---
title: "The Eyes of Tammy Faye"
year: 2021
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye"
fi1m_id: "the-eyes-of-tammy-faye"
imdb_id: "tt9115530"
tmdb_id: 601470
wikidata_id: "Q73537423"
fi1m_score: 60
critics_score: 54
critics_reviews: 26
published: "2026-10-03T02:25:45.460657+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-03T02:25:45.818001+00:00"
region: "AE"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021)

Directed by Michael Showalter · 2h 06m · Drama, History

## Identity

The Eyes of Tammy Faye

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** the-eyes-of-tammy-faye
- **IMDb ID:** tt9115530
- **TMDB ID:** 601470
- **Wikidata ID:** Q73537423
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9115530/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/601470, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q73537423

**Fi1m score: 60** · Critics 54 from 26 reviews

*In a sentence:* The make-up gets a closer examination than the conscience

> Jessica Chastain gives this cautious biography warmth and feeling, despite a screenplay reluctant to question Tammy Faye Bakker. Worth considering for the acting, though anyone hoping to understand her contradictions will have work left to do.

## Synopsis

Tammy Faye Bakker (Jessica Chastain) lives her faith in public, with Jim Bakker (Andrew Garfield) beside her and Rachel Grover (Cherry Jones) among the people around them. Her make-up and theatrical manner make her conspicuous in a story that also includes Jerry Falwell (Vincent D’Onofrio) and Pat Robertson (Gabriel Olds). Tammy Faye’s optimism and vulnerability sit beneath an appearance that invites judgement. The Bakkers inhabit an extravagant world, where religious conviction, personal image and excess become difficult to separate, and sincerity does not settle every question about their lives.

## Review

Michael Showalter’s *The Eyes of Tammy Faye* is a watchable, cautious biography with a performance good enough to make its caution frustrating. It asks us to look past Tammy Faye Bakker’s make-up and theatrical manner, and Jessica Chastain gives us reason to do so. The difficulty is that Abe Sylvia’s screenplay seems so anxious to secure our sympathy that it stops short of asking what else we ought to feel. We get little help in working out how her optimism survives the extravagance around her.

Jessica Chastain makes the painted face expressive instead of treating it as the whole performance. Tammy Faye’s flamboyance remains conspicuous, but the acting also makes room for earnestness, embarrassment and the possibility that she does not understand herself completely. We were moved by the vulnerability visible beneath the make-up and theatrical mannerisms. There is something affecting about the effort she puts into presenting herself, especially when that effort cannot quite conceal her uncertainty.

Andrew Garfield gives Jim Bakker an evasiveness that is entertaining and a little unsettling. There is enough charm in the performance to make that slipperiness plausible, though the writing does too little to develop the people around Tammy Faye. The supporting performances suggest a larger, more difficult story without being allowed to tell much of it. We are left wanting the screenplay to give Jim more sustained attention, particularly when his behaviour might complicate our understanding of her.

Mike Gioulakis’s cinematography and Laura Fox’s production design make the Bakkers’ extravagant surroundings enjoyable to inspect. The colour and excess are persuasive, and the film deserves credit for suggesting why this environment might appeal to someone who lives in it. Mitchell Travers’s costumes belong comfortably to that conspicuous world, helping the outward display feel consistent rather than incidental. Yet the pleasure of looking is allowed to do too much, and the film rarely presses Tammy Faye about her attraction to such excess.

Mary Jo Markey and Andrew Weisblum’s editing keeps the biography moving without making its changes feel sufficiently earned. At 126 minutes, it has time to investigate, but too often settles for moving to the next part of a life. Theodore Shapiro’s score provides emotional encouragement where a little uncertainty would have been useful. The uneven shifts between humour and sympathy are more troublesome: we are sometimes unsure how seriously the film takes the woman it is asking us to care about.

The treatment of Tammy Faye’s support for gay Christians gives the film something substantial to consider beyond her public appearance. Her sympathy matters, and the film is right not to dismiss it because she is easy to caricature. But it is equally reasonable to ask about her responsibility within the Bakkers’ extravagant world, and the screenplay avoids pursuing that question far enough. Its familiar biographical structure compounds the problem, giving us successive aspects of a life without spending enough time examining how they fit together.

