Date: 06/27/2005

Category: · Writing  » Reviews  » Film · Writing » Reviews · Writing  » Topic  » misc

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It's not easy watching somebody die, but Tammy Faye: Death Defying relishes every minute. Slow piano music, swooshy overproduced graphics, gosh-darn-it voiceovers by the lady herself, and crying -- oh God, so much crying -- might leave you thinking that Ms. Messner's the first person to ever need chemotherapy. A mundane follow-up to the incredible The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Death Defying strips away so much of Tammy Faye's privacy that she stops being fascinating and just seems like a small, scared, almost ordinary woman, sheltered from reality and confused and terrified by the possibility of a rapidly approaching demise.

Tammy Faye was present for Frameline's screening of the new documentary, and the audience ate her up. She got a standing ovation just for walking into the house before the movie started (is that a celebrity faux pas? We're not sure), and plenty of cheers and applause throughout. Gays love Tammy, and Tammy loves gays; after the film, she told the crowd, "you've been my friends for so many years. ... Thank you to the most wonderful group of people. I love you with all of my heart. God bless you." Her gratitude is not without limit, however; when asked if her conservative mind could be changed on the topic of gay marriage, she replied, almost apologetically, "I feel you deserve all the rights ... [but] marriage is between a man and a woman." This is a fine message to come to the Castro, during Pride, to deliver; it's somewhat like being asked to speak at a church, and then telling the congregation, "God is dead." Ms. Messner went on to play a few tunes on the Castro's lovely pipe organ, though, and before long, all was apparantly forgiven. At the end of the night, the audience gave up thunderous applause to a woman who now seemed to be smaller and plainer than ever.