So much average

A Disappointing Continuation

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

This was almost a good movie. It started out as a very honest portrayal of the hucksterism and con jobs that all religion relies on, only to fall victim to schmalz and a fairy tale ending that destroyed all of the footwork leading up to it. This could have been an important movie on par with "Elmer Gantry" if the writers and director had just resisted the urge to sabotage their own work. Steve Martin played the huckster role with genius and Debra Winger appears in far too few movies, but in reality, hucksters of this caliber never reform, if that's the right word, until scandal brings them down, and people DO get disgusted with fleecing the innocent withOUT having to believe in mythical beings. Too bad.This movie could have had some meaning if they had just stuck to real world.

I am going to be writing a review on the film ' Leap Of Faith'. I thought that it was a very inspiring film that taught me a lot about religion. I think that the actors that were picked really suited their parts and the whole feel was very fluent. The things that Jonas talks about really make an impact on you. When you find out that Jonas is a fake, you realise that all his miracles were fakes, but then a young boy has a real miracle and it surprises Jonas a lot. this film really brings you in and makes you want to carry on watching. It makes you feel like you are actually in that miracle tent and you are having a miracle done to you. I really liked how the movie brings you into the story and gives you an idea on every characters personality. I didn't like that sometimes the story line can be very hard to follow. Overall I thought that this movie was very good with few faults. I would give this movie an 8/10.

Steve Martin is Jonas Nightengale, traveling evangelist with a large enough troupe that it takes two buses and two big trucks to haul everything around. We learn that it takes $3500 daily to meet expenses. The story here starts when one of the trucks begins to smoke and they find they are trapped in this small Kansas community for 4 days. So, they make the best of it, set up the revival tenet and hustle attendance. he whole movie takes place here. The local sheriff (Liam Neeson, in a peculiar casting choice) is naturally skeptical and does his best to convince the people that Jonas is really a crook. He knows money is scarce, crops are in danger for lack of rain, and he wants Jonas to go away.Lolita Davidovich is Marva, local waitress Win a crippled younger brother Boyd (Lukas Haas). A different preacher had told Boyd that he wasn't "healed" because he lacked faith. So, even as Jonas is taking a curious attraction to Marva, she too is distrustful and only wants Jonas to go away.But Jonas is persistent, and he is very good at his preacher act.SPOILERS FOLLOW. Jonas (not his real name) was a con man through and through, much like Elmer Gantry was. He doesn't believe in miracles or the power of prayer, just sees his traveling revivals as a good way to make money and enjoy a type of good life. But he is set up for a conversion as Boyd actually IS healed at one of Jonas' services. Fully realizing what happened, Jonas hit the road, as it starts to rain!Jonas will become a different man. The movie is about Jonas' conversion.Debra Winger is good as Jane Larson, who stays in the bus during services and via TV monitors and an earpiece in Jonas's ear, directs him to those having expressed various needs. In the end she stays with the sheriff.

There is much that works well in this movie - Steve Martin is playing a con man, a much fuller and better executed one than the 2nd banana he played in 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels', which he dumbed down with slapstick. Debra Winger is excellent as his partner in running a road ministry built on sleight of hand and working the audience like a carnival. The location shooting works for it, and the supporting cast (Meat Loaf, Philip Seymour Hoffman, MC Ganey in bleached white hair?)is mostly very good, and if you like gospel you'll enjoy this. Music trivia: listen for the song on the radio in the pickup in the first scene. What doesn't work? It ends a scene too early - Steve Martin has suddenly had his cynicism upended and the film just ends. Liam Neeson can barely keep the brogue out of his role as a Texas Sheriff (so many others could have carried this role, why him?). There is certainly a statement about faith at the end of this movie, to wit: faith finds a way even if it has to work through a con man. The payback scene, unfortunately, is very predictable: it rains. For all the dreck Steve Martin has cranked out, this one will pay you back.