There is enough here for viewers interested in Tammy Faye, provided they can accept how much of the work is left to the central performance. The acting sustains attention through passages that offer little fresh understanding, which is an achievement worth acknowledging without pretending it fixes the writing. Go for Jessica Chastain, and expect to leave with some fairly basic questions unanswered.

*Fi1m score 60, published 3 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

The consensus on The Eyes of Tammy Faye is mixed, with praise concentrated on Jessica Chastain rather than the biopic around her. Most critics credit her with finding vulnerability and conviction beneath Tammy Faye’s makeup and flamboyant manner. Several also admire the colourful recreation of the Bakkers’ extravagant surroundings, while Andrew Garfield’s Jim earns some approval. Even many sceptical reviews find Chastain gives the film emotional force.

The recurring complaints concern conventional storytelling, uncertain tone and a reluctance to examine Tammy Faye’s motives or responsibility closely enough. The spread is wide: the Evening Standard finds it highly watchable despite its flaws, while The Hollywood Reporter condemns both the shallow treatment and the cartoonish lead performances. Elsewhere, critics divide over whether the sympathy brings understanding or lets its subject off too lightly. Chastain is the main point of agreement, but her performance does not settle those objections.

## Straight answers

**Is The Eyes of Tammy Faye worth watching?**

*The Eyes of Tammy Faye* is worth considering for Jessica Chastain’s warm, affecting performance, though we score this cautious biography 60 out of 100. It suits viewers interested in Tammy Faye Bakker who can accept a screenplay that asks for sympathy without examining her responsibility or contradictions closely enough.

**How long is The Eyes of Tammy Faye, and what is it rated?**

*The Eyes of Tammy Faye* runs 2h 06m. It is a drama and history film.

**Where can I watch The Eyes of Tammy Faye in the UAE?**

*The Eyes of Tammy Faye* is not on any streaming or rental service in the UAE at the moment. It is available in 47 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily.

**How violent or frightening is The Eyes of Tammy Faye, and is it suitable for children?**

*The Eyes of Tammy Faye* has a UK 12A certificate, meaning children under 12 need an accompanying adult at the cinema; that classification does not make it a recommendation for younger children. We cannot give a more specific warning about violence or scares, but its focus on public faith, image and responsibility makes it a more natural choice for teenagers and adults.

**How does The Eyes of Tammy Faye compare to Elmer Gantry?**

*The Eyes of Tammy Faye* offers a gentler biography, while [*Elmer Gantry*](https://film.one/film/elmer-gantry) is our stronger recommendation for a sharper examination of religious showmanship and personal appetite. We find Chastain’s warmth the chief reason to choose the former; the latter gives its subject a less forgiving look, though its length and repetition are drawbacks.

**What should I watch after The Eyes of Tammy Faye?**

After *The Eyes of Tammy Faye*, try [*Elmer Gantry*](https://film.one/film/elmer-gantry) (1960, Fi1m 78): Religious showmanship and personal appetite receive a sharper, less forgiving examination. Then [*Philomena*](https://film.one/film/philomena) (2013, Fi1m 82): A warmer account of faith that still asks difficult questions about institutions; and [*The Music Room*](https://film.one/film/the-music-room) (1958, Fi1m 88): For a quieter, more exacting study of extravagance and stubborn self-belief.

