From the makers of Ray, AMAZING GRACE tells the inspiring story of William Wilberforce and his passion and perseverance to pass a law ending the slave trade in the late 18th century. Several friends, including Wilberforce’s minister, a reformed slave ship captain who penned the beloved hymn Amazing Grace, urge him to see the cause through.In this inspirational costume drama, Michael Apted (49 Up) recounts a period in British history sure to be unfamiliar to most Americans. In fact, his eye-opening biography of 18th century abolitionist William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) is likely to come as a revelation to many Britons, as well. After all, despite the presence of his wife, Barbara (Romola Garai), this isn’t a particularly “sexy” story, but it is a powerful one. The title comes from John Newton’s hymn “Amazing Grace” (“I once was lost but now am found”). Newton (Albert Finney) was a former slaveholder, who became a clergyman and spent his days repenting. While America had John Brown, England had Wilberforce, and Newton is one of many who helped the MP to abolish slavery in the UK. The story begins towards the end of Wilberforce’s mission when he’s sick with colitis and addicted to laudanum. Apted continues to alternate between 1797 and 1789, when Wilberforce was fitter and more idealistic, and ends in 1807 as his efforts come to fruition. Apted and writer Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things) do right by their hero. Unlike Amistad, however, slaves are largely off-screen, with the exception of author Equiano (Senegalese vocalist Youssou N’Dour). Amazing Grace reserves its focus for the politicians who risked their reps for the greater good, like Wilberforce and Prime Minister Pitt (an excellent Benedict Cumberbatch), and those more concerned with the income slavery provided their constituents, like Lord Tarleton (Ciarán Hinds) and the Duke of Clarence (Toby Jones). –Kathleen C. Fennessy
Buy “Amazing Grace” For Only $8.53
March 21, 2008
#1
The target audience for this Michael Apted directed sleeper, best I can tell, are probably any reluctant conservatives out there who are in the market for the experience of, for just once, being on the side of something right and just. “Look honey, not only are they against slavery, but they are for free education! I’m lovin’ this being a liberal thing.” As I’ve stated before, anybody can beat up on a conquered issue but it takes one brave soul to go after a pressing issue of the day. We need more movies like “Road to Guantanamo” and fewer movies like this. And there really is no mistaking who this film is aimed at. It is a throwback to the early 90′s art house, when they were filled almost exclusively with little old ladies and proper entertainment like this. So as we wait around to see if slavery is actually abolished we get to watch rich white people enjoying their mansions. Our hero William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) flirts with a girl two times just so that they can justify throwing a wedding up on screen. We get death bed scenes that spew the virtue of faith. And we get a happy ending that is happy because it results in procreation. Yeehaw!
I pick on my dad a lot because he refuses to see costume dramas (“Take and adventure” I say) but he does have a point, these things always tend to be stale. At the center of the story is William, who we learn led the charge in England to do away with the grand tradition of forced labor. It is a whitewash as Williams appears as saintly as can be which means that he is not a character but an ideal. He builds a coalition, collects signatures, and battles a very neutered opposition led by Ciaran Hinds and Toby Jones (or Julius Caesar and Truman Capote if you prefer). There is no drama because we know how history turns out, and since the characters are either bad or good we can’t turn to them for excitement either. There is some sly humor mixed in, but unfortunately most of the jokes were duds (although I’m sure the gag where he pops out of the slave box killed with those aforementioned little old ladies). So there I was, stuck watching a movie that had no interest in doing anything so as not to offend anybody.
I do find it disheartening that this film did so much better at the box office than Apted’s last film “49 Up” ($19 million to $240,000) because that one was so much more intelligent than this one. Of course viewing habits in this country are disgraceful and the people only seem interested in showing up if you pander to them. In the middle of the film William tricks a bunch of stuffy pro-slave types into listening to his speech by promising them one thing and then delivering another. This gave me hope that, maybe possibly, Apted would pull a similar trick and deliver an unforeseen shot to the audience. But no such luck. On the plus side it does take a loving look at a true act of bravery in the campaign for equal rights for all. And Ciaran Hinds is always a welcome face. Still, those who are unseasoned in the art of sitting quietly through something of this type should stay home because it is exactly what the preview makes it out to be. I have no doubt that Apted’s intentions were pure when he sat down to make “Amazing Grace” I just feel that somewhere along the way it turned into one big back patting session for Americans everywhere. **1/4
March 21, 2008
#2
A love story amidst the most henious human act ever perpetrated upon the face of the earth, the African slave trade. Of course, don’t expect any African point of view in this farce; Equiano, played by Youssou N’Dour, the only African seen for more than 2 seconds, gets some screen time but he doesn’t utter more than one or two sentences.
Movies like this just goes to show that no accurate picture can be made about the subject of slavery by euro-centric directors & producers. No wonder this flopped at the box office. For something more thought provoking, check out SANKOFA, by Haile Gerima.
March 21, 2008
#3
Dark movie. Difficult to see and understand. Acting was terrific but certainly not intended for light entertainment. Trailer misleading.
March 21, 2008
#4
what a waist of money I bought it from a bible store and I wanted a refund or something. ((It’s slow and boring)) I don’t know what the other reviewer saw but this isn’t a good movie
March 21, 2008
#5
I bought this movie to use in witnessing to a young atheist whose chief objection to Christianity is that it is not opposed to slavery(!).
Thankfully, I tried to watch the movie before I gave it away. My impression was that both the screen writers, director, and editor must have been using heroin when they executed this project.
It is impossible to follow the story the movie attempts to present. There are no establishing shots, characters are not introduced, and the scenes are edited together randomly, without following any chronological sequence or using any of the typical cues – dissolves, titles that state the time period, etc. – that might help the viewer understand the order in which events take place.
With great disappointment I have to say that this movie now stands alone in my mind as the worst film ever made. I can’t think of a film that comes close, and given the poignancy of the material and its significance to history that is an unforgiveable tragedy.