Fé Demais Não Cheira Bem

Jonas Nightengale (Steve Martin) is a fake faith healer leading his traveling circus with Jane Larson (Debra Winger), Hoover (Meat Loaf), Matt (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Tiny (M.C. Gainey) and others. They use all the tricks in the book to con people of their money. One of their trucks breaks down in hard-luck desolate town of Rustwater, Kansas. Jonas decides to 'play' the town and get the girl, waitress Marva (Lolita Davidovich). The town sheriff Will Braverman (Liam Neeson) is determined to get rid of the fraud while Jane keeps flirting with him. Boyd (Lukas Haas) is Marva's cripple brother.

I can see why some would downgrade this for its perceived bias against the religious. This is probably one of Steve Martin's deepest characters. There is depth in this movie and compelling characters. It's not really much of a comedy but it works well as a drama. If this was made with darkness, it could be a truly great movie. Director Richard Pearce doesn't have enough style.

Religion is big business and this movie just reaffirmed that fact with me. That aside, the movie was great. Steve Martin did a fantastic job as Jonas. I thought the tent scenes and the people witnessing the miracle of much needed rain were very touching. I enjoyed the movie and have seen it many times.

There is a depth of performance here, with a well-written script and a joyous celebration of con men. The role is an unusual one for Martin, who plays it straight and yet satirizes the character at the same time. Martin has never been better (OK, his hair could use work) and Debra Winger, Lolita Davidovitch and Liam Neeson lead a strong supporting cast. It also captures the small town American scene well. It's a high-tech revival show, starring Jonas Nightengale, faith healer and preacher. "Leap of Faith" is the first movie to reveal the actual methods used by some revivalists and faith healers to defraud their unsuspecting congregations.

at least 7 of 10 stars

Steve Martin's actually acting in this movie! Off course he's still in his frame act, but the good thing is, the script demanded his style, and nobody could do it better than him.

Watch when he preaches, when he dance and sing, when he talks, even when he's lost. And seemingly the other casts (Debra Winger, Meat Loaf, Liam Neeson, Lolita Davidovich, etc.) open their way to expand Martin's performance in this movie.

The movie itself is light and enjoyable, one of the best movie on it's genre.

A perfect holiday movie.

All good comedians, are good drama actors.

It'd been a while since I saw this movie, and I had the chance to get it, yesterday. For starters, Steve Martin was great (as he usually does), so the supporting cast.

One of the many reasons I love this movie is that it show us, graciously, a reality that many people couldn't or wouldn't accept (One of the reasons , I think, its low rate).

Do not let fanaticism cloud your judgment.

Nevertheless, if you like good stories with a nice in-message, or if you're just a fan of Mr. Martin, you can't miss this one.