Jessica Chastain is Tammy Faye...
Friday, January 24, 2020 at 11:00PM by Eric Blume
It's never a bad time to start talking about possiblities for NEXT YEAR's Best Actress Oscar, which may include one of our favorites here at TFE, Jessica Chastain. She just wrapped filming The Eyes of Tammy Faye, where she will play infamous televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker, opposite Andrew Garfield as husband Jim. The movie is based from the documentary of the same title from twenty years ago, here directed by the talented Michael Showalter (The Big Sick and Hello, My Name is Doris).
Seems like inspired casting and an inspired choice for director, since the movie could really deliver in several different tones based on this trio. What it probably won't be, let's hope, is another straight biopic...
There will likely be some angle here on the protagonists. Showalter has years of experience in weird alt comedy. Recently he's been delivering pictures with heart that don't veer into easy sentimentality. Garfield is of course an incredibly gifted actor, and he could use a role with a big stripe of comedy in it (he relished the comic edges of Prior Walter in his Tony-winning performance in Angels in America two years ago).
But the real news here is Chastain, of course. She hasn't had anything truly juicy since Molly's Game back in 2017. There's no question she can do comedy and drama with equal confidence and zest, and this should be the role that puts her back into the awards conversation. Hell, it'll be fun just to see the naturally gorgeous Chastain with all that makeup on her. It's one of the performances I'm most looking forward to in 2020.
Am I overshooting about the possibilities? Are you excited to see what Showalter, Garfield, and Chastain have up their sleeves?
Reader Comments (21)
I hate to be that person but Tammy Faye was 4 feet 11 inches & that’s going to bother me if it’s noticeable. Oh and also Jan Hooks already did that, mmmkay!
Seems like a great fusion of actress and role.
If it goes too comic I’m not sure if the Academy will bite. Do you have a Garfield reference on comedy for some of us who don’t have major plays available to us?
Hmm. Doesn’t it seem like the movie field for women including Judy is now Lifetime or Hulu? Hoping for the best.
Wiki says Kristin Chenoweth developing a musical biopic o Tammy Faye.
Will thr be competing versions?? 🤔
I'm very excited by this project! The subject matter itself is fascinating, I've missed Chastain and she deserves a juicy role, and pairing her with Garfield sounds like a brilliant idea. Plus, I remember liking "Hello, my name is Doris" more than I thought I would.
I've just seen a pic of the movie that will open Berlin starring Sigourney Weaver and it looks amazing.
I'm certainly interested but I do think Chastain is a bit of a surface actress apart from Miss Sloane.
I say NO.
Next year will be Amy Adams or Glenn Close or Michelle Williams.
And I really have no admiration for Chastain.
An absolute favourite documentary. Not quite sure I see Chastain in the role, though. Seems a bit like they went with an name for the sake of a name rather than whether they're perfect for the role. I hope I'm wrong though.
Garfield has some comic moments in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Under the Silver Lake is definitely comedic in tone (though approach with caution).
Erick Loggia: Based strictly on lead roles that are in the can for those three? Michelle Williams: No. She only has Venom 2. That might be really fun (especially if they give her a permanent symbiote and it makes her...EXTRA), but that's NOT an Oscar bid. Amy Adams: No for The Woman in the Window, maybe for Hillbilly Elegy. Glenn Close: Maybe for Four Good Days.
The documentary is really good, not sure if this film can top it. I’m more interested to see what Kristin Chenoweth could do with the role.
Volvagia
Or Meryl Streep or Sigourney Weaver or Kate Winslet, etc .
Anyone, but Chastain.
Erick, are you just throwing names of female actors out there or are you thinking of specific films they're in that come out this year? And while I don't agree with some of the things Chastain has said---she doesn't know what happened on the set of LAST TANGO IN PARIS or in Mia Farrow's house in Connecticut--she's a great actor and we're supposed to award the acting, not the person's off-the-set actions. If you disagree with that, you're no different than those who said Casey Affleck or whoever shouldn't have gotten an Oscar because of his personal behavior.
@Volvagia: Glenn Close will never win for a movie directed by a Rodrigo Garcia or Bjorne Runge type of director. She'll likely never win anyway.
Was an extra on set. Jessica and Andrew were very nice and Funny off camera with us. I didn't know their names prior, but now a big fan! Hoping the flick turns out well.
Close and Adams are probably supporting in Hillbilly Elegy. If the film is good, I think Close will have a good chance... but it does feel like Netflix keeps underperforming expectations.
I'm glad to see Chastain paired with another good actor and in a project that sounds engaging.
Andrew Garfield has the ability to make you feel deeply, whether sad or happy. Funny moments in Amazing Spiderman 1&2 as well as Saturday Night Live as host. He is starring in two other movies this year directed by Sophia Coppola and Lin Manuel
I love this news.
My brilliant, gifted, cute and fucking hot Andy an the marvelous Chastain.
What a couple! ❤