### Reviews we read (26)

- **Evening Standard**, Charlotte O'Sullivan (4/5): O'Sullivan finds the biopic flawed but ultimately fabulously watchable. She singles out Jessica Chastain's compelling, wide-ranging performance as Tammy Faye for praise. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-review-jessica-chastain-andrew-garfield-b980287.html)
- **The AV Club**, Katie Rife (B): Rife finds the film overly sympathetic and dramatically thin, though its gaudy aesthetic makes it satisfying to look at. She praises Jessica Chastain’s heartfelt performance, especially in a knockout musical number. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/jessica-chastain-gives-a-pop-culture-punching-bag-her-r-1847661497)
- **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman (70/100, inferred): Gleiberman calls the film a very good, engaging TV-movie, though its structure feels conventional and its final act could be better shaped. He praises Chastain’s layered portrayal of Tammy Faye and Garfield’s compelling take on Jim. [Read](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-review-andrew-garfield-jessica-chastain-1235062011/)
- **The Guardian**, Benjamin Lee (65/100, inferred): Lee finds the biopic formulaic and insufficiently probing, but compelling overall because Jessica Chastain’s performance rises above its limitations. He especially praises her ability to balance Tammy Faye’s flamboyant manner with her earnestness and vulnerability. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/sep/12/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-review-jessica-chastain)
- **Screen Daily**, Tim Grierson (64/100, inferred): The accessible page identifies this as a Toronto review, but the review text is behind a registration wall. Its verdict and any specifically praised or criticized element cannot be determined from the available text. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-toronto-review/5163091.article)
- **The New York Times** (64/100, inferred): The page could not be retrieved, so the critic’s verdict is unavailable. The supplied text does not reveal what the critic praised or criticized. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/16/movies/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-review.html)
- **IndieWire**, Kate Erbland (C+): Erbland finds the biopic uneven and tonally muddled, though Jessica Chastain’s performance shines. She praises Chastain for conveying Tammy Faye’s humanity beneath the transformative makeup. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-review-jessica-chastain-1234658518/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Justin Chang (60/100, inferred): Chang finds the biopic patchy and pedestrian, though Jessica Chastain’s committed performance gives it emotional force. He especially praises how Chastain uses Tammy Faye’s makeup and theatrical mannerisms to create intimacy with the character. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-09-16/eyes-tammy-faye-review-jessica-chastain-andrew-garfield)
- **Radio Times**, Emma Simmonds (3/5): Simmonds describes the film as a colourful, broad and borderline cartoony take on Tammy Faye Bakker’s life. She singles out Andrew Garfield’s enjoyably slippery performance as Jim Bakker. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-o3bqo9/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye/)
- **Sight and Sound** (60/100, inferred): The review finds the film gripping but uneven, ultimately keeping viewers at a distance from its subject. It praises Jessica Chastain’s anchoring performance and the vivid recreation of the Bakkers’ extravagant world. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/eyes-tammy-faye-sympathetic-portrait-hyperglamorous-televangelist)
- **Empire**, Helen O'Hara (40/100, inferred): O’Hara finds the film fascinating and handsomely made, but says it never delves deeply enough into Tammy Faye’s inner life. She praises Jessica Chastain’s performance while faulting the film for not confronting Tammy’s guilt or explaining her optimism. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye/)
- **The New Yorker**, Richard Brody (40/100, inferred): Brody finds the film intermittently compelling but ultimately constrained by conventional biopic storytelling. He praises its vivid performances and Tammy Faye’s advocacy for gay Christians, while criticizing its failure to explore her inner life and contradictions. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-reviewed-a-defanged-tale-of-religion-politics-sex-and-money)
- **Slant Magazine**, Derek Smith (1.5/4): The critic finds the biopic shallow and reductive, more invested in performance than understanding Tammy Faye. They fault its failure to explore her motivations or the scandals surrounding the Bakkers. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-review-jessica-chastain/)
- **Little White Lies**, Charles Bramesco (35/100, inferred): Bramesco finds the biopic superficial and too forgiving of Tammy Faye, though Chastain’s performance is compellingly larger-than-life. He especially praises the campy musical sequence, while faulting the film’s conventional biographical approach. [Read](https://lwlies.com/festivals/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-first-look-review)
- **The i Paper**, Christina Newland (35/100, inferred): Newland finds the film painfully by-the-numbers, with restrained direction and little deep character insight. She singles out Chastain’s committed, layered performance and the film’s sympathetic portrayal of Tammy Faye’s support for LGBTQ+ acceptance. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-review-jessica-chastain-camps-god-bothering-girlboss-1441476)
- **Vulture**, Alison Willmore (30/100, inferred): Willmore finds the film unable to decide whether to understand Tammy Faye or mock her, leaving its portrait unsatisfying. She praises Chastain’s outsized performance but says it relies on surface details rather than a coherent character. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-is-all-eyelashes-no-teeth.html)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney (10/100, inferred): Rooney finds the film a shallow, tonally uncertain account that squanders its subject’s political and ethical complexity. He singles out the leads’ cartoonish performances and the screenplay’s lack of nuance as major failings. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/jessica-chastain-and-andrew-garfield-in-the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-1235011598/)
- **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (B): Goldberg finds the film rewarding but too narrowly focused on Tammy Faye, leaving supporting figures and broader issues underdeveloped. He singles out Jessica Chastain’s performance for bringing emotional depth and complexity to the character. [Read](https://collider.com/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-review-jessica-chastain-andrew-garfield/)
- **The Wrap**, Alonso Duralde (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the film heartfelt and compassionate, though its tonal blend is not always smooth. They especially praise Jessica Chastain’s soulful, nuanced performance beneath Tammy Faye’s flamboyant appearance. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-film-review-2021-bakker-jessica-chastain/)
- **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (70/100, inferred): Wilkinson finds the film fascinating despite its biopic structure limiting the stories it can explore. She praises Jessica Chastain’s big but nuanced performance and the sympathy it brings to Tammy Faye. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-2021-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson)
- **The Playlist** (65/100, inferred): The page URL identifies this as a TIFF review, but its text is inaccessible. The critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be verified. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/eyes-of-tammy-faye-jessica-chastain-tiff-review-20210912/)
- **/Film**, Chris Evangelista (6/10): The critic finds the film muddled and hollow, despite its sympathy for Tammy Faye. Jessica Chastain’s committed performance is singled out as the film’s saving grace. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/601918/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-review-jessica-chastain-shines-in-an-otherwise-muddled-movie-tiff-2021/)
- **Paste**, Jacob Oller (5.4/10): Oller finds the biopic dull and tonally confused, arguing it undercuts its attempt to rehabilitate Tammy Faye. He praises Jessica Chastain’s performance for bringing complexity and pathos to the role. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/jessica-chastain/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-review)
- **Den of Geek**, David Crow (2.5/5): Crow finds the film glossy and shallow, despite its empathy for Tammy Faye. He praises Jessica Chastain’s richly textured, dazzling performance but criticizes the film for avoiding deeper engagement with its world. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-review-jessica-chastain/)
- **NME** (50/100, inferred): The critic finds the biopic cautious but not dull, with its central figure’s story left insufficiently explored. Jessica Chastain’s sympathetic, highly skilled performance is the film’s standout strength. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-review-jessica-chastain-andrew-garfield-3180064)
- **Consequence**, Clint Worthington (35/100, inferred): Worthington finds the film thin and overlong despite its sharp, occasionally funny critique of excess. He singles out Jessica Chastain’s transformative performance, which he says is left carrying too much of the film. [Read](https://consequence.net/2021/09/tiff-review-the-eyes-of-tammy-faye-review/)

