Leap of Faith (1992)

Excellent but underrated film

Admirable film.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

The best part of the movie is the beginning, where they're screwing over all the dumb religious rednecks. After that, it just started getting preachy and had to turn it off.

God works in mysterious ways even trough a con manThis is one of the most faith inspiring films i saw hope you all take a moment to appreciate this and enjoy this one man show, and how god can have a little sense of humor using a con artist slash preacher to bring joy and hope to this townincredible the confrontation between the fake preacher and god himself proves him even with all the mockery and lies he is still used by god to spread his message and gives him a true miracle to prove him rightthis remarkable ensemble of actors is also a must see to love this history and its emotional endingGod is always there could be the message

It took me a very long time to see this movie when I knew that I intentionally wanted to. Being a Steve Martin fan from Roxanne which I decried before it came out as a "Can't do anything new or funny with that, Cyrano, idea." I found that it was delightful and thought provoking and funny with motivation in my life. I was missing it. Maybe after that I was frightened to see Leap Of Faith but I have now and I think it is an excellent little epic with possibly huge proportions depending on ones mood. It could be a kick in the head that provokes good or causes you to say "Oh no."The entire cast is excellent.

Steve Martin is Jonas Nightengale, traveling evangelist with a large enough troupe that it takes two buses and two big trucks to haul everything around. We learn that it takes $3500 daily to meet expenses. The story here starts when one of the trucks begins to smoke and they find they are trapped in this small Kansas community for 4 days. So, they make the best of it, set up the revival tenet and hustle attendance. he whole movie takes place here. The local sheriff (Liam Neeson, in a peculiar casting choice) is naturally skeptical and does his best to convince the people that Jonas is really a crook. He knows money is scarce, crops are in danger for lack of rain, and he wants Jonas to go away.Lolita Davidovich is Marva, local waitress Win a crippled younger brother Boyd (Lukas Haas). A different preacher had told Boyd that he wasn't "healed" because he lacked faith. So, even as Jonas is taking a curious attraction to Marva, she too is distrustful and only wants Jonas to go away.But Jonas is persistent, and he is very good at his preacher act.SPOILERS FOLLOW. Jonas (not his real name) was a con man through and through, much like Elmer Gantry was. He doesn't believe in miracles or the power of prayer, just sees his traveling revivals as a good way to make money and enjoy a type of good life. But he is set up for a conversion as Boyd actually IS healed at one of Jonas' services. Fully realizing what happened, Jonas hit the road, as it starts to rain!Jonas will become a different man. The movie is about Jonas' conversion.Debra Winger is good as Jane Larson, who stays in the bus during services and via TV monitors and an earpiece in Jonas's ear, directs him to those having expressed various needs. In the end she stays with the sheriff.