Wonderful Movie

That was an excellent one.

Good concept, poorly executed.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

First question: what caused Duvall to write, direct and act in this production ? Second question, asked on one of the discussion threads: is Duvall a Christian ? Wikipedia says that while he has stated that Christian Science is his belief, he does not attend church. Wikipedia also says that Christian Scientists believe that sickness is an illusion that can be cured by prayer. This does not include toothache, or broken bones, but there's a lot of praying in this film.I'd hazard a guess that the reason Duvall was not awarded the Best Actor Oscar is that he wasn't acting. About half the rest of the cast weren't acting either. In fact, the movie is largely documentary. The actors took part in the fictitious sections. They included Farrah Fawcett and Billy Bob Thornton, and they weren't actually very good, but then they didn't have to be, since their roles could have been played by anybody. Miranda Richardson was good, as an actress, and so was the actor playing Sam, who, in my opinion, was so outstanding that perhaps he was real, like the other evangelicals and the rest of the congregation.The thought, however, of Jack Nicholson getting the Oscar for his part in "As Good as it Gets", a real stinking turkey, simply beggars belief. Duvall was way, way better. Then again, he was simply being, not acting. He was not too old, either.

Having lived in and adapted to a number of cultures around the world, I found myself amazed at the variety of interpretations that could be applied to this film depending on which flavor of Koolaid you had been drinking most recently. The depiction of fundamentalist Christians was spot on - the good, the bad, and the ugly. If this film has a flaw, it may be that it is too ambiguous. It does not condemn the judgment of a congregation who worships a semi-charlatan nor really justify the actions of a woman who has been used and manipulated by a sweet-talking devil. As such, it perpetuates a lot of the mythology that continues to allow charismatic Christianity to flourish, and does the parts of the country still under thrall to this a disservice. To the extent that it exposes the evil that the hero worship of very human and flawed leaders - who profess direct contact and support from divinity - can do, it is a pretty good flick.

Sonny Dewey (Robert Duvall) is the charismatic preacher of a fundamentalist Texas church, until his short temper gets him in serious trouble. He runs off to Louisiana, becomes part of a small community, and starts a new church where he brings hope and salvation to his loyal followers.Robert Duvall is a powerhouse; he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in this movie - and it's wonderful. He is so convincing as the southern evangelist that it really surprised me to hear him speak in his normal voice in the Extras. Sonny is completely devoted to saving people and spreading the Word, but we suspect he may have a violent and unsavory past, and that dichotomy keeps our eyes glued to Duvall at all times. As Sonny, he's driven, tireless, and simply inspired.While Duvall gets excellent performances out of many local, non-actors in small parts, there were several casting choices that didn't seem right to me: Farrah Fawcett plays Sonny's wife and she's so recognizable as a former "Angel" and glamour girl that it was hard to buy her as a quiet, plain-Jane. June Carter Cash plays Sonny's mother although she is only two years older than Duvall - and looks it and that was distracting. And Billy Bob Thornton has a very small role as a troublemaker that was never developed; I kept expecting him to show up again and do something important and worthy of his stature.The term "tour de force" can certainly be applied to Duvall's performance; he is riveting, charismatic, and utterly believable. Interestingly, the story makes him neither a hero nor a villain; it is left up to the viewer to decide who exactly "the Apostle" is. Highly recommended.

There is one compelling reason to see "The Apostle," and that reason is Robert Duvall.Duvall directed himself in this story about an evangelist who embarks on a self-assigned mission to save souls when his own life goes wrong. Duvall gives a scorching, blistering performance in the title role, sinking deeply into his character until you feel like Duvall the actor no longer even exists. He also proves himself to be a competent director, even though that hasn't been a calling he's pursued subsequently.It's just criminal that Jack Nicholson beat Duvall for the 1997 Best Actor Award with a performance like the one he gives in "As Good as It Gets." Grade: A