 The amazing battle to end the English Slave Trade |
| Review Date: April 6, 2007 |
| Reviewer: KerrLines, Baltimore,MD |
Anyone who has seen AMISTAD or ROOTS needs to see the Michael Apted directed AMAZING GRACE which predates and fills in so much of the political and humanistic tug of war that existed concerning the awful dirty business of the African Slave Trade.Hollywood could not have conjectured a more true film than the actual true and inspiring life of William Wilberforce,a revered heroic figure in England,who,with the help of other abolitionists and political sympathizers,takes on the English Parliament and wins legislation to finally end the Slave Trade in 1807.This movie is SO significant because it is this piece of history that leads other European nations to follow suit in subsequent years and eventually to abolish the trade worldwide.Michael Apted has skillfully rescued this story from being another biopic,and has turned it into a sweeping epic that rings historically true.
No finer actor could have been chosen to play Wilberforce than the Emmy Award winning Welsh marvel Ioan Gruffudd,pronounced YO-an Griffith( HORATIO HORNBLOWER,SOLOMON AND GAENOR,VERY ANNIE MARY).Gruffudd positively understands the heart and soul of Wilberforce,and delivers a tender yet dynamic knockout performance of this absolutely giant among men whose inner convictions and powerful and persuasive rhetoric eventually win over Parliament in a nearly twenty year life-and-death struggle.
This film brings tremendously true and historical understanding of the political machine that was (and frankly still is) in place from 1785 to 1807.Historical figures argue and debate their opposing views while the lives of millions of innocent Africans and the fortunes and supremacies of national pride hang in the balance.The film moves swiftly and is not preachy or at all heavyhanded in any direction.It simply tells and honest and riveting true-to-life story.Some characters and events are combined together to compact the screenplay,but no truth is lost in the outcome.
The film takes it's name from the famous 18th-century renowned hymn AMAZING GRACE,written by the Anglican minister John Newton,who had,years earlier,himself been an active and ardent participant in the selling of African flesh.John Newton is portrayed (a bit much like a crazy old celibate monk) by veteran actor Albert Finney in one of the smaller supporting supporting roles.Though much of what Newton says in the film is directly from his own memoirs,he was a married man,who,historically,valued his wife as his best friend.Now in his declining years,Newton,who has in later years been Rector of a London Church,is sought out by Wilberforce,who sat under Newton's pulpit as a child,to have the old minister help him in the cause of exposing the Slave Trade in all of it's ugliness.As was true in Newton's real life,Finney shows that this is the singlemost painful event in Newton's life thus making it next to impossible to discuss.The film directs Newton and Wilberforce over the course of the twenty years in order for the awful truth to come forth.Proof was necessary to persuade Parliament, and Newton was a key piece to passing the abolitionist legislation.
Up and coming actor Benedict Cumberbatch accurately conveys William Pitt The Younger,in his boyhood friendship with Wilberforce and his subsequent rise to Prime Minister of England.What is inspiring about their relationship is that all of their political idealism comes to fruition showing the power and perseverance that these two young men had in fighting an age old institution that threatened to destabilize all of England.Other historical figures in this film such as Lord Tarlton (the ever amazing Ciaran Hinds)and Equiano (Youssou N'dour),Toby Jones as Lord Clarence (this actor seems to be able to play EVERYTHING!!!) and actors Michael Gambon as Sir Charles Fox do the utmost to bring this film to the heart and consciences of the world today.
This film is simply NOT just another period piece drama or an "inspirational" film;rather it is an artfully scripted,deftly acted and directed and compelling piece of historical drama that all will benefit from viewing.Again,5 *****'s is not sufficient.May there be more films of such quality and substance made like this!
Excellent companion films would be A RESPECTABLE TRADE,THE MIDDLE PASSAGE,AMISTAD,THE VOYAGE OF LA AMISTAD, MANSFIELD PARK (1999) and somewhat ROOTS. |
AN AMAZING, POWERFUL FILM!
