Leap of Faith (1992)

Director:

Richard Pearce

Writer (WGA):

Janus Cercone (written by)

Release Date:

18 December 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Real miracles, sensibly priced.

Plot:

Fake faith healer Jonas Nightingale is stranded in a small town where he finds he can't fool all of the people all of the time.

Plot Keywords:

Disillusionment | Bus | Crucifix | Charlatan | Religion Exploitation

Cast

Steve Martin	...	Jonas Nightengale
Debra Winger	...	Jane Larson
Lolita Davidovich	...	Marva
Liam Neeson	...	Sheriff Will Braverman
Lukas Haas	...	Boyd
Meat Loaf	...	Hoover
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Matt
M.C. Gainey	...	Tiny
La Chanze	...	Georgette
Delores Hall	...	Ornella
John Toles-Bey	...	Titus
Albertina Walker	...	Lucille
Ricky Dillard	...	Ricky
Vince Davis	...	Roger
Troy Evans	...	Officer Lowell Dade

Runtime:

108 min | Canada:95 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Finland:S | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Building One, Studios at Las Colinas - 6301 North O'Connor Road, Irving, Texas, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Jonas's "mind-reading" trick, wherein he receives intimate details about his marks via a small radio, loosely follows the exploits of televangelist Peter Popoff, who performed a very similar trick with his wife at the microphone. Popoff's career took a nosedive when he was publicly "outed" on the Johnny Carson show by professional magician and skeptic James Randi, who had managed to smuggle a radio scanner into one of Popoff's revival meetings.

Quotes:

Jonas: Death's a breeze. Ever hear someone come back to complain?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Bad Boys of Saturday Night Live (1998) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Stones Throw from Hurtin'

He's No Elmer Gantry

LEAP OF FAITH takes an interesting premise but doesn't quite know what to do with it. Steve Martin is Jonas Nightingale, a fraudulent faith healer more interested in money and women then doing the Lord's work as he and his crew criss-cross the country putting on big tent revivals. A largely overlooked film, LEAP OF FAITH tries hard to blend some promising comedic elements with drama, but they mix about as well as oil and water. The film is also far too long, repetitive and lacking direction. Martin as the Elmer Gantryish star puts forth his usual likable effort, but even his considerable talents can't lift this one over the hump. A disappointment.