Posted on 02/07/2007 8:33:45 PM PST by airedale
Hugh Hewitt was reviewing the movie Amazing Grace the story of William Wilberforce and his efforts to end slavery which opens on February 23, 2007. He gave it a big thumbs up review both as a movie and for its very positive message against slavery and for Christianity.
From the website linked above:
"Amazing Grace, based on the life of antislavery pioneer William Wilberforce, is directed by Michael Apted (The World is Not Enough, Coal Miner's Daughter) from an original screenplay written by Academy Award® nominee Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things).
The film stars Ioan Gruffudd (Black Hawk Down), Albert Finney (Erin Brockovich), Romola Garai (Vanity Fair), Michael Gambon (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), Benedict Cumberbatch (Hawking), Rufus Sewell (Legend of Zorro), Ciaran Hinds (Rome) and introduces Youssou N'Dour.
Executive Producer is Jeanney Kim, with Mark Cooper as co-producer. Producers on the film are Terrence Malick (The Thin Red Line) and Ed Pressman under their Sunflower Productions banner, Patricia Heaton and David Hunt for FourBoys Films, and Ken Wales.
Gruffudd plays Wilberforce, who, as a Member of Parliament, navigated the world of 18th Century backroom politics to end the slave trade in the British Empire. Albert Finney plays John Newton, a confidante of Wilberforce who inspires him to pursue a life of service to humanity. Benedict Cumberbatch is William Pitt the Younger, England's youngest ever Prime Minister at the age of 24, who encourages his friend Wilberforce to take up the fight to outlaw slavery and supports him in his struggles in Parliament.
Elected to the House of Commons at the age of 21, and on his way to a successful political career, Wilberforce, over the course of two decades, took on the English establishment and persuaded those in power to end the inhumane trade of slavery.
Romola Garai plays Barbara Spooner, a beautiful and headstrong young woman who shares Wilberforce's passion for reform, and who becomes his wife after a whirlwind courtship. Youssou N'Dour is Olaudah Equiano. Born in Africa and sent as a slave to the Colonies, Equiano bought his freedom and made his home in London, where he wrote a best-selling account of his life and became a leading figure in the fight to end the slavery of his fellow countrymen."
How many of you find it hard to believe that a modern Hollywood movie would include this line (delivered by Albert Finney playing John Newton, former slaver and author of the hymn Amazing Grace,): "I know two things I'm a great sinner and Jesus Christ is a great Savior."
The film is being tied into the Amazing Change movement to end modern slavery. There are about 27 million slaves in the modern world as I write this. The Amazing Change website is at: http://www.theamazingchange.com/
Ioan Gruffudd... SWOON! He's on my list.
Quakers
The earliest records of British anti-slavery activity are from around 1783 when the Quaker movement petitioned Parliament to end the slave trade. There was a similar petition in 1785 from citizens of the town of Bridgwater in Somerset but these were largely ignored.
Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade
The first real blow for freedom came when the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade was established in London in May 1787. The society’s self-appointed task was to create a focus for British anti-slavery through the distribution of abolitionist books, pamphlets, prints and artefacts.
With a network of local ‘agents’ and ‘country committees’ an energetic man called Thomas Clarkson mobilised the anti-slavery movement. He organised new committees, distributed tracts and offered advice and encouragement to hundreds of grass-roots activists.
I have always found it interesting that just 12 men (a jury) started the end of slavery and that it was a radical idea.
I have never recommended a movie before but will STRONGLY recommend Amazing Grace.
In fact, I am going to see it again and take more family members and some friends.
Very will acted and directed. I don't understand why it is PG, since there is no sex, violence or bad language (except the "N" word used by one of the "Lords"). The period recreation is very convincing, even if much was computer generated.
It is a very emotional film.
I particularly liked Cumberbatch's William Pitt, Wilberforce's good friend.
I can't believe there is not more talk about this film. When I saw it most of the theater was full and everyone clapped at the end and no one left until all of the credits were compete.
Thanks for the ping!
Exactly! Swoon - THUD
I think younger children would be bored silly. It's a message movie for the most part. Older teens should see it - it's educational.
This is a movie that should be in everyone's DVD library. I plan to watch it several times, as it has it all - message, period dress/culture, intellect, inspiration.
Fabulous movie.
Yes, it's fine for children. Depending on their age, they might be a little bored, as it has intense dialogue.
But I loved it for the animals too. Wilberforce started the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), and apparently loved them. Had a house full of them.
I wanted to jump into the movie and live there with them.
Older children should be MADE to watch it.
Albert Finney is wonderful in this movie. He is the actor who played the lawyer in Erin Brockovitch. His character is John Newton, the former slaver who converted, then wrote Amazing Grace.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Remember the short little parliamentarian with the awful wig that stuck out WIDE? He was actually the 2nd or 3rd son of King George. He later became King.
I plan to go see it. The first movie in a while I'll go to the theaters to watch.
Smiling at your wish to jump into the movie - it's gotta be good.
At least you can see it. I wanted to see it this weekend but it appears to not be opening in Canada and saw nothing in the way of an opening date this year but of course that could change. I am hopeful it will show up here eventually. It did play at the Toronto Film Festival last fall though but that was a one shot deal.
VERY interesting performance. :)
I know it's all part of the liberal Hollywood establishment, but the best movies with depth and moral truths get hidden by theatre owners........in the USA too.
(Other than Lord of the Rings, which was too big too hide).
I'll have a hard time making my 27 year old watch it, but I'll sure recommend it. ;)
OK - well - I THINK he could be considered an adult! :)
Same with the other three (all adults), but I'm going to recommend the movie to them, and they'll all go see it, just cause they LIKE me. :)
A question for everyone. Wasn't William Wilberforce also the individual who made such a concerted effort to clean up British society that it brought fortht the Victorian period in Great Britain?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.