
It's not often that a film hits every nail on the head but this is one. Steve Martin stars in one of his best non-comedy roles as Jonas Nightengale, con-man turned fake faith healer and razzmatazz preacher. A story of 'faith, hope and fraud', the film centres on Nightengale's visit to Rustwater, Kansas, where the glitz of his show - clairvoyancy and fake miracles are laid on by his faithful team, headed by master technician Debra Winger, who feeds him information through an earpiece - almost rivals a Las Vegas nightclub. Winger is wooed by sheriff Liam Neeson, who is nonetheless determined to expose Martin as a ne'er-do-well. But some strange things are destined to happen in Rustwater before Jonas' 'circus' leaves town. Martin, a mass of nervous energy, whose eyes are always open to the main chance, is right on the money as Jonas, never putting a strutting foot wrong, even when cavorting on the catwalk of Christ. He dominates even such good actors as Winger and Neeson in this totally diverting and fizzingly paced light-hearted version of Elmer Gantry.