What lurked beyond the overdone makeup and emotional singing - beyond the plastic smile and over-flowing tears may have been a hidden message of compassion and care; a message of tolerance and understanding; a message of love.  Recently my wife and I sat down to watch the 2021 movie, The Eyes of Tammy Faye starring Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye and Andrew Garfield as Jim Bakker.  Most of us are familiar with the story - after all, it was lived out on cable television and most major news networks. From humble beginnings, Tammy Faye makes her way to a conservative Bible college where she meets Jim Bakker.  The two fall in love, drop out of college, get married and start their ministry - Jim preaching and Tammy Faye singing and doing puppet ministry with the children.  This catches the attention of Pat Robertson and his Christian Broadcasting Network and just like that, the Bakker’s Bible thumping star is on the rise.  All of a sudden this humble couple is exposed to excess and wealth t

 In 2011 Director Joe Johnston and Marvel Studios brought to the big screen the  movie:  Captain America - The First Avenger, featuring the comic book super hero Captain America (aka Steve Rogers), played by Chris Evans.  The setting of the movie  is March 1942 and the world is at war.  The Germans have a “secret” agency called Hydra lead by a villainous leader, Red Skull (with a name like Red Skull how could you not be evil!).  His evil and diabolical plans can throw the balance of the war towards the Nazis.  Meanwhile, in the United States the government is working on a “secret” plan to create a battalion of super soldiers.   Enter our would-be hero, Steve Rogers.  But he does not look the part.  He is a 98 pound weakling who suffers from:  Asthma, sinusitis, chronic colds, high blood pressure, heart palpitations, and fatigue; not to mention he has suffered from Scarlet fever, Rheumatic fever, has a nervous disorder, and a family history of diabetes!  Our hero is not off to a good

 Hollywood has had a fascination (and dare I say, love affair) with the mentor/mentee relationship.  In the years 1937, 1954, 1976, and 2018 movie goers were treated to the cinematic spectacular “A Star is Born.”  Each production slightly different from the others, but the basic story line remains the same.  “A Star is Born” is part romance and part tragedy.  The story follows a rags-to-riches climb with a dynamic and talented young woman at its center.   In all four presentations of the movie the plot follows a similar trajectory:  An aging male celebrity who is riddled by addictions meets a talented and younger woman with whom he is instantly smitten.  He is attuned to her overwhelming talent and mentors her career.  Before you know it she is a star.  Meanwhile, his career sinks deeper and deeper into the doldrums.   The most recent rendition of “A Star is Born” was brought to the big screen in 2018 by director and actor Bradley Cooper (who plays the lead Jackson Maine) and his co-