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?