Posted: 04/20/2000

Keeping the Faith

(2000)

by Wayne Case

Actor Edward Norton directs his first feature, a comedy that our reviewer says is worth seeing.

Hiding somewhere deep inside the 128 long minutes of Keeping The Faith is an excellent 95 minute movie. However, even in its present, bloated form, I would recommend it as a pleasant diversion. The audience that I attended with certainly had a good time.

This is the directorial debut for actor Edward Norton and his future is equally bright in both fields. I do wish that someone had been able to edit this first directing effort down to a more appropriate length, but, these days, most film makers seem to feel that more is better. Few, if any, can equal Norton’s range as an actor. Consider his outstanding and varied work in Primal Fear, American History X, Fight Club, and now this romantic comedy called Keeping The Faith. It won’t surprise me if his range as a director is equal to his range as an actor and I look forward to his next endeavor be it acting or directing or both as it is here.

The plot concerns New York City childhood buddies who have grown up to be Rabbi Jake (Ben Stiller) and Priest Brian (Edward Norton). And yes, this does sound like the set-up for a joke. Most of the film is a flashback as Priest Brian tells the story to a friendly bartender.

At the start of the film, they learn that their childhood tomboy friend, Anna (Jenna Elfman), who had moved to California many years earlier, is returning to New York. She’s changed… and has become an appealing, beautiful, unattached woman. Even though Rabbi Jake is under pressure to marry a Jewish woman, and celibacy is a requirement for Catholic priests, both men are strongly attracted to Anna.

Since the trailer tells the following and much more, I’m not really giving anything away when I mention that Rabbi Jake has a secret affair with Anna. (Neither members of his temple, Father Brian, or his mother knows about this.) The script would have you believe that a Rabbi who is in line to be Chief Rabbi has no qualms about having an on-going sexual relationship with a woman he has no intention of marrying. Further, he assumes that his congregation wouldn’t object. Personally, even as liberal as I am, I’d have to question the wisdom of a role model being comfortable in defying tradition in such a blatant, premeditated and guiltless manner.

Ben Stiller (There’s Something About Mary, Permanent Midnight, Flirting With Disaster) comes by his talent naturally. His parents are the comedy team of Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller. As Rabbi Jake, he is the center of this film and he is up to the assignment. In fact, his work here is as good as it was in the super hit, There’s Something About Mary.

Jenna Elfman (television’s Dharma & Greg, EdTV) was a pleasant surprise for me. I do not watch her television show, but was put off by her clips that I’ve seen from it. This film could not have worked unless the audience finds her believable as someone who could make a rabbi and a priest reconsider their callings. she reminds me of a slightly younger Meg Ryan. (Sorry about that Meg!)

Oscar winner Anne Bancroft (The Miracle Worker, The Graduate) has several good scenes as Jake’s mother and it’s nice to see her getting good parts again.

Oscar winning director Milos Forman (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Amadeus, and the putrid Man On The Moon) is very effective as an older priest who discusses celibacy with Father Brian.

This is the first script from Stuart Blumberg and he is off to a promising start. The original musical score by Elmer Bernstein (A Walk On The Wild Side, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Great Escape, Love With The Proper Stranger, Ghostbusters) is effective. (How nice that a first-time director is paired with a composer who has more than 200 film scores to his credit and is nearing the age of 80!) Cinematographer Anastas Michos quite appropriately provides a “Chamber of Commerce” look for New York City and also shows the attractive cast looking their best.

If romantic comedies appeal to you, chances are good that you’ll enjoy this one.

Wayne Case works in the film industry in Hollywood, and still can’t help himself — he loves the movies!

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