The Eyes of Tammy Faye

"After the holocaust, there will be roaches, Tammy Faye and Cher." So remarks John J. Bullock about his friend and former talk show partner Tammy Faye Bakker. As this sympathetic documentary vividly illustrates, Bakker is indeed a survivor. She and former husband Jim were once Christian televangelism's royal couple. They built a global satellite network as well as a theme park that rivaled Disney's parks in popularity. Then came charges of fraud, Jim's infamous liaison with Jessica Hahn, alleged betrayal by Jerry Falwell, bankruptcy and Jim's imprisonment. In public, Tammy Faye remained unsinkable in the face of setback after setback. Privately, she battled depression and addiction to prescription medicine (in one incredible clip from their TV show, Jim introduces a song by Tammy Faye, who is seen wandering the stage in a haze). The film attempts to strip away the trademark make-up to reveal the human face of Tammy Faye, who--even though she might have been a punch line to the secular world--deserves credit for reaching out to the disenfranchised, including the gay community and AIDS patients. Drag queen RuPaul plays it straight and narrates with admirable restraint, but with its melodramatic music and over-use of slow motion and staged sequences, this documentary ultimately plays like a special episode of Inside Edition. Still, Tammy Faye is an undeniably fascinating character. An art house favorite, this is recommended, with reservations. (K. Lee Benson)