The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2000)

86% of critics liked it
(35 reviews)
69% of users liked it
(1,080 ratings)

RuPaul narrates this affectionate look at everyone's favorite televangelist/living cosmetic display: Tammy Faye Bakker. The eldest of eight children in rural Minnesota, Tammy Faye married Jim Bakker in 1960, and soon they found a following on the gospel circuit. This eventually led to a gig on… More RuPaul narrates this affectionate look at everyone's favorite televangelist/living cosmetic display: Tammy Faye Bakker. The eldest of eight children in rural Minnesota, Tammy Faye married Jim Bakker in 1960, and soon they found a following on the gospel circuit. This eventually led to a gig on Christian media mogul Pat Robertson's first television shows, including the ever-popular 700 Club. Perhaps jealous of their rising profile, Robertson soon usurped the show for himself. The Bakkers went on to co-found the Trinity Broadcasting Network, until that too was wrestled away from them by investors. Riding a tide of religious fundamentalism, the Bakkers reached their gaudy heights with the PTL Network and the spinoff Christian theme park Heritage USA. Then the roof caved in. Jim was forced to pay hush money to future Playboy centerfold model Jessica Hahn and then was submitted to rival Jerry Falwell's hostile take-over of the network. Soon Jim was in jail for fraud, and Tammy was at Betty Ford for addiction to prescription drugs. This film was screened at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 19 min.
Directed By: Fenton Bailey, Jim J. Bullock
Genres: Documentary, Television, Special Interest

In Theaters: Jun 1, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Jan 30, 2001
Studio: LionsGate Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Emily Blunt, Blunt Review
This scared me then, and scares me now. Shudder.
John Urbancich, Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
A decent doc.
Andrea Chase, Killer Movie Reviews
. . . it becomes uncomfortably obvious that everything else we thought we knew about this born-again kewpie doll is probably wrong.
Brent Simon, Entertainment Today
Equally revelatory and entertaining... a fascinating, cathartic, from-the-ground-up reconstruction of an American pariah.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Sarah P

After watching this, it's really hard to laugh at Tammy Faye. She is a very tragic story and seemed like a genuinely good and nice person. I enjoy how the documentary points out Jerry Falwell's very "un-Christian-like" and hypocritical behavior.
Remi L

Very eye-opening, pardon the pun. Anyone who remembers the early days of Christian television remembers who Tammy Faye Bakker is. The clumpy mascara and fake lashes, being able to cry on cue, the perma-perppiness. This was one of those first instances of a pastor, or Christian leader… More
Very eye-opening, pardon the pun. Anyone who remembers the early days of Christian television remembers who Tammy Faye Bakker is. The clumpy mascara and fake lashes, being able to cry on cue, the perma-perppiness. This was one of those first instances of a pastor, or Christian leader (Jim Bakker) pretending to be holier-than-thou only to have his skeletons come pouring out of the closet. This documentary shows the rise and fall of the Bakker's from Tammy Faye's point of view and shows that unlike her compatriots, she wasn't anti-woman, nor was she a homophobe (she actually embraced and prayed for AIDS victims as well as drug addicts and the homeless). She and her husband started two of the most well-known Christian broadcasting networks/shows in the country: the 700 Club and TBN before being kicked out for their hard work. The two went on to start their own (the PTL club) which flourished well above others, but of course, it all came tumbling down with scandal: fraud and infidelity. And poor Tammy Faye is left to pick up the pieces after her husband is carted off the jail. This documentary also shows the rise of the Moral Majority, started by this doc's villain: Jerry Falwell. This film made me appreciate the eternal punchline that is Tammy Faye. While I still think she's funny (sometimes without trying to be), I think she's a sweet person who truly wants to help others, but I'm actually on the fence on whether or not she was part of the greed that brought down the Bakker empire. Definitely worth a look-see.
Christopher B

For years I thought I basically had an idea of what Tammy Faye Baker was like. As usual, i simply thought what the media wanted me to. Here is a doc showing her for what she really is, a human being. Great stuff, it's nice to be reminded that the people who are portrayed as… More
For years I thought I basically had an idea of what Tammy Faye Baker was like. As usual, i simply thought what the media wanted me to. Here is a doc showing her for what she really is, a human being. Great stuff, it's nice to be reminded that the people who are portrayed as caricatures by the media are just as real as you and me, assuming you're not a robot.