The Apostle (1997)
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91% of critics liked it
(45 reviews) -
76% of users liked it
(7,603 ratings)
Devout Pentecostal preacher Eulis "Sonny" Dewey (Robert Duvall) of New Boston, Texas, has a lovely wife (Farrah Fawcett) and two children. But not only has Jessie been cheating on him with a younger minister, Horace (Todd Allen), she has pulled a few strings to gain control of his church.… More Devout Pentecostal preacher Eulis "Sonny" Dewey (Robert Duvall) of New Boston, Texas, has a lovely wife (Farrah Fawcett) and two children. But not only has Jessie been cheating on him with a younger minister, Horace (Todd Allen), she has pulled a few strings to gain control of his church. Sonny goes into a violent rage, attacking Horace with a bat during a softball game. With Horace in a coma, Sonny leaves town on a bus, headed east for a new life. He changes his name to E.F., baptizing himself as "The Apostle" to God. Arriving in the black community of Bayou Boutte, Louisiana, he meets Brother Blackwell (John Beasley) who helps him start anew. E.F. works as a garage mechanic and preaches on the streets and a local radio station owned by Elmo (Rich Dial). He leads the community in remodeling a rundown church and gains supporters as he seeks his own salvation. In sorrow from the deaths of both his mother (June Carter Cash) and Horace, he encounters more problems when a racist (Billy Bob Thornton) attempts to drive a bulldozer into his church. Eventually, Jessie finds out where he's living and informs the police. Duvall wrote, directed, and financed this exploration of the evangelical world, shown at the Toronto Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. Filmed in Texas (Denton County, Collin County, and Dallas) and Lafayette, Louisiana. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Directed By
- Robert Duvall
- Written By
- Robert Duvall
- Genres
- Drama
- In Theaters
- Jan 30, 1998 Wide
- Studio
- New Films International
Critic Reviews
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Emanuel Levy, Variety
A labor of love coming to fruition after 13 years, this is Robert Duvall's third and best directorial effort, a sharply observed exploration of a preacher who embarks on a redemption odyssey after committing a crime.
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Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Shocking in its unbridled, electrifying energy and raw emotion.
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Gary Brown, Houston Community Newspapers
I cannot recall a movie so dominated by the performance of one actor (Robert Duvall) as this one.
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Thomas Delapa, Boulder Weekly
Some kind of acting miracle ... One doesn't have to be a churchgoer, or even a Christian, to be moved by the power of Duvall's great performance.
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Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer
... may be the most unapologetic, intimate portrayal of a religious man in the history of American cinema.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Robert Duvall
as Eulis "Sonny" Dewey/The Apostle E.F.
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Farrah Fawcett
as Jessie Dewey
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Miranda Richardson
as Toosie
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Todd Allen
as Horace
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John Beasley
as Brother Blackwell
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June Carter Cash
as Mrs. Dewey Sr.
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Walton Goggins
as Sam
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Billy Joe Shaver
as Joe
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Billy Bob Thornton
as Troublemaker
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Rick Dial
as Elmo
