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A |
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Riveting AND Entertaining
by RabbitA (movies profile)
Aug 6, 2007
34
of
35 people found this review helpful
Brilliantly casted, directed, and written, with outstanding performances by Ioan Gruffudd and the majority of supporting actors (notably veterans Albert Finney and Michael Gambon; also Rufus Sewell and newcomers Benedict Cumberbatch and Youssou N'Dour)—each fully captured their characters and made them come alive. I expected the film to be well done due to the director's reputation and the excellent cast, but Amazing Grace actually far exceeded my expectations. It's been awhile since I've seen an audience so riveted to the screen; while some may think that a story about British Parliament in the 18th century might be anything but exciting, everyone was practically on the edge of their seats. We were definitely entertained.
I'm not thrilled with the trailers (they make the film seem a lot more Hallmark-ish than it really is), but I do hope the publicity will reach a wider demographic as I believe this film will appeal to all age groups of adults as well as teens, both male and female audiences (I would actually say this is a good date movie), and both fans and non-fans of period films alike. It's just really great storytelling about a very real man—-and it's a story more than relevant for us today.
*
One more note (just for those of you who like longer reviews): There have been speculations that this film would show Wilberforce as a "Great White Hope" image or that it would smack of earnest paternalism (which surely was a reality at the time among some abolitionists--and still exists today). As a non-white person who is sensitive to such things, I was a bit concerned myself. But the film isn't at all about Wilberforce being "the champion of the slaves" as some have called him. It's a story about British politics more than the slave trade as a whole, and it's about one man's life-- not a sweeping statement about the history of slavery. It needs to be taken in as that.
I highly commend Gruffudd, Michael Apted (director), and especially Steven Knight (writer), for their conscientious approach to this dynamic. The story clearly shows Wilberforce as a flawed and very human character we can related to who develops over time. The film makes it clear that, as a privileged member of the wealthier upper-middle class, he began his [brilliant] career with a lot of ignorance in spite of his passion. It's clear that he didn't accomplish what he did alone--but that, because of his privilege, he was a crucial part of the change that needed to take place in his country. This is where I feel the filmmakers suceededly brilliantly: in showing Wilberforce as he really was--a man whose humility and desire to educate himself made him a great catalyst for change--they've created a period film that gracefully pierces our present-day reality.
His struggle with his own society is evident in the title of a book (not mentioned in the film) that he wrote in his day, wonderfully titled: "A Practical View of the Prevailing Religous System of Professed Christians in the Higher and Middle Classes in This Country, Contrasted with Real Christianity." If only every self-righteous politician or religious leader could get a load of this film--they might just be inspired to see their privilege and position in a new light. One can only mourn that American politicians of Wilberforce's day didn't see what was wrong with saying "All men are created equal" or "Justice for all" while continuing to allow slavery to run rampant. But the story goes deeper than that--without being preachy or moralistic, it did what all good stories should do--it made me consider my own life in a new light.
NOTE: I posted this review on 2/23 under my account, but it seems all the reviews written earlier that day are showing up as errors, so I've reposted it under my friend's account--I'm not plagiarizing myself! |
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