| _____ | ____ |
|
| _____ | ____ |
Starring Robert Duvall, Farrah Fawcett, Miranda Richardson, Billy Bob Thornton, June Carter
Cash, Todd Allen, John Beasley. Written and Directed by Robert Duvall.
Sonny (Duvall) was taken by his nanny to a black, evangelical church, and has been preaching the gospel since he was 12. He currently resides in the Texas bible belt, the lead pastor in a prosperous, gleaming church he started. His wife Jesse (Farrah) is the church organist in the congregation. Sonny is often on the road, going from town to town, tent to tent, preaching and converting. But one night while on the road, he figures out that his wife is straying, and drives back to find her in the bed of his church's youth minister. Jesse tells Sonny she wants out, and behind his back, has him voted out of his church. She takes his kids, his "beauties" away from him. Sonny isn't at all happy. He talks to the Lord - he's constantly talking to the Lord - and tells Jesus he's mad at Him, but he loves Him, and urgently wishes that the Lord would give him a sign. Well Sonny, after just a little to much to drink, creates his own sign, and is forced out on the road, leaving behind everything and everybody he loves, except Jesus. He baptizes himself the Apostle E. F., and lands in a small Louisiana bayou town. With the help of a kindly retired preacher (Beasley) and a radio station owner, starts a thriving small church called the One Way Road To Heaven from scratch. E. F. paints and renovates the building himself, with the help of children and community members. While in town he meets the secretary at the radio station Toosie (Richardson), who has been separated from her kids and husband, and he works to begin a relationship with her. The church services at his church are lively, with plenty of singing and shouting. He genuinely loves his church and its members, and helps many brothers and sisters who have suffered in their lives, and are in need of healing. The film has been shopped around Hollywood for years, and only occurred because Duvall personally put up five million of his own money. And it is obvious why. It is largely a serious description of a sincere evangelical preacher, something in which Hollywood has never shown much interest. Duvall's performance is outstanding. Sonny is continually talking to himself, talking to the Lord. There are many outstanding scenes showing Sonny and others preaching with enthusiasm and passion. We generally think of these Jimmy-Swaggert-like performances as phony, but Sonny clearly believes in his gift, and genuinely wishes to save others. But Sonny is not perfect. He is an admitted womanizer, often self-righteous and prone to violence, the latter trait which gets him into hot water. He often fails to meet the standards he sets out for others. The rest of the cast is also excellent. Farrah shines as the deceptively demur, but conniving wife who arranges with the young minister to take Sonny's church and his children from him. Cash is strong as Sonny's devout and devoted mother. Thornton shines as a redneck racist who Sonny convinces to let go of his hate, and accept the Lord. Especially good is Beasley as the trusting and good-hearted retired preacher who admires Sonny's enthusiasm to begin preaching, and bringing souls to Christ. The problem with the film for me is, while I know all people, including Christians, are capable of sin, there is an incredible tolerance for known and flaunted misdeeds. Sonny's congregation knows Jesse and the youth minister had an affair, and continue their unmarried affair as they take over the church. And Sonny has no problem putting the moves on Toosie, asking for a roll in the hay, even though he knows she is separated, and possibly looking to reconcile - it is she that has to hold Sonny back. But overall, Duvall's excellent performance, and the sympathetic look at evangelical preaching make The Apostle well worth seeing.  |