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/
"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
LOL Somehow I think your 27 year old remembers that Momma knows best and will go see it.
Indeed, she will. :)
I saw "The Queen" last month. Before that it was 35 years since I last visited a cinema.
Thought the soundtrack was way too loud and the quality of the film itself could have been brighter - where was the remote control when I needed it?
Having broken the ice, perhaps I'll give this one a try.
Did you get to see the movie yet GEM?
Just got home from the theater. Loved it, would like to see it again in the theater but will probably wait for the DVD and buy that. Ioan Gruffudd did a wonderful job and the movie has some of my favorite British actors.
What stood out to me the most was one man against 300+ of the most powerful men in Britain -- and that when God puts forth an idea and finds just one willing heart, one person who will stand up and take the heat, He will keep working and agitating in other hearts and moving events to the right conclusion (even if not in that person's lifetime, I would add). It struck me also that God knew all along that the flag issue was going to be the key to overturning the slave trade, but those He tapped to fight and persuade didn't know it till God pulled out His ace. It's a wonderful principle for those called to lead a social revolution.
I wish they'd scrolled the verses to "Amazing Grace" during the bagpipe scene at the end. I loved learning at the very, very end that Wilberforce and Pitt are buried next to each other in Westminster Abbey.
Too bad you weren't able to see it in my city. The sound was just right, and I'm one of those who can't stand overloud soundtracks. During the time period that the film was depicting, interiors were generally dark.
The movie opens in Canada a month after the US, so March 23. I was fortunate to win some preview tickets and look forward to seeing it on the 22nd.
So powerful! They just don't write hymns like they used to, do they?
Thanks for the update. I will be going to see it.
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