## Details

- **Director:** Michael Showalter
- **Director:** Michael Showalter
- **Writer:** Abe Sylvia
- **Cinematography:** Mike Gioulakis
- **Editor:** Mary Jo Markey, Andrew Weisblum
- **Music:** Theodore Shapiro
- **Production design:** Laura Fox
- **Costume design:** Mitchell Travers
- **Producer:** Jessica Chastain, Kelly Carmichael, Gigi Pritzker
- **Cast:** Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Bakker; Andrew Garfield as Jim Bakker; Cherry Jones as Rachel Grover; Vincent D'Onofrio as Jerry Falwell; Mark Cameron Wystrach as Gary Paxton; Sam Jaeger as Roe Messner; Louis Cancelmi as Richard Fletcher; Gabriel Olds as Pat Robertson
- **Runtime:** 2h 06m
- **First release (Canada):** 12 September 2021
- **Genres:** Drama, History
- **Box office:** $2 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMMLRnXPPJk

## Where to watch in the UAE

Not streaming, renting or buying in the UAE at the last check.

Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IL, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Elmer Gantry* (1960), Fi1m 78: Religious showmanship and personal appetite receive a sharper, less forgiving examination. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/elmer-gantry.md)
- *The Queen of Versailles* (2012): Another extravagant household, with money and self-deception given considerably more room.
- *The Apostle* (1997): For a religious character study that allows devotion and wrongdoing to coexist.
- *Philomena* (2013), Fi1m 82: A warmer account of faith that still asks difficult questions about institutions. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/philomena.md)
- *The Music Room* (1958), Fi1m 88: For a quieter, more exacting study of extravagance and stubborn self-belief. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-music-room.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-eyes-of-tammy-faye