1997, 2 hrs, Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and a related scene of violence. Dir: Robert Duvall. Cast: Duvall (E.F. "Sonny", The Apostle), Farrah Fawcett (Jessie Dewey), Miranda Richardson (Toosie), Billy Bob Thornton.

Never before have I been moved by an actor portraying a preacher. Not anymore, not after seeing Robert Duvall prove that he's one of the best actors of the last twenty years. His performance, of a preacher fighting the battle of good and evil, moved me many times, most notably when in front of the congregation and building a church from scratch.

Duvall plays Sonny, a.k.a. E.F., a.k.a. The Apostle, a very dedicated preacher whose sermons are given charismatically, a product of going to a mostly-black church in his childhood with the nanny. He can convert almost any non-believer with a display of unconditional love I have seen only with a few select friends at Union during my college days (for those who don't know, Union U. is a Southern Baptist affiliated school).

But The Apostle has inner demons to go with his hourly talks with god. His ex-wife, keyboardist at the church he built, is having a fling, and has stolen the church from him in a secret vote. In a moment many people, religious or not, can relate to, The Apostle has a loud argument with God, ranting all night in search of answers and instructions. How many of us have (more than likely alone, so you can admit it) called for a higher-being to reveal himself and answer some nagging questions as to your confusing life? I'll bet the vast majority of people have at least yelled "Why me, God?!"

Several scenes are shown in church with Duvall or another preacher giving a spirited sermon, and thanks to Duvall, who was also the director, these are just not pop-shots of a verse here, "amens" there. No, The Apostle spends a lot of time letting The Apostle speak the word of God and Jesus, enough that I almost forgot the terrible sins he's running away from and fighting, and would love to have been in the pew experiencing the moment.

Two conversions left the biggest impression in my mind, and were exactly as any church-goer would recognize. The joy, the tears, the chills one gets when watching someone join the flock of Jesus, all of this I felt when watching The Apostle.

As for the supporting players, Farrah Fawcett is so-so, and her character, The Apostle's ex-wife, could have been played by dozens of Hollywood actresses. She is only noticed when I flash back and remember her strange appearance on the David Letterman Show a couple of years back. Miranda Richardson, however, shines on screen. I would pick her over Fawcett any day, and wish she had more time in the film. The congregation (played mostly by African-American men and women) are lovable, and had me wishing I had attended more mixed-race services, instead of isolating myself in a relatively stiff Sunday service all the time.