Elmer Gantry – Overacting at Its Finest

Elmer Gantry (IMDB)

So, I just caught the last twenty minutes of “Elmer Gantry” (1960) on TCM, and I was reminded of just how terribly overacted that whole movie was. Like, terribly. But, it totally works. Before I explain why, I think it best to give a brief refresher of the plot and to let you know that it’s based on a novel by Sinclair Lewis, so approach accordingly.

Elmer Gantry, played (overplayed?) by Burt Lancaster, is a yucky traveling salesman with so much charm it hurts. He crosses paths with an evangelist, Sister Sharon Falconer (Jean Simmons). Elmer convinces Sharon that he is precisely what her roadshow needs, and becomes the main evangelical attraction. In the meantime, Lulu Bains, a prostitute Elmer knew before he began traveling with Sharon, catches up with him and causes issue. (Lulu is played by Shirley Jones, and if you’re a “The Music Man” aficionado like I am, you’ll have to radically change your perceptions of her as an actress. Holy cow, what a 180). The movie ends with a catastrophe that Elmer must work to reconcile.

As you can imagine, a movie centered on two evangelists is full of a lot of hell fire and damnation. Lancaster and Simmons play to all of the stereotypes – and boy do they play into it good: the yelling, the invocation of God, the eyes-closing, the kindness so extreme it seems fake, etc. Fundamentally, these performances should be so revolting to me that I have to quit watching. As a general rule, I try to avoid bad acting, particularly of the overacting variety. But, I just can’t. It works so well in a weird way. The evangelism the movie focuses on is in and of itself sort of overacted, so this overacting seems natural and necessary. In fact, Lancaster won Best Actor and Jones won Best Supporting Actress.

But, while I’m on the subject of “Elmer Gantry” I’ve got to say the scene in which Elmer does the running slide while preaching is one of my favorites of all time. (If you’ve seen the movie, you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, you’d better go watch it so you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about). It’s so indicative of Elmer’s character as well as the culture of the Revivalist movement. So great. Just a really good cinematic choice.

“Silver Linings Playbook”

“Silver Linings Playbook” is the most optimistic movie I’ve seen in a long time.

Pat, played by an excellent Bradley Cooper, is determined to beat the bipolar disorder that helped the disintegration of his marriage and led to his stay in a mental facility. Rather than relying on an array of medication, Pat focuses on living a positive life, finding a silver lining in every situation.

Along the way, he meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) who understands his plight and helps him navigate through the trying times he faces.

In the end, they dance.

The movie is hilarious. The scene in which Pat chastises Ernest Hemingway has to be my favorite and will resonate with anyone who has read “A Farewell to Arms.” Self-deprecating humor about being crazy pepper Pat and Tiffany’s conversations. Such comments seem to be a part of both characters’ healing processes.

Robert DeNiro is a master. Playing Pat Sr., DeNiro captures all of the emotions that fly through the brain of a father trying to deal with such a son. All at once, his eyes convey empathy, fear, compassion and frustration. His affinity for the Philadelphia Eagles and OCD tendencies on game day make his character endearing. A fight between the two Pats is the most emotional in the film and played well by both actors.

Cooper is wonderful as a lovesick cock-eyed optimist. He underplays the “crazy,” which elevates the movie from a soapy drama to a film focused on the difficulties of the human condition. One scene in particular tugged at my heartstrings: all Cooper does is look at Jennifer Lawrence. He looks at her in a way that is packed with something. I don’t even know what to call it, but I nearly melted in my chair – and that had nothing to do with his piercing blue-gray eyes.

Lawrence was great – hilarious and truthful, exactly what the character called for.

Jacki Weaver stole the show. As Pat’s mother, Dolores, she was frazzled, exhausted, afraid and hopeful. She was perfect, so convincing and real. She should win the Oscar.

Also, Chris Tucker makes an entertaining appearance as Pat’s friend Danny who is repeatedly leaving the mental facility.

The movie was a little gritty, like its Philly setting, but also warm and energetic. It never got overly dramatic or ridiculously silly.

5.0 for sure.