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In Reply to: RE: Amazing Grace----Or why you should see that picture- posted by patrickU on January 06, 2009 at 02:03:09
I thought too much screen time was wasted on Wilburforce's dull personal life at the expense of the real story; politics and money. The issue of slavery, though always present, was given sterile treatment and underplayed as a story element. Albert Finney, as the penitent ex-slaver Newton (who wrote the hymn the movie is named for), appeared only in a few brief scenes, and that was a real shame. Newton's story could have been woven into the screenplay as flashbacks, and would have added a lot.We're chasing terrorists in the wrong place...they're on Wall St.
Follow Ups:
The film isn't about the fight against slavery or Newton's journey. It's about the struggles of an essentially private, moral and religious man who chose, against his own inclination, to engage with politics (and thus politicians, and the sausage making that goes along with that) to further a righteous cause.The tone of Amazing Grace is low key, which adds a lot to its charm for me. And it's beautifully shot, art directed and scored. It boasts fine performances from some of my very favorite British actors, Ioan Gruffidd, Ciaran Hinds, Michael Gambon, Albert Finney, and up and comer Benedict Cumberbatch, who is oustanding as Pitt The Younger.
I closely identified with the movie's participatory message - that good citizens must engage with the political process to effect change - it's not enough to disagree with policies, and the nastiness of the scoundrels and Carl Roves of the world doesn't excuse us from doing the right thing. AG's release was a year or two early in the US, but pertinent nonetheless for the 200th anniversary of the passage of the British act portrayed in the film.
Newton's story doesn't fit with the movie's theme of working within the system. His quite dramatic history, epiphany and subsequent atonement is ripe for theatrical presentation, but it wouldn't fit here, structurally or thematically. That's another story for a different movie, one that the AG screenwriter is also interested in exploring, BTW. It was actually Apted, who wanted to make a political film, who steered the project toward Wilberforce. (How do I know? I talked with Apted after the North American Premier at the Heartland Film festival. Food was excellent at the reception too.)
AG doesn't hit all the notes it aims for but it succeeeds well enough IMO to be a recommendation.
Edits: 01/06/09
2 out of 4 stars.
We're chasing terrorists in the wrong place...they're on Wall St.
What it is a pity is that this film could have been a great great one.
Given the caliber and the quality of the actors here, the wonderful mood and photography!
The cutting of the film is for 70% the bad joker on this one, I suppose.
What is left are crumbles but what a delicatesse...
However, I thought Finney did an admirable job portraying the utter, massive guilt Newton had to feel for his deeds. That's a very heavy cross few have had to bear.
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