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| Review Date: April 15, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Steven Hancock, Winston Salem, NC United States |
"Amazing Grace" is an exceptional film that chronicles the amazing true story of William Wilberforce, the man who spent twenty years in the British Parliament fighting to end one of mankind's greatest injustices: the slave trade. The film features powerful performances by an outstanding cast, including Ioan Gruffudd ("Fantastic Four," "King Arthur," TV's "Horatio Hornblower") as Wilberforce, whose faith and courage drove his fight for social justice. Albert Finney gives an amazing performance as John Newton, the former slave-ship captain turned pastor, and writer of the beloved hymn "Amazing Grace." Michael Gambon, Romola Garai, Youssou N'Dour, Rufus Sewell, and Nicholas Farrell give outstanding supporting performances.
The rest of the crew does a fantastic job of bringing the world of 18th/19th Century Britain to life. "Amazing Grace" is an amazing film that shows how men of faith can truly help change the world. Amazing Grace, indeed!
Grade: A |
Absolutely AMAZING movie!
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| Review Date: October 12, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Dan Panetti, Plano, TX USA |
I've long been a fan of William Wilberforce - a man that God used greatly for a great cause: the abolition of slavery and the reformation of manners into the English society. Working at a private Christian school, I often refer to Wilberforce as an example to our students of what God can do with one man wholly committed to Him. In fact, I took sixteen of our students to see the movie when it was released and it had a very profound impact on their lives and thinking -- they saw with their own eyes the struggle of Wilberforce's life, the great cause to which he gave himself fully, and the great joy that comes from a life given in service to the King of Kings.
While I strongly recommend that all Christians watch this movie, parents I'll warn you that the issue of slavery isn't easy to watch or understand at a young age -- I would recommend this movie to middle school students and older, but probably not elementary-aged students.
There are some wonderful resources that you can get to accompany this movie for family discussions and devotions. While most of the Wilberforce books are lengthy, but excellent, let me tell you about a few lesser-known gems. First, John Piper has a great little 76 page book titled Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce -- great read. This same material is actually found in another book by Piper that is simply outstanding -- it is the third book in a series by Piper to reintroduce our generation to some of the great saints of the faith -- Book Three is titled The Roots of Endurance and examines the lives of John Newton, Charles Simeon and William Wilberforce. Finally, one of my favorite finds is a 5 disk CD audio drama set titled Amazing Grace produced by the Focus on the Family Radio Theatre -- you can listen to the lives of Newton, Wilberforce and Olaudah Equiano (a slave who purchased his freedom and was instrumental in the abolition movement in England).
So, purchase the movie, but also look for these additional resources to help deepen the discussion at home with your kids. |
Unsung Heroes sing Amazing Grace
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| Review Date: November 16, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Grady Harp, Los Angeles, CA United States |
AMAZING GRACE is a beautifully mounted, well-scripted, powerful film that reminds us that there were heroes in the late 1700s who vehemently fought the fight for abolition of slavery. Benefiting from a tight intelligent script by Steven Knight and directed with great sensitivity and fluidity by Michael Apted, the film captures the flavor of the turn of the 18th century into 19th century in England when slavery was a commodity the wealthy could ill afford to lose, and how the courage and perseverance of William Wilberforce created probably one of the first human rights movements on record.
William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) witnessed the horrors of transporting slaves from Africa to be sold around the world to wealthy plantation owners and to serve as cheap and disrespected servants to the British populace. Encouraged by a previous slave dealer John Newton (Albert Finney) turned contrite priest, his friend Prime Minister William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch), and the informed woman of his life Barbara Spooner (Romola Garai), Wilberforce bonds with a band of abolitionists including Thomas Clarkson (Rufus Sewell) and Oloudaqh Equiano (Youssou N'Dour) and begins long years of battling for abolition in the Parliament where cads such as Lord Tarleton (Ciarán Hinds) and the Duke of Clarence (Toby Jones) fight his every word.
