Leap of Faith *** (1992, Steve Martin, Debra Winger, Lolita Davidovich, Liam Neeson, Lukas Haas, Meat Loaf) – Classic Movie Review 12,066

Director Richard Pearce’s 1992 drama film Leap of Faith is written by Janus Cercone, and stars Steve Martin, Debra Winger, Lolita Davidovich, Liam Neeson, Lukas Haas, Meat Loaf, M C Gainey and Delores Hall.

Leap of Faith is a Elmer Gantry-style yarn as bogus evangelical preacher Jonas Nightengale (Steve Martin), a fraudulent Christian faith healer, is stranded with his revival meetings travelling show in the drought-stricken small town of Rustwater, Kansas, where he plans to con money from a farming community fallen on hard times.

Liam Neeson plays the sceptical local sheriff Will Braverman who tries to put a spanner in Jonas’s good works, while falling for Jonas’s frontperson, friend and manager Jane Larson (Debra Winger). But Jonas fancies local waitress Marva (Lolita Davidovich) and takes a shine to her young crippled brother Boyd (Lukas Haas).

Martin was growing more and more confident with every movie at this time, and it is good to have him aboard a serious drama that naturally is also full of warmth, good humour and some funny jokes. It may tread familiar ground, but director Pearce keeps it going along resolutely, imaginatively and a might entertainingly. No one else gets much of a look in (Meat Loaf is wasted as the band’s keyboard player Hoover), but it is a terrific one-man show from Martin.

The cast are Steve Martin as Jonas Nightengale, Debra Winger as Jane Larson, Lolita Davidovich as Marva, Liam Neeson as Sheriff Will Braverman, Lukas Haas as Boyd, Albertina Walker as Lucille, Meat Loaf as Hoover, Philip Seymour Hoffman as Matt, M C Gainey as Tiny, La Chanze as Georgette, Delores Hall as Ornella, Phyllis Somerville as Dolores, Troy Evans as Officer Lowell Dade, and Ricky Dillard as Choirmaster.

Leap of Faith is directed by Richard Pearce, runs 107 minutes, is made and released by Paramount Pictures, is written by Janus Cercone, is shot by Matthew F Leonetti, is produced by Ralph S Singleton (executive producer), Michael Manheim and David V Pickeri, s scored by Cliff Eidelman and Billy Straus, and is designed by Patrizia Von Brandenstein.

Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967–2014) made his screen debut on TV’s Law & Order in 1991 and made his film debut later in the same year in a minor role in Triple Bogey on a Par Five Hole. He followed this with supporting roles in Szuler, My New Gun, Leap of Faith and Scent of a Woman (1992).

Meat Loaf (Michael Lee Aday, Marvin Lee Aday; September 27, 1947 – January 20, 2022).

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,066

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