Leap of Faith (1992)

Directed by Richard Pearce. Starring Steve Martin, Debra Winger, Liam Neeson, Lolita Davidovich, Lukas Haas, M. C. Gainey, Meat Loaf, Delores Hall, Philip Seymour Hoffman, La Chanze. [PG-13]

Crooked faith healer Martin is traveling through Kansas with his team of con artists when one of the trucks breaks down at a small town, causing the preacher to decide to hold a revival right there, much to the chagrin of the sensible local sheriff (Neeson). Starts as a fairly transfixing deconstruction of the tactics and subterfuges of those who prey on faith and the distraught, then takes a serious turn, before winding up labored and mawkish. When offstage, Martin is more convincing as a cynic and schemer behind the scenes than he is employing the wily trickster act to townsfolk, neither oily nor charming enough to reasonably fool everyone besides Neeson and a hard-hearted waitress (Davidovich) he has salacious designs upon. As Martin’s restless partner-in-crime, Winger does what she can with an underwritten role. Might have worked if it trusted the courage of its convictions and landed on an appropriate (or more consistent) tone; scrapping that ending altogether would have been a start in the right direction.

39/100