The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021)

Nominated for Best Actress and Best Hair and Makeup    Okay, I know what I said about Spencer, but I was wrong.  Jessica Chastain totally deserves this Oscar.  There's still a chance for Penelope Cruz to pull it out of the bag but right now, it is Chastain's to lose.

Growing up surrounded by religious charismatics, young Tammy Faye (Jessica Chastain) dreamed of being able to spread her own version of the gospel.  She met the young Reverend Jim Bakker (Andrew Garfield) at college, and together, they broke in to the tight-knit world of televangelism.  They went on to become two of the most recognizable faces in America in the 80s, building a huge franchise, their own television network, and even a freaking theme park.  But all of it was based on a lie and in 1994, it all came crashing down.

Jessica Chastain made me care about a con-woman desperate for love and attention with insecurities thicker than her mascara and if that's not talent, I don't know what is.  She also did multiple puppet voices and her own singing.  That's wild.  

The movie itself is kind of basic.  It really depends on how much you care about seeing hypocrites get what was coming to them.  Vincent D'Onofrio is typically excellent as Jerry Falwell, and should probably get an Oscar Lifetime Achievement Award for consistently disappearing into roles.  It's currently streaming on HBO Max.