Amazing Grace - mini-review

I took the recommendation of my friend Kai, and finally watched the film Amazing Grace
starring Ioan Gruffudd as abolitionist William Wilberforce. Kai was fortunate enough to meet Ioan and compliment him on this film, and she said he was so pleased she had mentioned it. He is right to be proud as this is one of his very best performances and a fine film. Ioan is probably most well known from the Fantastic Four movies, and this uplifting biopic movie must have felt like a clean shower after that schlock.

I never knew the story behind the song Amazing Grace and the long abolitionist struggle in England. We know about the Civil War and the struggles in this country with slavery, but much earlier William Wilberforce managed to stop the slave trade with a bill he fought for years to pass in parliament, and finally had success in 1807.

Ioan Gruffudd does well here avoiding portraying Wilberforce as a complete saint. I especially enjoyed all the supporting players which are English actors you've seen in so many other films. Ciaran Hinds plays Wilberforce's main opponent in parliament and the great Michael Gabon plays an important ally. Albert Finney is, as always, excellent playing John Newton, the slave trader turned minister who wrote the song Amazing Grace. Benedict Cumberbatch (Starter for 10) plays Prime Minister William Pitt, and as I've usually seen him playing a prissy or evil character in previous films, it was nice to see him have a robust part as Wilberforce's good friend. Rufus Sewell from Couplings was almost unrecognizable as Thomas Clarkson, a fellow abolitionst.

I can't recommend this excellent film enough. Three and a half stars. Last night I watched the mini-series Andromeda Strain and it was such a slow paced mess, surprising since it was produced by Ridley Scott and his brother Tony. What a contrast to how fine a movie Amazing Grace is. In looking up the film, I was pleased to see that Michael Apted, the director, is currently working on the next sequel in the Narnia movies due out in 2010. I'm sure he'll bring some quality and strong direction to that franchise! Here's the trailer for Amazing Grace: