If
you have to believe in something, you might as
well believe in love.
Is "Keeping
the Faith" a film that really just plays better
for that most extreme of minority
groups...preachers who are desperately trying to
get married, get laid or both?
"Keeping the Faith" is an odd little romantic
comedy starring Edward Norton and Ben Stiller as
a sort of pastoral dynamic duo. Norton is a
Catholic priest (Father Brian), while Stiller
plays his Jewish rabbi counterpart (Rabbi Jake).
They grew up childhood friends, along with Anna,
a precocious girl who was their defender and
confidante. Of course, the inevitable childhood
trauma happens...Anna moves away.
Fast forward to several years later...Anna
(Jenna Elfman)calls up Brian out of the blue and
the real journey begins.
There are many reasons why "Keeping the Faith"
doesn't really work...
It's a comedy that's not that funny.
It's a romantic film that makes you squirm in
your seat as you watch a rabbi and a priest deal
with feelings and issues and morals.
It's a calm, peaceful film that actually does
very little with a potential hotbed of hilarity
storyline.
Almost nothing happens here. The dramatic
tension isn't actually that dramatic...even the
played for heavy comedy situations seem
amazingly friendly and easygoing.
The acting is not brilliant, the script is
rather basic...the production design is simple
and even the music is such a companion to the
film that it's often barely noticeable.
So, how can a film with so many deep flaws be
recognized as an A- AND with a place in my Top
100? Have I simply lost my ability to critically
analyze a film? Do I secretly harbor Edward
Norton, Jenna Elfman or Ben Stiller fantasies?
Maybe, NO and OH YES!
The truth is if I rated this film solely on the
basis of life impact...of its replay factor then
it would likely be my Top film or at least in my
Top 10. It is, without a doubt, one of my
absolutely favorite films. I have watched
"Keeping the Faith" well over 20 times, and each
time I have laughed, been moved and been
inspired in so many different ways that I've
lost track.
Is it the inside jokes that you can't possibly
get unless you live a life in ministry? Nope,
let's be honest...the film didn't get that deep.
Instead, I believe it's the casual way that we
are introduced to everyday characters. Perhaps
this 2000 film came at a bad time to humanize
Catholic priests? I mean, when we're just
starting to learn the severity of the issue of
Catholicism and molestation it's not the best
timing to introduce a film where the priest
struggles with real human feelings, sexual
desire and "GASP!" falling in love.
Yet, Norton brings such an utter sincerity to
this role that what could have been melodramatic
or caricaturish is completely convincing. As a
minister, one of my biggest adjustments came in
the "morals" department...I went from someone
who could have a threesome in the Wal-Mart
parking lot with Becky and her mother to someone
whose every flirtation and kiss seems recorded
for eternity. Likewise, because of the depth of
Norton's performance here...it brought up the
VERY REAL issues of how does one deal with
celibacy and sexuality when one is married to
God? Does the film solve the issue? Not at all,
but it's perhaps one of the most honest
portrayals of the reality of the issue. Father
Brian isn't a sicko destined to molest
children...he's not into breaking his vows or
hiding his feelings...he's trying desperately to
deal with them, seeks counsel and tries to sort
out how every vow and commitment in the world
didn't keep him from "these feelings." It's yet
another challenge the film faced in
success...this much pain and frustration can't
possibly exist in a romantic comedy.
Likewise, Stiller, is under the microscope as a
Jewish rabbi trying to move up in his
congregational role but hindered by being
"single." The pressure is reversed as he is
under pressure to get married. When I recently
switched denominations, I found it hilarious
that on the first day of membership the pastor
actually mentioned someone in the congregation
who would be a perfect match for me. Magnify
that times 10 and you get Rabbi Jake's
issue...it seems he has little hope of moving up
unless he's married, but he has to balance his
own humanity with the countless members of his
Temple who wish to fix him up. (with often
hilarious results).
Then, finally, there's Anna. Power and money
have become her sex, and yet Elfman never lets
her become just about those things. She's always
richly human...we still see the chemistry that
has existed all these years, even though the
roles have changed dramatically.
The chemistry between these three is strong, and
watching the way their relationships develop
over time is funny, a touch sad but always
interesting.
At times, Anna's the mature, spiritually
insightful one...especially as her dynamics with
Jake change...at times, Brian is the balanced
and reasonable one...even Jake has his moments
where he's so clearly devoted to his
congregation and his chosen path that, while his
horrid choices are obvious, it's hard not to
feel his pain and confusion.
So many dynamic, serious issues...not played for
laughs, not played for drama...just played out.
They are played out like everyday life...a touch
of humor, a touch of sadness, a touch of grief,
a touch of stupidity...
There are so many "scenes" in this film that
make me smile...The opening scene with the
bartender who reveals his own background towards
the end...the scenes of the trio as
children...the Jewish Hall of Fame trading
cards...the karaoke store scene...the preaching
scenes...I could, quite literally, go on and on
and on.
The supporting cast is equally wonderful, if
unwritten. Anne Bancroft dazzles as Jake's
mother, Eli Wallach sparkles as an elder rabbi,
and most of Jake's "dates" are played out
comically and wonderfully.
The soundtrack is marvelous, and often funny
(especially the wonderfully utilized Barry
Manilow). Yet, what I truly appreciate about
"Keeping the Faith is that it defies the
stereotypes...nobody is actually how they
seem...in fact, they are all richly human with
strengths, weaknesses, wants, needs and desires.
They are all at crossroads in their lives and
facing the distinct possibility that they may
have made a few bad choices along the way. The
high-powered corporate woman is, in fact, deeply
spiritual, insightful and capable of intense,
magnificent love...the Catholic priest realizes
that being married to God doesn't cut one off
from the human experience of feelings and
relationships...the Jewish rabbi begins to see
that true love can't be confined within a faith
or a path or an "image".
These three, through all their struggles,
maintain a simple humanity about them that
allows one to bond with them, care about them
and wish the best for them.
"Keeping the Faith" is, indeed, my favorite kind
of film. It's a film that celebrates its
characters despite all their quirks and
weaknesses and bad choices. It's a film that
celebrates the journeys of life, not by
dramatizing or minimizing them, but by
presenting human beings as we really
are...inherently funny, sporadically tragic,
often hurting but somehow always surviving and
thriving until the next day.
I've seen many brilliant films in my life, but
when it comes down to it I'd rather watch
"Keeping the Faith."
© Written by
Richard Propes
TC Candler's Comment
N/A
Jacob
Hall's Comment
N/A
