Review of The Apostle (1997) by David O — 06 Aug 2008
A meticulously researched and perfectly drawn picture of Pentecostal-Holiness religion. No one in Hollywood was interested in this overall positive portrait of fundamentalism so Duvall mortgaged his house and bankrolled the project himself.
Duvall plays a preacher who assumes another name and goes on the lam after he kills his youth pastor in a fit of rage when he finds out heâ??s sleeping with his wife (played by Farrah Fawcett). It opens with Duvall leading a dying car crash victim to salvation, shows Billy Bob Thorntonâ??s character getting saved at a Sunday School picnic confrontation, and contains the longest sermon in movie history as its climax (around 20 minutes).
What Washington could not do, the little "One Way to Heaven" tabernacle in Lousiana accomplishes by God's grace, overcoming the colour barrier and creating a genuinely inclusive community, simply by loving each other.
This review of The Apostle (1997) was written by David O on 06 Aug 2008.
The Apostle has generally received positive reviews.
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