Veteran actor Robert Duvall writes, directs, and stars in the story of an evangelist seeking redemption. For his performance in The Apostle, Duvall reaches a high point in his stellar career. It has earned him many well-deserved kudos on the awards circuits. What really makes The Apostle work is Duvall's stirring performance as a sometimes selfish but always passionate man of God. The film takes place, mostly in the south and brings to mind the tone set by Billy Bob Thornton's Sling Blade. In fact, one of The Apostle's best scenes involves a confrontation between Duvall and Thornton as an obnoxious southerner. It's a very moving moment. All in all, The Apostle is one of those character studies that is sure to bore many, but not me. I found it to be very fascinating and not just in a spiritual sense. This is a film on a much deeper level, and watching Duvall put his heart and soul into a project, is a pure joy.