The Apostle (1997)

Decades ago, I first reveled in The Great Santini. In the last decade, I was pleased to see Network, Seven Days in Utopia, and Open Range. Very recently, I savored Tender Mercies; and today, I rejoiced in The Apostle. Robert Duvall is indeed a living national monument. I consider The Apostle to be his best acting (and directing). Tender Mercies is authentic while soft-spoken and understated; The Apostle is eminently authentic and also understated, but you can still hear its whispers amidst the cacophany of a Holiness revival. The Apostle is a love letter to the nondenominational, fundamentalist faith in the American South. Every scene, every second rings true to this life as I have seen it. Furthermore, Duvall as "Sonny" (called to preach since age 12) devotedly listens for and talks to God in every moment, open to being "led by the Holy Spirit" so that he saves lives and guides the lost to redemption. This does not mean he is a perfect man, or unaffected by tragedy; the film's most poignant half comes after Sonny must make a completely new start. Every person in this film contributes to its greatness, and the music is a wild rumpus of gospel delight too. Enjoy! 5 stars. (7-24-2016)