Keeping the Faith (2000)

Two friends, a priest and a rabbi, fall in love with the same woman they knew in their youth, but the religious position of both men denies them romance.

Director:

Edward Norton

Writer:

Stuart Blumberg

Stars:

Ben Stiller, Edward Norton, Jenna Elfman

2 wins & 6 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. 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's not Jewish, he can't marry her as it would make his appointment less likely. Brian also finds himself attracted to Anna, but the priesthood doesn't allow that. Their friendship is strained when each learns of the other's feelings for her.

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Plot Keywords:

love triangle | bad date | priest | rabbi | jewish | 

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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:

14 April 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Divinas tentaciones

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$29,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,078,671, 16 April 2000

Gross USA:

$37,047,880

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$59,945,183

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

Stuart Blumberg (producer and writer of the film) appears in the movie as Len, a co-worker of Anna.

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Goofs

When Anna tells Brian about her relationship with Jake, he pours a bottle of water over his head in shock. In the next shot and for the remainder of the scene, his hair and clothes are completely dry.

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Quotes

Rabbi Jacob "Jake" Schram: Rabbi Lewis! Anna, this is Rabbi Lewis.
Rabbi Lewis: Good to see you again Miss Riley.
Anna Riley: Good to see you again Rabbi Lewis.
Rabbi Lewis: You missed our last class.
Anna Riley: I know, I'm sorry, I thought I was leaving town.
Rabbi Lewis: [to Jake] Don't look at me in that tone of voice.
Anna Riley: I would love to start up again if that's all right with you.
Rabbi Lewis: I'd be delighted. Now, if you'll excuse us, we've got some dancing to do.

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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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Alternate Versions

Also included on the DVD is a Gag Reel, a long collection of outtakes featuring several bits of 'sermon' from Jakob, Anna stuttering and falling into the fountain at the museum, a rabbi and Jakob discussing how the 'director is god and the producer should kiss his ass' and 'the jew has to try out for SAG president', and Brian falling several times trying to catch his glass at the bar. Many of the finalized scenes these outtakes relate to also wound up as outtakes.

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Connections

References Tae-Bo Workout: Basic (1999)

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Soundtracks

Ein Keloheinu
Arranged by Aaron Wheeler

User Reviews

an absolute charmer

Norton, Stiller, and Elfman are an absolute delight! Edward Norton does a bang-up job of a debut film, keeping things light, entertaining, and very, very funny-- and it's great to see him lighten up after such fare as "Fight Club." A uniformly great cast, a witty, literate script, three scintillating lead performances, and a talented young director add easily up to the best romantic comedy since Woody Allen's "Everyone Says I Love You". Take your friends, take a date, take your grandma-- this is one everybody will enjoy, and you'll definitely come out smiling.