In actor Edward Norton's directorial debut, Brian (Norton), a priest, and his best friend, Jake (Ben Stiller), a rabbi, both fall in love with their long-lost childhood friend, Anna (Jenna Elfman), who has returned to Manhattan to pursue her hectic business career. However, Brian has taken a vow of celibacy, and Jake is constantly being set up by Jewish mothers in his temple. The workaholic Anna isn't Jewish, but this doesn't stop her from returning Jake's affection and beginning a relationship that they hide from Brian. As their relationship progresses, complications arise, leading Jake, Brian, and Anna to deal with questions of both religious and romantic faith.
As Rabbi Jake, Stiller once again displays his excellent comic timing, and his scenes with Elfman, Norton, and Anne Bancroft (as Jake's traditional Jewish mother) carry KEEPING THE FAITH. Set in lushly filmed New York City, Norton's film exhudes an innocent charm that's sure to please audiences of all denominations.
KEEPING THE FAITH, Edward Norton's debut as a director, is a charming romantic comedy that harkens back to old Hollywood. In what is essentially the set-up of a traditional joke, a rabbi and a priest find themselves in a tricky situation when a childhood friend, now an attractive businesswoman, reenters their lives.
Theatrical release: April 14, 2000.
Filmed on location in Newark, New Jersey, and New York City, New York.
Given Edward Norton's intense, hard-hitting roles in films such as PRIMAL FEAR, AMERICAN HISTORY X, and FIGHT CLUB, many fans and critics were surprised that his first directorial effort proved to be a romantic comedy.
Milos Forman (who appears in the film as Father Havel) and Norton reversed their usual roles in KEEPING THE FAITH. Previously, Forman had directed Norton in THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT.
Excerpt: "Oy."--Rabbi Jake Schram (Ben Stiller)
"Amen to your oy."--Father Brian Kilkenney Finn (Edward Norton)
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Letterboxed - Anamorphic - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - 1. Edward Norton - Director/Producer/Star
2. Stuart Blumberg - Writer/Producer
Deleted Scenes
Production Gag Reel
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus
Text/Photo Galleries:
Biographies - Cast & Crew
Director of Photography
Anastas Michos:
Production Designer
Wynn Thomas: Production Designer, INSIDE MAN (2006)
Costume Designer
Michael Kaplan: Costume Designer, BLADE RUNNER (1982)
Review 1:
"...A sharp script and a trio of well-balanced comic performances....The gags hit exactly the right spot, whether they're slapstick or verbal..." -- 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Total Film
p.94 10/01/2000
Review 2:
"...Fresh and diverting with some shrewd insights..."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.48-9 10/01/2000
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