THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE

US, 2021, 126 minutes, Colour.

Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, Cherry Jones, Vincent D'Onofrio, Mark Wystrach, Sam Jaeger, Louis Cancelmi, Gabriel Olds, Frederic Lehne, Chandler Head.

Directed by Michael Showalter.

With this focus on evangelical Christianity, on pastors and ministry, especially television ministry, this portrait of Tammy Faye Bakker will elicit a variety of responses.

There are those for whom religion is not important and will review the film as a biographical study, looking at it in the context of American culture. There are those who are hostile to evangelical Christianity, especially in the United States, its moral and political stances, their perspective being confirmed by this story. And, by contrast, there are the evangelical Christians themselves, who might find themselves targeted at times, but who will identify with some of the characters, the development of the television ministry, a belief in the central characters and a willingness, perhaps, to forgive them. In fact, there are also Christians who find evangelical Christianity difficult, some of the severe moral stances as well as the exuberantly extroverted way of worship and will review this film with some curiosity.

Older audiences may remember the scandal in the 1990s when television evangelist, Jimmy Bakker, was exposed as having embezzled millions of dollars from his Christian television company. But, in fact, the face of the scandal was his wife, Tammy Faye, something of a dominating personality, especially on the television shows, always made up, reminiscent of the Dolly Parton style of country and western singer and presentation.

And, as portrayed by Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye, this is who she is. We are taken back to her childhood, her mother playing the piano for the church, Tammy Faye wanting faith, converted, an experience of speaking in tongues. And then, to ministry training where she encounters Jimmy Bakker (Andrew Garfield) rehearsing a sermon on prosperity Christianity, God blessing those who hope for success in this world. They click, they begin a ministry, building up quietly, encountering evangelist Pat Robertson and joining with him, moving to the world of evangelical television. And the smiling repetition on screen of their final good wish, “God loves you”.

The couple work well together, Tammy especially with her puppets attracting a children’s audience and then their parents. But, Jimmy becomes involved in financial deals, donations rapidly coming in, his setting up homes for various charities, even an ambitious plan to build a Christian theme park. But, especially with some of his associates, there are suspicions. The question throughout the film is how much Tammy Faye knew about her husband’s wheeler dealings or whether she just simply bypass them, accepting them and success and possessions as the fruit of her husband’s success ministry.

Vincent D’Oonfrio appears as Jerry Fallwell, so prominent in the 1980s and 1990s with evangelicals, a very stern moralistic critique of American culture, wary of Tammy Faye, trying to bail out the television network from its financial woes.

The film takes us into the world of evangelical media religion, many sequences of the shows, the appeals, Tammy Faye and her folksy presence, and the development from Sunday shows, to shows during the week, to 24 hours, to satellites and worldwide streaming.

By the end, Tammy Faye has become disillusioned with Jimmy, caught up in some sexual issues and scandals on his part, a divorce, him in prison, her children (who collaborated with this production), her dependence on sleeping pills and other prescriptions, and attempted rehabilitation – and, symbolic of the perspectives of American evangelical religion, Tammy singing at Oral Roberts University, accepted by the audience, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, the flag, saluting, Tammy Faye praising the United States.

An interesting and sometimes intriguing look at US Christianity – evangelical.

