The Apostle

Director: Robert Duvall Robert Duvall

Overview

"Robert Duvall's well-regarded religious drama The Apostle debuts on DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. Spanish and French subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include a commentary track recorded by Duvall in which he discusses how personal this project was for him, a making-of featurette, biographies of the cast and crew, and the theatrical trailer."

Product Details

Release Date:	11/05/2002
UPC:	0025192280320
Original Release:	1997
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	STUDIO DISTRIBUTION SERVS LLC
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:14:00
Sales rank:	6,171

Special Features

Feature commentary with director Robert Duvall; "The Journey of The Apostle," an original featurette on the making of the film featuring interviews with Robert Duvall, Rob Carliner, John Beasley, and Farrah Fawcett, plus behind-the-scenes footage; Theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Robert Duvall	Sonny Dewey/The Apostle E.F.
Farrah Fawcett	Jessie Dewey
Miranda Richardson	Toosie
Todd Allen	Horace
John Beasley	Brother Blackwell
June Carter Cash	Mrs. Dewey Sr.
Walton Goggins	Sam
Billy Joe Shaver	Joe
Billy Bob Thornton	Troublemaker
Rick Dial	Elmo
Mary Lynette Braxton	Mother Blackwell
Zelma Loyd	Sister Johnson
Jewell Jernigan	Sister Jewell
Kevin Rankin	Actor

Technical Credits

Robert Duvall	Director,Executive Producer
Rob Carliner	Producer
Ed Johnston	Casting
Renee Rousselot	Casting

Editorial Reviews

To its credit, Robert Duvall's The Apostle never lapses into the stereotypes common to films like Elmer Gantry, which portray preachers of questionable moral fibre as hypocrites and charlatans; of the many questions which swirl about Sonny, the utter conviction of his religious beliefs is never open to debate. His belief in salvation is total, and his love for his flock is pure; furthermore, his followers -- the majority of them African-American, further blurring common cinematic stereotypes -- are never criticized or made to seem foolish for placing their faith in him. While Duvall's storytelling skills are uneven, his gifts for establishing mise-en-scene are superbly realized; equally strong is his direction of his cast, a fascinatingly organic blend of professional and non-professional actors. The result of some 15 years of behind-the-scenes struggle, The Apostle is an important work from one of Hollywood's most important figures.