The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Some say that religion brings out the worst in people. While that argument might be a tad simplistic, it's fair to say that organised religion does attract its fair share of hypocrites. For evidence of that, look no further than disgraced televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, who both get the biopic treatment in Michael Showalter's brazen film.

Characters as absurd as the Bakkers deserves a larger than life performance, and Andrew Garfield and (in particular) Jessica Chastain are more than willing to oblige. The latter is almost unrecognisable as Tammy Faye, whose bizarre getup ensures she stands out from the crowd. Roles such as this are a gift to any actor, let alone one as talented as Chastain, and this makes for some riotous moments, including one or two ear-splitting musical numbers. 

While Showalter and writer Abe Sylvia offer little beyond the familiar 'rise and fall' life story formula, this is an undeniably entertaining film similar in vein to Behind the Candelabra (to give but one example). The likes of Tammy Faye are so bespoke to American culture that you can barely believe they exist, let alone managed to make a fortune. 

Stranger than fiction, it is almost as if their lives were intended to be retold on the big screen. A gift for us viewers, but not exactly a comfort for those who fell foul of them.