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ComedyDramaRomance

Leap of Faith

- Real miracles, sensibly priced.

Jonas Nightengale is a fraudulent Christian faith healer who makes a living travelling around America holding revival meetings and conducting 'miracles' with the help of his friend and manager, Jane, and their entourage.

Release Date : 1992-12-18

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Paramount Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Steve Martin

Character Name : Jonas Nightengale

Original Name : Steve Martin

Gender : Male

Debra Winger

Character Name : Jane Larson

Original Name : Debra Winger

Gender : Female

Lolita Davidovich

Character Name : Marva

Original Name : Lolita Davidovich

Gender : Female

Liam Neeson

Character Name : Sheriff Will Braverman

Original Name : Liam Neeson

Gender : Male

Lukas Haas

Character Name : Boyd

Original Name : Lukas Haas

Gender : Male

Meat Loaf

Character Name : Hoover

Original Name : Meat Loaf

Gender : Male

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Character Name : Matt

Original Name : Philip Seymour Hoffman

Gender : Male

M.C. Gainey

Character Name : Tiny

Original Name : M.C. Gainey

Gender : Male

LaChanze

Character Name : Georgette

Original Name : LaChanze

Gender : Female

Delores Hall

Character Name : Ornella

Original Name : Delores Hall

Gender : Female

John Toles-Bey

Character Name : Titus

Original Name : John Toles-Bey

Gender : Male

Albertina Walker

Character Name : Lucille

Original Name : Albertina Walker

Gender : Male

Ricky Dillard

Character Name : Ricky

Original Name : Ricky Dillard

Gender : Male

Vince Davis

Character Name : Roger

Original Name : Vince Davis

Gender : Male

Troy Evans

Character Name : Dade

Original Name : Troy Evans

Gender : Male

Phyllis Somerville

Character Name : Dolores

Original Name : Phyllis Somerville

Gender : Female

David L. Emmons

Character Name : Jerry Joe

Original Name : David L. Emmons

Gender : Male

Mark Walters

Character Name : Calvin

Original Name : Mark Walters

Gender : Male

James N. Harrell

Character Name : Ramsey

Original Name : James N. Harrell

Gender : Male

Vernon Grote

Character Name : Rafe

Original Name : Vernon Grote

Gender : Male

Mary Jackson

Character Name : Emma Schlarp

Original Name : Mary Jackson

Gender : Female

Margaret Bowman

Character Name : Woman with Cherries Hat

Original Name : Margaret Bowman

Gender : Female

Jennifer Snyder

Character Name : Glitter Jeans Girl

Original Name : Jennifer Snyder

Gender : Female

Deborah Hope

Character Name : Glitter Jeans Mother

Original Name : Deborah Hope

Gender : Male

Ed Geldart

Character Name : Brown Jacket (as Ed K. Geldart)

Original Name : Ed Geldart

Gender : Male

Marietta Marich

Character Name : Mrs. Hawkins

Original Name : Marietta Marich

Gender : Female

Casey Hammer

Character Name : Nineteen

Original Name : Casey Hammer

Gender : Female

Blue Deckert

Character Name : Jake

Original Name : Blue Deckert

Gender : Male

Jason McGuire

Character Name : Tough Kid

Original Name : Jason McGuire

Gender : Male

Irene Cortez

Character Name : Woman in Green (uncredited)

Original Name : Irene Cortez

Gender : Male

Mark Hanson

Character Name : Drug Addict (uncredited)

Original Name : Mark Hanson

Gender : Male

Reviews

W

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-06-23

***Religious cons take advantage of the incurable human need for faith beyond the mundane*** “Leap of Faith” (1992) tackles the topic of a fraudulent traveling evangelist/faith healer played by Steve Martin. One of the trucks of his religious circus breaks down in a small town in Kansas and Jonas Nightingale (Martin) promptly takes advantage of the situation by holding a camp meeting. Debra Winger plays his assistant while Liam Neeson is on hand as the skeptical sheriff who smells a con. Lolita Davidovich plays a waitress Jonas sets his eyes on while Lukas Haas appears as her crippled brother. Jonas’ team includes the likes of Meat Loaf and Philip Seymour Hoffman. This is a drama and not a comedy and owes a bit to the likes of “The Music Man” (1962), “Dream No Evil,” (1970) “Elmer Gantry” (1960) and “The Faith Healer” (1921). But it goes deeper into the philosophic wellsprings of human need: the quest for meaning in life and the longing for the eternal. Jonas justifies his show on the grounds that it makes people feel better by entertaining and inspiring them. He works the crowd with what he has learned about human nature, zeroing in on those needing him the most with the help of his 'angels,' Jane (Winger) & crew. The average person throws $10-20 into the plate and they get entertainment and inspiration in return. They go home with a stronger faith. So what’s the problem? The Sheriff, Will (interesting name), sees the scam, but also sees, like realists do, the hypnotic draw of religion and the corresponding faith. He settles for trying to reach one of whom he senses genuineness. The drama is a mishmash of kinetic parts, mundane parts, disturbing parts and moments of wonder. The ending is great, though, in that it both entertains & inspires; and you leave with a good feeling, ironically just like the people who visit Jonas’ tent revival, lol. The movie runs 1 hour, 48 minutes and was shot entirely in the panhandle of Texas (Plainview, Groom, Tulia, Claude and Happy), plus studio stuff done in Irving. GRADE: B