The Apostle
After his happy life spins out of control, a preacher from Texas changes his name, goes to Louisiana and starts preaching on the radio.
Director(s)
Carol Banker
Louis Shaw Milito
Mamie Mitchell
Chad Rosen
Where to watch
Amazon Video
Rent
Cast & crew
Robert Duvall
Euliss Dewey
James Gammon
Brother Edwards (uncredited)
Walton Goggins
Sam
Billy Bob Thornton
Troublemaker
Todd Allen
Horace
Kevin Rankin
Young Man in Car
Miranda Richardson
Toosie
Wayne Dehart
Liquor Store Preacher
Terence Rosemore
Man Saying Amen
Carol Banker
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Farrah Fawcett
Jessie Dewey
John Beasley
Brother Blackwell
June Carter Cash
Mrs. Dewey Sr.
Billy Joe Shaver
Joe
Rick Dial
Elmo
William Atlas Cole
Bayou Man
Renée Victor
Latin Translator
Hunter Hayes
Child Accordionist
Mary Lynette Braxton
Mother Blackwell
Stuart Greer
Texas State Trooper
Daniel Hickman
Flashback Preacher
Emery Hopkins
Virgil
Jewell Jernigan
Sister Jewell
Zelma Loyd
Sister Johnson
Christina Stojanovich
Jessie Jr.
Nicholas Stojanovich
Bobbie
Douglas Perry
Louisiana State Trooper
Jay Robicheaux
Sonny (12 years old)
Joyce Jolivet Starks
Sister Delilah
Jan Fawcett
Needy Receiver #2
Erica Lynn Duncan
Texas Choir Member
Big Hawk
Sonny Supporter #1 (as John E. Hawkins)
Paul Bagget
Tag Team Preacher #3 (as Brother Paul Bagget)
Lenore Banks
Female Sonny Supporter
Brett Brock
Helper
Christopher Canady
Sister Johnson's Twin
Christian Canady
Sister Johnson's Twin
Elizabeth Chisolm
Singer
Frank Collins Jr.
Soloist #4 (as Reverend Frank Collins Jr.)
Carl D. Cook
Civic Auditorium Preacher (as Prophet Carl D. Cook)
Naomi Craig
Scripture Reader
Jim Gleason
Young Priest (as James Ivey Gleason)
Chili Graham
Tag Team Preacher #5 (as Reverend Chili Graham)
Bobby Green
Tag Team Preacher #1 (as Reverend Bobby Green)
Brenda B. Jackson
Faith Healer #2
Charles Johnson
Tag Team Preacher #2 (as Reverend Charles Johnson)
Julie Johnson
Baptism Soloist
Vera Kamp
Faith Healer #1
Joseph Granda
Soloist #1 (as Joseph Lindsey)
Sharon K. London
Church Woman
Fernie E. McMillan
Doctor
Jimmie J. Meaux
Church Member #2
L. Christian Mixon
Bodyguard
Richard Nance
Church Man #2
Harold Potier Sr.
Coronet George
Pat Ratliff
Accident Witness
Ronnie Stutes
Needy Receiver
Ruby Francis Terry
Soloist Choir Director
Graham Timbes
Church Man #1
James B. Towry
Nosey Neighbor
Jesse Waldrop
Sonny Supporter #2 (as Reverend Jesse Walkrop)
Steve White
Tag Team Preacher #4 (as Reverend Steve White)
Fay Winn
Tag Team Preacher #5 (as Sister Fay Winn)
Melete Woods
Soloist #3
Margaret Oliver Coleman
Texas Choir Member
Sharon Denise Dickerson
Texas Choir Member
Sondra Jackson Green
Texas Choir Member
David Henderson
Texas Choir Member
Parla J. Johnson
Texas Choir Member
Donna Siddiqui
Texas Choir Member
Tami Boaz Skelton
Texas Choir Member
Rachel V. Stevenson
Texas Choir Member
Gretchen Louise Watts
Texas Choir Member
Jerry H. Skelton
Organist
Louis Shaw Milito
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Mamie Mitchell
-
Chad Rosen
-
Details
Reviews
Wuchak
_**Character study of a flawed preacher**_ "The Apostle" (1997) is a film that I've appreciated more as I've matured. Writer/director Robert Duvall had to make it independently because studios wouldn’t touch the material. The story's a character study of a Southern Pentecostal preacher, Sonny (Duvall), whose wife wants to leave him (Farrah Fawcett) and more. Sonny reacts foolishly and is forced into exile to the backwaters of Louisiana. Wherever Sonny goes, he can't seem to part with his "calling" and "anointing" – to lead people to the LORD and motivate believers. If you can't handle Pentecostalism and all that goes with it – lively praise & worship, charismatic gifts, evangelism and prayer – I suggest staying far away from "The Apostle." I also suggest you stay away if you're not into seeing depictions of Southern poverty or nigh-poverty since large portions of the film take place in this environment. Duvall's idea was to do a modern take on the King David tragedy: A man of God who falls into adultery and, then, worse. Even so, Duvall stated in a 2010 interview that Sonny's sins aren't half as bad as David's since there are big differences between their transgressions. "The Apostle" is the best kind of character study because it evokes strong opinions and interesting discussions. Is Sonny a genuine but seriously flawed minister or just a phony who doesn't know it? Put another way, can a Christian be a "man (or woman) after God's own heart" and still commit serious sins? Does Sonny legitimately repent or does he evade repentance? Is the theology presented in the film shallow or heavy? Is resorting to righteous anger or corporeal punishment sometimes appropriate for the New Testament believer or should Christians always be lovey-dovey doormats? There's nothing like "The Apostle" in cinema. It's a unique and moving drama that gets better with repeat viewings because a lot of what is conveyed is subtle and wordless. There's just the right amount of ambiguity that keeps the viewer guessing and the movie open to interpretation. The film runs 2 hours, 14 minutes, and was shot in Collin County & Denton County, Texas (both just north of Dallas) and Lafayette, Louisiana. GRADE: A-
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