Product: Keeping the Faith (2000)
Rating: 4.0
You've got to have faith.
I wasn't sure what to expect out of this movie. The idea of two best friends, one Catholic the other Jewish, growing up to become a priest and a Rabbi sounded appealing. However, the previews for the movie made the film appear to be a slapstick comedy centered around the differences of religion. However, as it turns out, Ed Norton is almost as good a director as he is an actor and prevents the movie from becoming farcical or too serious.The movie revolves around the two said best friends and how they both end up falling in love with the same girl; a girl who used to live in their neighborhood but who is now all grown up, more beautiful than ever, and a top business executive. The film starts out great, examining the friendship and lives of the two friends. However, once the girl from next door shows up, the tone of the movie changes and instead of being a religious comedy examining the close friendship of a rabbi and priest, it becomes a dramatic romance with a few comic moments here and there. Not that the romantic angle isn't interesting, but the heart of this movie isn't about romantic love. The center of this movie is about friendship and faith.All three of the major actors pull off strong performances and Norton continues to amaze with his range as an actor. The film also boosts a strong supporting cast which makes the film even more enjoyable to watch. A great movie overall as long as you have a little bit of faith.