Review: Paul, Apostle of Christ gives a good account of the bad old days for early Christians

THE default setting for many people faced with sitting through a religiously inclined movie is to run for their lives — but that’s not the case with Paul, Apostle of Christ.

THE default setting for many people faced with sitting through a religiously inclined movie is to run for their lives. Perhaps even making a mocking joke or two as they do.

Fair enough, too. Most of these productions in the modern era — particularly those torn from the pages of the Bible — are way too worthy, far too dull and unintentionally silly (hello, Mary Magdalene!) to connect with the unconverted.

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Lighten up, Paulie ... they’re gonna make a decent movie about you in the year 2018.

So let the record show this well-crafted dramatisation of the last days of the Apostle Paul is a cut above the generic results usually found in the genre.

James Faulkner (aka Randyll Tarly from Game Of Thrones) brings both airs of fierce intelligence and noble resignation to the role of Paul, coming to the end of his time in a Roman prison on orders of a Christian-hating Emperor Nero.

While his brethren are dragged from their homes and thrown to the lions, Paul is paid regular visits from his good friend, the physician and scholar Luke (Jim Caviezel from Passion of the Christ).

Paul and Luke discover the sorry state of play of Rome in the year 67 A.D. in a scene from Paul, Apostle of Christ.

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The deep, meaningful and sometimes rather strained theological exchanges between Paul and Luke form a surprisingly warm and engaging nucleus for the movie.

Though there are a few subplots involving healing, miracles and First Century Roman politics which usher in some dodgy acting, the substance to be found in the main story (especially Paul’s recollections of his days as a man of violence) is undeniably of interest.

PAUL, APOSTLE OF CHRIST (M)

Rating: three stars (of 5)

Director: Andrew Hyatt (Full of Grace)

Starring: Jim Caviezel, James Faulkner, Olivier Martinez, John Lynch, Joanne Whalley.

Putting on a brave faith

Originally published as Review: Paul, Apostle of Christ gives a good account of the bad old days for early Christians