One of the hallmarks of this fine film is the dignity it sustains: in a film that could have easily focused on depictions of slave abuse to make its point, it instead elects to keep the focus on the heart of the struggle against the inhumanity by subtle yet powerful means. The title of the film, of course, comes form the song the reformed John Newton wrote as he had a life altering experience to end his slave trading to fight for human rights. It is a haunting reminder that is used throughout the film in the score by David Arnold. The cast is uniformly excellent with not only first class performances by each of the leads, but also by superb cameos from such fine artists as Michael Gambon, Nicholas Farrell, Sylvestra Le Touzel, Jeremy Swift, and Stephen Campbell Moore. The atmosphere of both elegance and poverty of London is captured in the cinematography by Remi Adefarasin. This is an epic film with a powerful message that deserves the attention of us all. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, November 07
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Superb
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| Review Date: April 7, 2007 |
| Reviewer: J. Baker, Pittsburgh USA |
There is not much I can add to the previous review as far as importance and story. A period costume piece this film most certainly is not: it's a timeless story of the triumph of good, determination, and perseverance, and a very human telling. Well-written, beautifully scored, finely acted and gorgeously filmed, "Amazing Grace" is a treat for the eyes as well as a balm and inspiration for the heart. I must give kudos to the excellent makeup team - they've done an exceptional job with the entire cast, particularly Ioan Gruffudd (Wilberforce) and Benedict Cumberbatch (William Pitt), both of whom portray men often battling illness and addiction throughout the film. As a former makeup artist I am very impressed with their work, especially with regards to ageing the characters.
The cinematography is beautiful and lush as well, rich with texture and very fine small touches. The colour is gorgeous. Some of the images will stay in my mind for some time! The score - which I purchased immediately after seeing the film the first time - is beautiful and organic.
Finally, the cast is absolutely perfect. Gruffudd as Wilberforce turns in a wonderful performance, portraying a man driven by his dream and hope for a better world. Benedict Cumberbatch, as yet unknown on this side of the pond, was particularly excellent and absolutely sublime as Wilberforce's best friend and PM William Pitt the Younger. His acting and carriage is quite impressive, and if he chooses his scripts wisely, he's likely to have a golden career. The beautiful Romola Garai plays the intrigued-by-Wilberforce and abolitionist Barbara Spooner; her character wanting to hear Wilberforce's story is our vehicle for hearing the backstory as well as encouraging Wilberforce to continue his work. Albert Finney convincingly and honestly plays a minor role as John Newton, composer of the great hymn "Amazing Grace". Finney has a few of the film's best lines. Michael Gambon does a sound and often entertaining turn as Lord Charles Fox (in general Pitt's fierce enemy but aligning himself with Wilberforce anyhow); Ciaran Hinds is perfect as Lord Tarleton (really, he is). Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour plays the former slave Olaudah Equiano, a prominent abolitionist; I found myself wishing he'd had more screen time and opportunity to flesh out his role. As Equiano, his screen presence is quite powerful.
I do wish at least a little more attention had been paid to Wilberforce's faith, a vital part of his life. That aside, "Amazing Grace" is free of the heavy weights political correctness and the twisting of history in order to make sides look good. It's the story of Wilberforce's battle to abolish slavery without silly, vapid or disparaging embellishments.
Overall this is an excellent and enjoyable film, but more than that, it somehow manages to soothe and inspire at the same time. I cover world events, politics, and culture, which can be exhausting and depressing to the spirit. This film was definitely part of the cure for me, and others have said the same thing about the movie. We saw the film for the third time this evening, and the theatre was still half full although I suspect its run here is just about over (of course we have to make room for more inanity and torture-tainment, don't we?). But if you can find it, I can't recommend it highly enough. It is rare for me to give five stars to modern films, but "Amazing Grace" deserves it. |
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