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 | priest | rabbi | jewish | 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:

14 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:

$29,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,078,671, 16 April 2000, Wide Release

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

Edward Norton was previously directed by Milos Forman in The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996). In return, Forman appears as an actor in this film directed by Norton.

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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

Anna Riley: What's happening with Ruth and Ethan?
Father Brian Kilkenney Finn: Oh. Ethan married a Catholic girl and that did not go over well.
Anna Riley: That's why they're fighting?
Father Brian Kilkenney Finn: They're not fighting, they're not talking. Two years now no communicado.
Anna Riley: Are you serious?
Father Brian Kilkenney Finn: Yeah.
Anna Riley: What? Weren't they really close though?
Father Brian Kilkenney Finn: As close as Ruth and Jake.
Anna Riley: That explains a lot.
Father Brian Kilkenney Finn: You see why tonight was not just a date.

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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 Marathon Man (1976)

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Soundtracks

La Engañadorna
Written by Enrique Jorrin
Performed by Ruben Gonzales

User Reviews

A fresh, fun romantic comedy in a New York state of mind.

"Keeping the Faith" is just hip enough to breathe some fresh air into a stagnating genre without sacrificing the requisite "feel good" moments in the process. The film's 2+ hour run time is a bit long for it's simple plot, but it manages to stay focused and dish up enough creativity to make it time well spent. A very enjoyable fun flick.