrated by RuPaul.
Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato (”Party Monster”), directors of the documentary and Emmy-winning producers of long-running reality series “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” serve as executive producers of Showalter’s drama, scripted by Abe Sylvia (”Dead to Me,” “Nurse Jackie”).
The documentary, Showalter says, “is showing Tammy Faye as she was — as a really authentic and genuine person who, even though all of these terrible things were happening to her, she kind of soldiered on with this incredible attitude and this incredible message.”
Randy Havens as Steve Pieters (on the TV screen) and Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Bakker in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.” Tammy Faye called for better treatment of people with AIDS in her 1985 PTL interview of Pieters, a minister living with AIDS.Searchlight Pictures
Given the history of Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker as outsize characters to be lampooned — “Saturday Night Live” featured a Jim and Tammy skit in a 1987 episode with Dana Carvey’s Church Lady — it can be easy to veer into parody with the televangelists.
“We all wanted to make a serious movie, and not serious meaning ‘not entertaining’ or ‘not funny,’” Showalter says. “We all knew that we were taking these sort of over-the-top characters, that everyone was so familiar with them being the subject of jokes, and treating them and their story with dignity and respect — to treat it as a dramatic story and to treat Tammy Faye as a dramatic heroine.
“So Jessica and all the actors, Andrew and everyone else in the cast, approached their characters from a very grounded, serious place, even though these characters are very over-the-top. We wanted the movie not to shy away from those aspects of their characters, either, but we knew going in that we were never going to be making fun of them.”
Tammy Faye Bakker and Jim Bakker dine at Pat Robertson’s estate with the Rev. Jim Falwell and others in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.”Searchlight Pictures
“The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” like the documentary, is a sympathetic portrayal of Tammy Faye. But the feature film also interprets what her relationship with Jim was like off-camera.
As newspapers cover PTL’s misappropriation of funds, Chastain’s Tammy vigorously denies any wrongdoing on Jim’s part.
“The secular press hates us because we’re winning millions of souls for Jesus,” Tammy tells her mother, Rachel Grover, played by a formidable Cherry Jones. The character stands out as the only one in Jim and Tammy’s circle who is particularly critical of their approach to Christianity and evangelism, believing that being a good Christian shouldn’t be a moneymaking endeavor.
But there is a moment when Tammy half-asks Jim if they’re doing anything wrong.
“We talked about the idea that Tammy is somewhat naive about what’s happening behind the scenes of this incredible empire that’s being built,” Showalter says. “The warning the mother gives her is, ‘If you follow blindly, in the end, all you are is blind.’ I think some of the resonance there for all of us is false idols who are telling people something and everyone is taking all of what they’re being told that they value without going deeper to find out if it’s true or not. It was important just to have a character in the movie to see the truth for what it was.”
Even if Tammy Faye, ensconced in luxury, lived with a kind of willful ignorance, one of her PTL segments stands out as something of a redeeming moment in the film.
In 1985, she hosted an interview on her PTL show, “Tammy’s House Party,” with Steve Pieters, a gay minister living with AIDS. In the interview, she is not only empathetic toward Pieters and his experience, but also indicts people for their poor treatment of those who are HIV-positive.
“We who are supposed to be able to love everyone are afraid so badly of an AIDS patient that we will not go up and put our arm around them and tell them that we care,” Tammy says, tearing up.
Even in the moment, Pieters (played by Randy Havens) tells her how important it is for her to say those words, just two months after Reagan deigned to say “AIDS” publicly for the first time.
Jessica Chastain and the Rev. Steve Pieters at “The Eyes Of Tammy Faye” New York premiere.Angela Weiss | AFP via Getty Images
Not all of Tammy’s questions for Pieters would fly in 2021, and according to what he heard, the interview was not conducted remotely because of his chemotherapy, as Tammy told viewers, but because the crew would have been uncomfortable if he was there. Still, it was unprecedented for someone with Tammy’s power to reach so many in the conservative Christian audience about a gay man with AIDS.
Pieters, now 69, joined Chastain at the New York premiere of “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” in September.
Chastain’s Tammy builds to a crescendo in scenes like the Pieters interview. But her conviction that everyone is worthy of love is seen earlier in the film, in conversation with the Rev. Jerry Falwell, who is vocal about his anti-gay agenda.
“We’re all just people made out of the same old dirt, and God didn’t make any junk,” Tammy says in one scene with Falwell, played by a chilly, unforgiving Vincent D’Onofrio. Her assertion is a quote from the documentary (Falwell isn’t in that scene).
Tammy Faye surveys a contestant in a Tammy Faye look-alike contest with hostess Lady Bunny in 2002.Marvin Joseph | The Washington Post via Getty Images
Tammy’s forward-thinking beliefs among televangelists and religious leaders at large contributed to her status as an unlikely gay icon.
In 1992, she divorced Jim Bakker, who was then in prison, and in 1993 married his former business partner Roe Messner. After Tammy remarried, she briefly hosted a talk show with openly gay actor Jim J.
Bullock (”Spaceballs,” “Alf”). Ever the performer, she didn’t shy away from Tammy Faye look-alike contests or her status as a camp figure.
Showalter knows his film has encouraged people to read up on Tammy and watch the documentary. He hopes they take away something else from her story, too.
“Part of the movie is to learn about Tammy Faye and to maybe have history be rewritten there a little bit, but also to be inspired by her message,” he says. “That God’s love is for everybody, and that love has healing powers and that we should accept each other and we should learn from each other rather than to fight and let our differences rip us apart.”
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Michael Showalter biography, filmography. Actor, director
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9000 4 Armavir,
90 004 Bugulma,
900 04 Lesnoy,
Michael Showalter – biography, filmography, best movies
Rating: 7.
40
Signs
Rating: 7, American dad 2
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Michael Showalter – biography
Michael Showalter born June 17, 1970
Directed films: Love is a disease (2017), Hello, my name is Doris (2015), Baxter (2005) and others, participated in the creation series: Grace and Frankie (2015-2021), Love (2016-2018), In the Dark (2019-2020), etc. 2001), Baxter (2005), etc., TV series: Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (2015), Children’s Hospital (2008-2012), Comedy Central Presents (2010), etc.
Participated in the filming and dubbing of films: Griffin and Phoenix: On the edge of happiness (2006), Sex for two nights (2014), Signs (2002) and others, TV series: Sex and the City (1998-2004), Law and order (1990-2010), Crusher (2015-2016) and others, cartoon characters: The Adventures of Buzz Lightyear of the All-Star Team (2000-2001), American Dad (2005-2020), Bob’s Diner (2011-2020) and etc.
Acted as a producer of films: Hello, my name is Doris (2015), Hot American Summer (2001), They Came Together (2014) and others, TV series: Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (2015), In the Dark (2019-2020), Comedy Central Presents (2010) et al.
Michael Showolter – Trailers and videos
All trailers and videos (8) to this person
The main materials of the site:
The film “Flash”. Michael Shannon is not satisfied with the role of Zod
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Review of the film “The Great Beauty”. Stealing Beauty
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