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Paul, Apostle of Christ (PG-13) BUY on Amazon:Poster!
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This Christian Holy Week-timed Biblical drama not only succinctly sums up its subject and thematic concerns but also the general approach taken by writer/director Andrew Hyatt: straightforward and more than a little prosaic. James Faulkner plays the title character, imprisoned and awaiting a death sentence by the Roman Empire, who deem him a threat due to his Christian beliefs. In the days leading to his execution, Paul tells the story of the spiritual journey that led him to transform from persecutor of Christians to true believer to physician Luke (Jim Caviezel), who sets out to covertly document Paul's testimony and put to paper the history of the beginnings of the church.
Paul is nothing if not a production of tasteful and classy sheen. Unlike many of the faith film ilk, whether contemporary or period-set, the production is beautifully designed and shot (Dave Arrowsmith and Gerardo Madrazo are, respectively, production designer and cinematographer), with no sign of the unfortunately commonplace chintziness in the sets, costuming, and artfully lensed locations in Malta. The cast is also headed by two well chosen leads, with Faulkner lending Paul the necessary gravitas and Caviezel's Luke displaying the sensitive subtlety that's been his calling card since his breakthrough in The Thin Red Line. But while free of hamfisted histrionics and proselytizing, the film overall plays at too quiet and genteel arm's length. The pair's hushed conversations in many talky scenes fail to generate any sense of urgency even with the scenario's built-in ticking clock; but more glaring is how the respectful remove mutes whatever inspirational message or, more importantly, emotional and/or spiritual catharsis is supposed to arrive at the end. One may ultimately be appreciative of the craft and care of the film, but that type of respectful thought is not exactly the most ideal response to a work about and clearly intended to inspire feeling.
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