Robert Duvall

Farrah Fawcett-Majors

Miranda Richardson

John Beasley

Walton Goggins

Billy Bob Thornton

June Carter Cash

Billy Joe Shaver

Rick Dial

Todd Allen

William Atlas Cole

Kevin Rankin

Renée Victor

Hunter Hayes

Terence Rosemore

Mary Lynette Braxton

Stuart Greer

Daniel Hickman

Emery Hopkins

Jewell Jernigan

Zelma Loyd

Christina Stojanovich

Nicholas Stojanovich

Douglas Perry

Jay Robicheaux

Joyce Jolivet Starks

Jan Fawcett

Erica Lynn Duncan

Big Hawk

Paul Bagget

Lenore Banks

Brett Brock

Christopher Canady

Christian Canady

Elizabeth Chisolm

Frank Collins Jr.

Carl D. Cook

Naomi Craig

Wayne Dehart

Jim Gleason

Chili Graham

Bobby Green

Brenda B. Jackson

Charles Johnson

Julie Johnson

Vera Kamp

Joseph Granda

Sharon K. London

Fernie E. McMillan

Jimmie J. Meaux

L. Christian Mixon

Richard Nance

Harold Potier Sr.

Pat Ratliff

Ronnie Stutes

Ruby Francis Terry

Graham Timbes

James B. Towry

Jesse Waldrop

Steve White

Fay Winn

Melete Woods

Margaret Oliver Coleman

Sharon Denise Dickerson

Sondra Jackson Green

David Henderson

Parla J. Johnson

Donna Siddiqui

Tami Boaz Skelton

Rachel V. Stevenson

Gretchen Louise Watts

Jerry H. Skelton

James Gammon

Barry Markowitz

Stephen Mack

Linda Burton

Rob Carliner

Steven Brown

Ed Johnston

David Mansfield

Renee Rousselot

Irfan Akdag

Lori Johnson-Guirard

Doug Hall

Sharre Jacoby

Taylor M. Favale

Alicia Allain

Lilly Benyair-Gart

Allison Gordin

Louis Shaw Milito

Chad Rosen

Shelly Stoll

Nan Parati

Steve C. Aaron

Malcolm Fife

John Nutt

Kyrsten Mate

Ethan Jensen

Lisa Parmet

Peter Afterman

Fulvio Valsangiacomo

Carol Banker

Mamie Mitchell

Francie Brown

Onni Vosdoganes

Walter Murch

Mark De Alessandro

Drama

The Apostle

Butcher's Run Productions

United States of America

_**Character study of a flawed preacher**_

"The Apostle" (1997) is a film that I've appreciated more as I've matured. Writer/director Robert Duvall had to make it independently because studios wouldn’t touch the material. The story's a character study of a Southern Pentecostal preacher, Sonny (Duvall), whose wife wants to leave him (Farrah Fawcett) and more. Sonny reacts foolishly and is forced into exile to the backwaters of Louisiana. Wherever Sonny goes, he can't seem to part with his "calling" and "anointing" – to lead people to the LORD and motivate believers.

If you can't handle Pentecostalism and all that goes with it – lively praise & worship, charismatic gifts, evangelism and prayer – I suggest staying far away from "The Apostle." I also suggest you stay away if you're not into seeing depictions of Southern poverty or nigh-poverty since large portions of the film take place in this environment.

Duvall's idea was to do a modern take on the King David tragedy: A man of God who falls into adultery and, then, worse. Even so, Duvall stated in a 2010 interview that Sonny's sins aren't half as bad as David's since there are big differences between their transgressions.

"The Apostle" is the best kind of character study because it evokes strong opinions and interesting discussions. Is Sonny a genuine but seriously flawed minister or just a phony who doesn't know it? Put another way, can a Christian be a "man (or woman) after God's own heart" and still commit serious sins? Does Sonny legitimately repent or does he evade repentance? Is the theology presented in the film shallow or heavy? Is resorting to righteous anger or corporeal punishment sometimes appropriate for the New Testament believer or should Christians always be lovey-dovey doormats? 

There's nothing like "The Apostle" in cinema. It's a unique and moving drama that gets better with repeat viewings because a lot of what is conveyed is subtle and wordless. There's just the right amount of ambiguity that keeps the viewer guessing and the movie open to interpretation.

The film runs 2 hours, 14 minutes, and was shot in Collin County & Denton County, Texas (both just north of Dallas) and Lafayette, Louisiana.

GRADE: A-

English

The Apostle - Trailer