Parents' Guide to Paul, Apostle of Christ

By attempting to create a suspenseful plot and in highlighting bloody religious persecution, this Biblical drama pays short shrift to its own subject. Viewers come in late to the story of the titular Paul, Apostle of Christ. He's essentially a supporting character whose previous life as a killer of Christians is conveyed in brief, unenlightening flashbacks. Per the Bible story, he's struck blind by God, then opens his eyes to a new life as a Christian proselyte. The filmmakers don't get into the human reasons for that choice, instead presenting the semi-parallel story of jailer Maritius (Martinez) and the possibility of his own eventual change. Like that wellspring of modern Biblical films, The Passion of the Christ, Paul focuses more on brutality than redemption. It's quite a cinematically accomplished endeavor: The production design, costumes, and cinematography are all beautifully executed. And it boasts a veteran cast, with Martinez compelling as the only character who undergoes anything like a transformation.

The film's faith-based perspective is clear -- "We're the only light left in this city," says a Christian leader; praying to non-Christian gods won't save a child, but a Christian doctor might -- which is fine. The question is, exactly what story does it mean to tell? The best of practical Christian values are celebrated -- charity, nonviolence, compassion -- but the dirty work of coming to those beliefs after being steeped in other methods is glossed over. The deep darkness of Paul's past is only alluded to via bloody memories; what allowed him to behave that way? The Bible's heavy-handed device for changing his heart is hardly the most dramatic storytelling choice. And the ticking clock on the Christians' escape from Rome feels put on, not moored to anything. Paul is a beautifully executed re-imagining of the Bible story, but it lacks real insight into human behavior.