The Apostle
about a southern pastor who preaches with the best of them, but isn’t that much in control of his personal life. He makes a big mistake and kills a man, and leaves town to escape his past. He does the only thing he knows how, and builds a church in an attempt at atoning for his sin.
Sonny is shown to have been preaching since he was about eight years old; there are disturbing elements to the way he mimics the old preacher of his childhood. I believe that human beings of all ages have something to contribute to the kingdom of God. But there is a difference between listening to children and abusing them
Southern evangelist in his powerful film, The Apostle. I recall a conversation with one viewer who, unable to cope with the paradox of a religious person being portrayed both sympathetically and humanly, questioned the film’s value with an unfortunate dichotomy: “Bottom line: Does it make Christians look good or bad?” Such standards speak volumes concerning our cultural confusion over the responsibilities and requirements of storytelling. In an interview with Duvall, David Letterman asked, with a puzzled look, whether the lead character of The Apostle was a genuine follower of Christ or just a shifty, opportunistic persuader. Asked for his own opinion, Letterman reluctantly guessed the latter. Duvall corrected him: “Both.” EVERYDAY APOCALYPSE: The Sacred Revealed in Radiohead, The Simpsons, and Other Pop Culture Icons – D. Dark
Sonny: I’m a genuine, Holy Ghost, Jesus-filled preachin’ machine this mornin’!
Sonny: I may be on the devil’s hit-list, but I’m on God’s mailing list.
Sonny: I’d rather die today and go to heaven than live to be a hundred and go to hell.
Elmo: It’s a pay before you pray deal.
Elmo: And no speaking in tongues on the air.
Sonny: [talking to Joe about his dying mother] Tell her i built the prettiest little church this side of heavan, out in the wildwood. Tell her that.
Troublemaker: You want the Lord to watch me kick your ass?
Brother Blackwell: [laughing] Now, Apostle, I know what you’re thinking, but… All-All I can say is that whenever you’ve been on the radio, most all the white people think you’re black. Now, most all the colored people know you ain’t black; but they sho do like you’re style of preachin’. So, what you see is what we got.
Sonny: Yeah. Yeah, well we got what the Lord sent… what the Lord sent.
Brother Blackwell: That’s right.
Sonny: You’re going to Heaven. I’m going to jail and you’re going to Heaven.
