Amistad
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Movie Reviews of Amistad
Movie Review: We Hold These Truths To Be Self Evident....
Summary: 5 Stars
This review refers to the Dreamworks Doby Digital Edition.....
Based on actual events, Steven Spielberg and Debbie Allen collaberate to bring us one of the many heartwrenching stories of the plight of Africans,during the illegal slave trade of the 1800's.
A group of African people who were brutally draggged from their villages are being transported for slave trade. Only knowing that they are chained and mistreated one man,breaks loose and leads a rebillion against the ship's crew. In order to ensure their own freedom they must take the lives of their captors. They are discovered in American waters, and a trial ensues as to the question of murder.
It becomes an international case. Everybody from the queen of Spain to the owners of the ship "Amistad" are claiming ownership of these men and women. Being pre-civil war, the abolishionists are also making a case for their freedom.This is a case that could lead America one step closer to Civil War.
One property lawyer who has never worked on a case of this proportion, takes on the task of trying to prove that these are not plantation slaves,but citizens of Africa taken by force and did what they needed to do to be free, as any American would do the same. His task is a difficult one,but as the tragic story of these people unfolds he is able to put on his defense. They also get some help from the ex-president John Quincy Adams,whose eloquence puts the Declaration of Indepence to the test.
This is a magnificent piece of cinema in all respects. Spielberg brings to our attention yet another important piece of history that was cruel and inhuman,one of American history that we were hardly aware of.It is an epic film that will wash over you with several different emotions, and you will want to watch it again and again.
No big introduction needed for most of the cast who seemed perfectly fitted to their roles. Matthew McConaughey outstanding as the lawyer, Sir Anthony Hopkins is brilliant as Adams, Morgan Freeman and Stellan Skarsgard are totaly believable as the abolishionists,and Pete Postlethwaite perfect as the lawyer for the prosecution. Also in a sterling performance is Djimon Housnsou as Cinque, the spokesperson for the Africans. His portrayal of the enslaved man who only wants his freedom will captivate you.I must also make mention of Nigel Hawthorn and David Paymer for their wonderful performances.The cinematography is breathtaking. The music scored by John Williams and especially the African music will stay with you long after the movie. You will also be impressed with the costume designs. The film was nominated for four Academy awards,including one for Best Supporting for Hopkins.
The DVD is top quality.The Widescreen(Anamorphic) gives us an incredible view of everything going on in the courtroom scenes and on the ocean voyages. The picture does justice to the great cinematography. It is clear and crisp, colors are vibrant. Nighttime scenes are vivid as well. The 5.1 Dolby Dig surround fills the room. It can also be viewed in the 2.0 stereo. The special features,including a behind the scenes featurette are informative as well as entertaining. There is closed captions if needed.
You will not be dissapointed with either the film or the DVD transfer, it is one that will be a great addition to your collection. Watch it again and again.......Laurie
also available in this Spielberg 2 pack:Saving Private Ryan/Amistad
Movie Review: The Entertaiment of History
Summary: 5 Stars
Let's face it. We go to movies to be entertained. And enlightened. And informed. And all of the other reasons we shell out our hard earned cash. But primarily, we go to movies to be entertained, perhaps for a couple of hours, perhaps to live in a life that is totally not like ours.
Much has been said about Amistad, and the glaring, whitewashed history it seems to offer. However, taking history, and blending into a movie is always a tricky business; much of it at the discretion of the producers and director who have one primary motivation: that is, to the story. They must tell a story, story is first. How many times have we sat through a movie with such an unbelievablly weak story, and you've found yourself checking your watch every five minutes for it to end? This doesn't happen at any time with Amistad, Steve Spielberg's retelling of a famous slave revolt on board a Spanish slave ship, and the chilling aftermath. Both brutal and richly drawn, this movie deserved much more praise and acclaim than it received.
Amistad introduces us to Cinque, a brash, intelligent man captured into slavery. Smart enough to understand the situation without having to understand English, Cinque organizes a revolt on the ship transporting him to slavery after cunningly breaking free from his chains. The captain tricks the freed slaves by taking them west instead of home to the east, and into jail. As with almost everything in America, the legal system becomes embroiled with these people and their eventual fate.
Stellar performances reign in this movie, from the always amazing Morgan Freeman, to the understated performance of Anthony Hopkins at John Q Adams, who eventually represented the Africans in the Supreme Court. However, one performance soars, literally soars over the rest, and the is newcomer Djimon Hounsou. His work is breathtaking as he literally becomes Cinque. The moment when he stands up in court and speaks English for the first time, requesting his freedom, is enough to provoke goosebumps and tears. Why Hollywood hasn't used Hounson more is beyond me.
Another unlauded part of this film is the beautifully, haunting score. It's a richly layered musical performance that illuminates the story, while incorporating elements of African music. People say that if you notice things like the music while watching a movie that you really aren't into it; but in this case, you notice the music as an integral part of the masterpiece.
When creating a historically based movie, though, you must be given some dramatic license to tell the story the best way possible. If you've ever watched a movie based on an historical event, it's always modified in some ways. Those that aren't are called documentaries. If you want to know the story of Amistad, I highly recommend a wonderful documentary called "Voyage of La Amistad: Quest for Freedom". There you can learn.
Amistad is not a movie that makes you feel good, or makes you feel comfortable. The stain of slavery is dyed permanently into our national fabric, and we, as a nation, need to learn how to deal with this. Amistad takes us a step forward. We must remember. We must remember. Amistad allows us to remember.
