bigverybadtom Steve Martin is Jonas Nightingale, a fraudulent faith healer with an entourage and several coaches, where he travels across America to different places where he sets up tent meetings to fleece the locals of their funds. One coach breaks down, stranding them in a small town, and Jonas decides to set up his act there while waiting for the coach to be repaired. He does so, attracts a large crowd, and arouses the suspicion of the local sheriff, who investigates.A number of problems occur with the movie, though. The locals are all too willing to be taken in by Jonas, the operation is overly sophisticated with computers and everything, Jonas readily admits to the suspicious sheriff that he is only a fraud, but worst of all, Steve Martin just doesn't fit the role of a highly charismatic con man.Some reviewers were upset by the "Hollywood ending", and said it would be have been better if Jonas had sickened of crime. I find the "Hollywood ending" more credible, as most criminals, especially when riding high, do not voluntarily give up their life of crime, and those who do find a cause to push them to give it up. What more appropriate way than what happens in the movie?

comyndoc This fictional story of a healing evangelist Jonas Nightingale, played by Steve Martin has been researched well. Jonas is a composite of many faith-healers, Peter Poppoff and Benny Hinn included. The big story is what happens to a fraud when when a real miracle happens. The next question is why do people go to these things, when they know they are likely to be taken in? Growing up in the South, I have been to a few tent revivals. Part of the attitude is just suspend your rational mind and "go with the Spirit!" The big story is the providence of God working through a fraud. God is God, and we are not.Overall, the movie was well done and casting Debra Winger as the assistant to Jonas was brilliant. Liam Neesom as the Southern Sheriff was well done without the Southern stereotypes of the good old boy sheriff. He is no Andy of Mayberry.

Magnus Pym What promise this movie had! Steve Martin gives a tour-de-force performance, perhaps the best of his career in a role where he was tragically let-down by his co-stars. The story fairly meanders for most of the first half, before picking up steam and ending in a climax that packs one of the most heavy emotional punches I've seen in any film.The person who 'cast' this movie should be drummed out of the industry. The supporting roles were filled by B-actors whose wooden performances deflated many a key scene. Debra Winger was particularly awful in this one, reciting her lines robotically without any realism whatever; I've seen middle school plays which were more convincing than some of her scenes.However, I still recommend watching this movie for the last 15 minutes that held up in spite of Winger. Contrary to popular belief, this is not an anti-Christian movie at all, indeed, it is quite the opposite.

haganthomas-1 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.