Keeping the Faith (2000)

A story about two friends, a priest and a rabbi, who fall in love with the same beauty (Jenna Elfman).

Director:

Edward Norton

Writer:

Stuart Blumberg

Stars:

Ben Stiller, Edward Norton, Jenna Elfman

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ben Stiller	...	Rabbi Jake Schram
Edward Norton	...	Father Brian Finn
Jenna Elfman	...	Anna Riley
Anne Bancroft	...	Ruth Schram
Eli Wallach	...	Rabbi Ben Lewis
Ron Rifkin	...	Larry Friedman
Milos Forman	...	Father Havel
Holland Taylor	...	Bonnie Rose
Lisa Edelstein	...	Ali Decker
Rena Sofer	...	Rachel Rose
Ken Leung	...	Don
Brian George	...	Paulie Chopra
Catherine Lloyd Burns	...	Debbie
Susie Essman	...	Ellen Friedman
Stuart Blumberg	...	Len

Storyline

Jake and Brian are friends. They are Jewish and Catholic respectively. They would grow up and become a rabbi and priest respectively. Anna whom they knew when they were younger comes back to town a stunning woman. Jake is up to be the head of his synagogue but he is not married which doesn't make his appointment any easier. Jake finds himself attracted to Anna but because she is not Jewish, he can't marry cause it would be another thing that will make his appointment less likely. Brian also finds himself attracted to Anna but being a priest doesn't allow that. When they learn of each other's feelings for her, strains their friendship.

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Plot Keywords:

rabbi | priest | celibacy | religion | synagogue | 

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Taglines:

If you have to believe in something, you might as well believe in love.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexuality and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Hebrew Spanish

Release Date:

5 April 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Divinas tentaciones

Filming Locations:

17 State Street, Financial District, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£261,887 (UK) (15 September 2000)

Gross:

ESP 292,473,005 (Spain) (29 June 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Spyglass Entertainment, Touchstone Pictures, Triple Threat Talent

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Milos Forman:  Father Havel.

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Goofs

The rabbi works with a young man on his Torah portion but refers to it as a haftarah. Also, the bar mitzvah boy is studying the first chapter of Genesis and has his bar mitzvah before the Jewish New Year. This portion is read after the Jewish New Year, not before.

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Quotes

Rabbi Jacob "Jake" Schram: God is a lot like Blanche Du Bois.

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Crazy Credits

Thank-yous include one to "Salmita Bonita", a reference to actor-director 'Edward Norton''s girlfriend, actress Salma Hayek.

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Connections

References Foxes (1980)

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Soundtracks

"Camels in the Desert"
Written and Performed by Victor Cavini

User Reviews

An hour of comedy falls apart in the second half

"Keeping the Faith" as an adult romantic comedy works well. Norton's timing, both as a director and as an actor are magnificent, and Stiller and Elfman add to this shining cast. The approach to religion in a mainstream film is a new one for me at least with deference being paid to each of the respective character's, and the jokes are basically laughing with the religion, rather than at it. The inner struggles that each man faces with his own religion and the woman that threatens to tear apart their religious selves are the most interesting aspects of the film.

The first half is a comedic gem, a laugh-barrage, that completely changes once sex is introduced. It loses focus, changing its story into that of a failing friendship and blossoming love interspersed with awkward and frankly embarrassing moments of comedy. For those who have seen it I refer to the "touchy-feely confession" joke.

At over two hours, it's way too long for a comedy, and it definitely feels it. It's a good film, but by no means can it be considered great. See it to laugh for an hour if you don't mind chuckling and fidgeting in your seat for the second hour.