Movie Review: powerful, powerful film
Summary: 5 Stars
A film by Steven Spielberg"Amistad" is a fact based account of a 1839 revolt by African slaves on the slaveship La Amistad, and the legal trial in the United States over what exactly should be done with them after they were rescued (and imprisoned) on American soil. "Amistad" was Spielberg's first serious work since "Schindler's List" (not counting "Jurassic Park 2" which was also released in 1997), and it should be counting among the best movies of 1997. It is a powerful film.
The central story is that of the African slaves. The movies focuses on one particular slave, Cinque (Djimon Honsou), so that we have someone to be interested in, and so that the human story of their experiences can be told. They were able to overthrow the slavers while on the slave ship, but their captive was able to sail them to America rather than back to Africa. Upon arrival in America, the slaves are promptly captured by American soldiers and imprisoned until their status can be ascertained. As the lawyer for the Africans, Baldwin (Matthew McConaughey) says in the movie, "it is a matter of property." Who owns the slaves? The soldiers who captured the slaves claim ownership as salvage. The slavers claim ownership citing a legal purchase of the slaves in Cuba. The government of Spain claims ownership. The Africans say they are free men. Who owns the slaves? Are they legal property? This central question is what the movie revolves around and works towards answering. We learn the answer early in the movie, but the question is what can Baldwin prove before the courts, and will the courts listen to him?
Steven Spielberg did a good job in showing that this was not just a case of the white man jumping and rescuing the black man. That did exist here, but Spielberg showed just how central and important Cinque was, how his actions and his words were what helped the case for the Africans the most. All the while, Baldwin and Joadson (Morgan Freeman), a freed slave, are entreating former President John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins) to become an advocate on behalf of the Africans.
As I mentioned earlier, this is a very powerful film. There is an extended sequence were Spielberg shows the experience of the slave ship and it is so horrible that I don't think I can put words to it. While "Amistad" may not rank quite as high as "Schindler's List" or "Saving Private Ryan" on the list of great movies, this is an excellent movie that deals with a subject usually ignored. This is a slower paced film, with more time spend talking and in the courtroom, but it is a very good one, too.
Movie Review: Young America Wrestles With It's Conscience
Summary: 5 Stars
No ladies and gentlemen, I assure you, this is no "slave film"! This is a film about a young
America... An amalgam of Walloons, British
Dissenters, Puritans, Quakers, and Sephardic Jews;
[among others]. Here we are, right in the middle
of the lucrative epoch of the trafficking of human
beings for the sole purpose of free labor. And, as
a result of the unusual circumstances from the
arrival of a mutinied Spanish slave ship named,
"La Amistad", we are presented with a major
ethical dilemma which tests the high values and
righteous philosophy of our law makers.
This is the kind of film that makes you very proud
to be an American! We are, by design, constantly
questioning and analyzing ourselves as to right and
wrong. Particularly as it applies to human rights.
[Surprisingly, this analysis of conscience held
true for slavery as well; albeit extremely unpopular!
Harriett Tubman rode America's conscience [Quakers]
to freedom, over one hundred times, and with over
three hundred and fifty people!]
Our history has proven that whenever we, as a country,
abuse the rights of others, we pay for it in spades!
Two more examples would be 1.) the detainment of
Japanese-Americans in concentration camps during the
second world war. And 2.) the indiscriminate human
violations of the Vietnam war. Both scénarios caused
an ongoing national nightmare that continues to affect
our psyche!
In Steven Spielberg's "Amistad", American law is
personified within the characters of Anthony Hopkins
and Matthew McConaughey. Both of which are constantly
pinching at the great American soul. Reminding it of
what the original shapers of the American Constitution
had envisioned for it's people.
The film does a good job by focusing on the young lawyer
[McConaughey], and the former US president [Hopkins],
whom must defend the kidnapped Africans [Sierra Leone],
so their dream of returning home could be realized.
Giving up profit for the sake of preserving equal
rights for *all*, is this film's message! "Amistad",
the film, and "Amistad" the history lesson, are well
worth the one hundred and fifty-five minutes it takes
to view it!!
Movie Review: An Important Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Whatever faults Amistad may have as an accurate representation of a real historical event, or from a purely dramatic standpoint, these faults pale into insignificance compared to the importance of the story in so many aspects. That all too many Americans all too often acted at best indifferently to slavery, and that many of their descendants (among whom I count myself) still seem not to understand the barbarism involved is truly shameful. Kudos to Spielberg and producer Debbie Allen for telling this story, kudos to the actors (especially Djimon Hounsou, Matthew McConaughey, and Anthony Hopkins) for their representations, but most importantly kudos to the actual heroes involved. Other critics have claimed that Spielberg has made the characters too stereotypical and one-dimensional--I don't find this an accurate criticism, given that the abolitionists have an argument when one of them says that the slaves would be more beneficial to their cause as martyrs; and given that John Quincy Adams does his best to avoid any involvement in the case at all. Indeed, I thought that the story, primarily a courtroom drama colored by politics and economics, rather than a swashbuckling tale of revolt at sea, was complex, sophisticated and beautifully told. True, there were a few moments when Spielberg let Hollywood run away with him. The most notable of these occurred when the swelling chorus and the lighting drowned the genuine feeling when Djimon Hounsou declares to the courts "Give Us Us Free!" in sickly-sweet sentiment. But in an age when the US Supreme Court seems to have given up any pretense of non-partisanship, and when so many politicians care less about what is morally right than what is economically profitable, Amistad is a movie that ought be required viewing.As a composer, I have one major complaint: the music ("by" John Williams) seemed to me to be blatantly plagiarised from Aaron Copland, especially the opening of his ballet Billy the Kid. How Copland's estate allows this to happen I don't understand. Ironic in a movie about morality and ownership.