Duvall's heavenly 'Apostle' shines

In the opening scene of Oscar nominee Robert Duvall's "The Apostle," Pentecostal preacher Euliss "Sonny" Dewey (Duvall) and his mother (June Carter Cash) drive by a recent car accident and immediately pull over on the side of the road. Bible in hand, prayers in heart, Sonny races over to the wrecked car and terribly injured passengers, pokes his head through the window and saves a soul or two. When shooed away by police officers, Sonny hops back in his own car, leans over to his mother and proudly announces, "Mama, we made news in heaven this morning."

From this first scene on, producer, writer and director Duvall hits his audience with a complex, double-faceted man - one who truly believes in helping others and staying true to God while at the same time, addressing his own needs, fears and pleasures in the process.

Courtesy of October Films Robert Duvall gets his directorial feet wet with his self-financed "Apostle."

"The Apostle," a self-financed effort, has long been Duvall's pet project - and onscreen, it shows. The film, which clocks in at more than two hours, takes its time, telling Sonny's story the Southern way: It's slow, drawn out, but oh-so-wonderful to listen to.

The film tells the story of a charismatic preacher plagued by marital problems (with wife Jessie - understatingly played by Farrah Fawcett) and a murderous temper that eventually forces Sonny to flee from his life, church and home in Texas. Wanting to adopt a new identity, Sonny baptizes himself as The Apostle E.F. and with the help of Reverend Blackwell (John Beasley), he establishes "The One Way Road To Heaven" church in Bayou Boutte, a bayou town in Louisiana populated with primarily black residents.

The film spends most of its time weaving through the story of Sonny's adventures in this new town and the slow pace - instead of being brutal - is a true pleasure. Every detail, every scene more clearly crystallizes our sense of a man we find so difficult to understand. Sonny - who has the ability to unintentionally kill another man and who treats his wife and his new love interest (Miranda Richardson) with borderline aggression - also lovingly invites anyone in the town to worship in his self-created house of God, delivers food to families in need and even drives "The One Way Road To Heaven" red-and-yellow bus to transport those townspeople to church every Sunday. The church community members love Sonny, and to audiences, it is clear that he deserves their affection.

REVIEW
	The Apostle Starts today at the Michigan Theater 4 stars

Surely, Duvall wants his audiences to sense that dichotomy in Sonny's character, and it's because the film illustrates it so well that each moment becomes intriguing. How are we supposed to feel about this man - a man who has so much energy that we've seen him be both a physical danger and a mental savior to other human beings? We certainly can't mark him as good or bad because, as the heartfelt, convincing Duvall wants us to know, Sonny is a little bit, or a lot, of both.

In one scene, Duvall hosts a church event for the younger parish members, and a neighborhood troublemaker (played by Billy Bob Thornton - returning the favor to Duvall who played Karl Childers' unstable father in the critically acclaimed "Sling Blade") arrives at the scene with his friends and a bulldozer.

Thornton's character, who is never even given a name in the film, wants to destroy the church, simply because it mostly welcomes black members. In one astounding moment, Duvall's Sonny dissuades the man from acting out his hatred and embraces him in front of God's community. The emotionally-charged moment of this evil man's conversion is not without its humor. Watch for Elmo (Rick Dial), the town's radio DJ, who is quick to recognize his first-ever on-the-air conversion.

In addition to Duvall and his rich supporting characters, the film offers us yet another gem: the performances of the churchgoers, most of whom are not professional actors experiencing their first moments on the big screen. The church scenes are electric, and the characters truly endearing. With charisma and effort, Duvall's Sonny leads them, and audiences revel in his parish members' responses, comfort and the ease with which they pray and believe.

The last moments of "The Apostle" are the most heartbreaking and real, as Duvall gives what he probably knows will be his last sermon to his "The One Way Road To Heaven" community. Duvall delivers such a complexly layered man from beginning to end, making his risky project worth every minute of its drawn out, rich tale. Surely, an Oscar is calling, and - if all goes well - he shall receive.

02-18-98