Leap of Faith
The Reverend Jonas Nightingale (Steve Martin) is far from holy; in fact, he uses his spiritual influence for financial gain, lining his pockets with the faith of generous believers he encounters as a traveling evangelist. When his tour bus gets stranded in a small town, however, Jonas meets an affirmed skeptic with whom he miraculously falls in love. Is it a match made in heaven?
Member Reviews
Martin's Great! The Movie's Not! - revsdd
I think Steve Martin is a marvellous actor, and rarely come across a movie that of his that I don't care much for. This, however, was disappointing. It wasn't Martin's fault. He did a good job as Jonas Nightingale, the quack faith healer and miracle worker, but I didn't think he was well used. He did a good caricature of the quack faith healers; but aside from his own transformation near the end that was pretty much all he was allowed to do. What a waste of a fine actor.
I had feared when I first watched this that it would be a cheap shot at Christian faith; instead it was clear that the shot was being taken at people who abuse the faith for their own ends. In fact, the one true miracle that happens, in my opinion, was very cleverly shown by the director to be the result of a young boy's faith. So, the movie isn't offensive at all - it's just a bit weak.
Liam Neeson was not believable as a small-town, no nonsense, by the book sheriff and the movie focussed too much on the developing relationship between Neeson's Sheriff Will and Nightingale's assistant Jane, a relationship that was neither interesting nor believable. How is it that this no-nonsense sheriff meets a girl, falls hopelessly in love within a couple of days and spends significant time chasing butterflies with her? I'm serious! Is this at all believable? The relationship between Nightingale and Marva had more tension to it and more creative possibilities but was almost completely ignored. And what of Boyd - Marva's son? His innocent faith in Nightingale could have been an important part of the movie but it was also relegated to the background behind the Jane-Will romance. I just didn't understand that decision at all.
Martin's performance was good, which makes this worth watching, but the movie overall was rather weak.
Member Reviews
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Martin's Great! The Movie's Not! - revsdd
I think Steve Martin is a marvellous actor, and rarely come across a movie that of his that I don't care much for. This, however, was disappointing. It wasn't Martin's fault. He did a good job as Jonas Nightingale, the quack faith healer and miracle worker, ...