A COLUMN BY Dick Rolfe Chairman, THE DOVE FOUNDATION
THE APOSTLE - A
MODERN DAY MAN OF GOD
I have witnessed countless attempts by Hollywood to portray Pentecostal Christians as
sideshow freaks or slick imposters in white suits who use their "divine
appointments" to serve their own selfish ends. One example is the 1991 version of
"Cape Fear" where Robert DeNiro portrays a vicious, Bible-toting psycho who
brutally rapes and beats his victims while speaking in tongues. Then there is "Leap
of Faith," starring Steve Martin as a traveling evangelist-ala-snake oil salesman who
fakes miraculous healings in order to bilk money from his gullible followers.
Enter Robert Duvall with "The Apostle." As I watched the story opening in a
noisy revival tent meeting in Texas, I half expected to see a character like Elmer Gantry,
the corrupt, greedy, hypocrite preacher played by Burt Lancaster in 1960. Instead, I found
a passionate young boy who grows into a God-loving man who lives for - and talks to -
Jesus Christ nearly every waking moment.
Sonny Dewey (Duvall) becomes a devout Pentecostal preacher striving to be
bigger-than-life, only to be brought down to size by his own flawed character. His fire
and brimstone revivals attract large crowds of converts. But, while he seems to be in
command of the countless souls he preaches to, he is not always in command of his own. His
wife, Jessy (Farah Fawcett) becomes tired of Sonny’s indiscretions, as well as the
pressures that go with being a preacher’s wife. She falls in love with the youth
minister at their church. When Sonny finds out about their adultery he rants to God,
"I don’t know who’s foolin’ with me, Lord, You or the devil. But I
love you, Lord." He ultimately loses his battle with forgiveness and, in a heated
moment, seriously injures the man with a baseball bat. Then, Sonny runs for his life and
hides out in a remote town in Louisiana where he immediately sets out to build a church
with the help of a black retired preacher. Sonny renames himself "The Apostle,
E.F.". He refurbishes an old school bus and drives throughout the countryside
recruiting church members.
It’s difficult to separate Duvall, the producer, director and actor from his
character, Sonny Dewey. They are both intensely passionate about their callings. For
instance, this film project took Duvall ten years and his entire life’s savings to
make. His acting is superb, and reminiscent of his Oscar-winning performance in another
film about faith, "Tender Mercies." He managed to get the rest of his principal
cast members to work on the film for well below scale. Farrah Fawcett gives her best
performance since the made-for-TV movie, "The Burning Bed." Academy
Award-winner, Billy Bob Thornton ("Sling Blade") gives a seamless performance as
a trouble maker who is hell-bent on destroying Sonny’s church, only to find himself
on bended knee accepting Jesus in response to Sonny’s invitation. Other memorable
performances are given by June Carter-Cash as Sonny’s mother and Miranda Richardson
as a married, but separated woman with whom Sonny nearly has an illicit affair.
This movie is rated PG-13 because of mature subject matter. The Dove Foundation Ratings
Board agrees with the MPAA, and has rated "The Apostle" approved for audiences
above age 12.
Duvall said it well when he summarized Sonny’s character. "He’s a good man
who did some bad things and wound up a better person by the end of the story." This
is the process known to Christians as finding God’s redemptive power through
repentance, reconciliation and restitution. That’s what "The Apostle" is
all about.
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Dick Rolfe is Chairman of The Dove Foundation a nonprofit organization whose mission is to encourage and promote the creation, production and distribution of wholesome family entertainment. For more information about wholesome films and videos, write: 535 E. Fulton, Suite 1A, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, or call (616)454-5021.
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Updated by: Scott RolfeCopyright © 1997, The Dove Foundation. All rights reserved.