Duvall talks faith on film, except his own

The Texas Baptist Newsjournal ^ | August 27, 2010 | Adelle M. Banks

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The 79-year-old actor said characters like Bush, as well as Sledge and Dewey, deserve time on the movie screen—with all their flaws and complexities—to reflect the rich spiritual and cultural stew of Southern culture.

“They should be shown, should be seen, should be portrayed but ... with contradictions,” he said, noting that even peace-loving Jesus chased moneychangers out of the temple with a whip.

It’s the kind of portrayal that isn’t often seen in Hollywood, said Craig Detweiler, director of the Center for Entertainment, Media and Culture at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif.

“By dignifying seemingly common people, he’s also elevating and humanizing Christian faith in profound ways,” said Detweiler. “Hollywood producers may ignore the flyover district between Los Angeles and New York, but Duvall is very rooted or drawn to that kind of land and place.”

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William Blizek, founding editor of the Journal of Religion and Film, said Duvall’s use of real religious people and actual words from preachers showed the actor’s interest in accuracy without turning them into “saintly characters that could do no wrong.”

“In The Apostle, it was of special concern to him to try to get this right,” said Blizek.

“He thought other movies had sort of mocked this kind of fundamentalist evangelical, what he calls the Holiness Church,” he said.

To bad he doesn't want to talk about his faith. It would probably cost him in hollyweird.

[donhunt]

If I was seventy-nine years old I wouldn’t give a hoot what Hollywood thought.

[fuzzybutt]

Just who are Sledge and Dewey?

Google broght up nothing but several links to the same story.

[wmfights]

I'm with you. It's just curious that he doesn't talk about his faith. His films have been pretty good and he seems to want to avoid the typical hollywood stereotyping.

[Lurker]

If you’ve never seen “Tender Mercies” you should. It’s some of Duval’s best work ever.

[wmfights]

I think they are characters in his films. I remember “The Apostle” but I haven't seen “Get Low” yet.

[wmfights]

If you’ve never seen “Tender Mercies” you should. It’s some of Duval’s best work ever.

I'm sure I've seen it, but I'm having a sr. moment!

[woofie]

“Get Low” is a wonderful film ....I highly recommend it

also “Winter’s Bone”

[hellbender]

William Blizek, founding editor of the Journal of Religion and Film, said Duvall’s use of real religious people and actual words from preachers showed the actor’s interest in accuracy without turning them into “saintly characters that could do no wrong.”

For years, Christians have shown the bumper sticker that "Christians are perfect--just forgiven."

It's sad that Robert Duvall, a great actor and one of the few decent people in Hollywood, is afraid to come out of the closet and openly oppose the evil spirit of this age. However, something is better than nothing.

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[wmfights]

“Get Low” is a wonderful film ....I highly recommend it

Thanks, I'll see it.

[Retain Mike]

I like all those movies. They never cause me to question my Christian faith. However, they do give it a good workout.

[Viking2002]

I had the pleasure of meeting and sitting next to him during a luncheon in Philadelphia many, many moons ago. Very polite, straightforward man. He says few words, makes his point, and moves on. (The subject of conversation turned to the NFL at one point, and as I was waxing about my Redskins, he looked straight at me and said, "Yeah, but how about those Oilers?". That kinda dates it.) Lives in Virginia horse country, where he has family, I believe. He's as right-of-center as any Tom Selleck or Gary Sinese, he just doesn't want to be bothered with the typical media confrontationalism by wearing it on his sleeve like most liberals do. He sure as hell isn't what you'd expect from a typical Hollywood type of his stature.

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away, for his name is Obama."