In Rome there is a dungeon cell of Nero, the most brutal and cruel cell. Paul is being held with chains, but Paul seems to be preoccupied with nothing but his past mistakes, which he is trying to forget before he executes his death sentence there. But before his death, Luke, who risked his life to visit him in his cell.
A few minutes of thriller-like tension early on gives way to a lot of tediously scripted scenes of whisper-acting that rarely breathe life and humanity into what should be a potent turning point story in a religion's history.
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... is undeniably of interest.
Fails to fully develop the stakes at hand, but it features more thoughtful world-building than most faith-based films, as well as a bracing honesty about the difficulty of reconciling idealistic credos with a harsh and unforgiving world.
Caviezel gives a stoic performance as the brave and selfless Luke. Lynch and Whalley are excellent as the husband and wife Christian community leaders Aquila and Priscilla. Costumes, sets, cinematography and editing are all first-rate.