1. Audience knowledge of Jimmy and Tammy Faye Bakker? Their careers, preachers, television evangelisation, money raising? Success? Downfall? The initial information indicating the downfall?
2. The range of audience response: those for whom religions are out there, no matter what denomination; those who identify with evangelical religion; practising Christians who are not sympathetic to evangelical religious behaviour and beliefs?
3. The presentation of evangelical Christianity, easy to caricature, the early sequences, the preacher, the small congregation, Tammy Faye’s mother playing the piano, the enthusiasm of the preacher, the preaching of material success, God’s presence, Tammy Faye wanting to be religious, her mother’s reputation, divorced, the child considered illegitimate, but her determination, coming to the church, the pastor accepting her, faith, speaking in tongues? Tammy Faye as the young girl, this kind of family, this kind of faith, her belief – continuing throughout her life?
4. The faith of evangelicals, Jesus as personal saviour, the presence of God, the presence of Jesus, those who preach success in this world, what God wants? The reality of sin and failure, repentance? As illustrated by Tammy Faye and Jimmy Bakker? ‘God loves you.’
5. The initial focus on Tammy Faye, her eyes, make up, in later decades, her reliance on make up, the impossibility of removing some of the lines? Her liking make up?
6. The 1960s, Tammy Faye, going to training for pastors, Jimmy and his sermon, God blessing success in this life? Her reaction, extroverted, his noticing her? Lunch on the grass, persuading Jimmy to dance, revealing herself as a character, beliefs, earnestness, wanting to be a preacher, sense of mission? Jimmy the same, some of his background, wanting to be a DJ, but the secrets? The going out, arriving at Tammy’s home, married?
7. Tammy’s mother, stern, her own experience, initially wary of Jimmy? The brothers and sisters? Her stepfather and his cheerfulness, support? Her mother warily accepting her?
8. The range of ministries, preaching, churches, small groups, building up congregations? Tammy Faye and the puppets, her puppet personality, the conversations, Jimmy playing along, the appeal to the children, and the appeal to their parents?
9. Pat Robertson on television, audience knowledge of Pat Robertson and his career, as an evangelist, successful, fund-racing, his standing for the presidency in 1988, not succeeding?
10. Tammy Faye and Jimmy meeting Pat Robertson, his wife, the socials, Jimmy amazed at his wealth and the mansion? The work with Pat Robertson? Success, Tammy Faye and Jimmy working together? The audience response? Donations? The couple and their rapport with audiences?
11. Tammy Faye, the pregnancy, announcing on television? And the later pregnancy, the relationship with Gary, Jimmy and his resentment at the birth? His behaviour?
12. Jimmy, his gospel of God blessing those who believed in material prosperity, the funds, the various projects, setting up the various houses and charities? Becoming more ambitious? Rex Fletcher as his advisor, suspicious behaviour? Later comments on homosexual advances, The plan for the equivalent of the theme park for religious believers? The plans, the discussions with Roe, Tammy Faye and her flirting, religious talk, persuading Roe? The continued creditors, newspaper articles?
13. The years passing, Tammy Faye growing older and looking older, loving the television, loving the audiences, the rapport with them? The meeting with Jerry Fallwell, her intruding at the table, calling him Jerry and his dislike of this? Gary, his support of her with her music, her singing, the recordings, his approach? Her succumbing, feeling lonely, neglected? Pregnant? Jimmy coming in, ousting Gary, condemning Tammy Faye? Then the information of Rex Fletcher organising his relationship with a woman, her accusations of rape, going to the media?
14. Jerry Fallwell, the discussions with Jimmy, the possibility of saving the network? The network and its power, reach, from Sundays, to weekdays, to 24 hours, to satellite connections? The large staff answering phones?
15. Tammy Faye, continuing, more open to people and their needs, the significance of the interview with the man with AIDS, a sympathetic response? Jerry Fallwell seeing it, not wanting to watch, his homophobic attitudes? His disgust with American society, and wanting to reform it?
16. Jimmy Bakker, the truth, the investments, swindling, payment for mansions, clothes? The arrest and trials? Going to prison? Selling all the assets?
17. Tammy Faye’s mother, coming to live with them, at first disapproving, yet attending every session, singled out at first in the audience, then coming, and the gift of the coat – and her not giving it up to the creditors? Her death – and her husband having a sense of freedom?
18. Tammy Faye, the children, the daughter and the conversations, the later baby? And the children collaborating with this film version?
19. Tammy Faye, the interviews, not implicated in the fraud, knowledge or not, or not observing? The pills, becoming addicted to the pills, sleeping? Her mother and her warning? Rehab?
20. Information that Jimmy Bakker was released from jail and return to ministry?
21. Tammy Faye withdrawing, invited by the Oral Roberts University, hesitant, visiting Jimmy in prison, her decision to go, the audience, the Battle Hymn of the Republic? The extensive patriotism, the flag, Tammy Faye loving everything American? And her evangelical Christianity and television ministry as particularly American?