Amazing Grace (2007)

Overall Rating From 1 to 100: 77

Directed by Michael Apted
Ioan Gruffudd / Albert Finney / Benedict Cumberbatch
111 min. Drama
MPAA: PG (for thematic material involving slavery, and some mild language)

Review by Jason Pyles / March 23, 2007

Many film scholars argue that in 1975, "Jaws" was the first release that began the big, summer blockbuster tradition of flashy, high-budget movie excitement. And I love every bit of it, from "Independence Day" to "Armageddon." They’re like Burger King to me … more on that later.

But unfortunately, since many American moviegoers are conditioned to look for the sensational, I fear that the majority will pass up the beautiful "Amazing Grace," an overlooked treasure of modern cinema.

"Amazing Grace" has a story to tell, a real story, a true story. I will state upfront that the movie is almost entirely dialogue, but the writing is clever and pleasing. One must be attentive and listen closely. (I know that's a tall order for "Saw III" fans.)

It’s the late 18th century and Great Britain has a thriving business in the slave trade industry. Nightmarish slave ships transport hundreds of people (most of whom die) from Africa to the plantations in Jamaica. The methods for shipping these doomed individuals are described in unthinkable terms but never depicted onscreen.

But the slaves have an emerging champion who is tireless, William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd).

Now, I digress here to recognize that Ioan Gruffudd plays Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) in the not-so “Fantastic Four” (2005), a movie that approaches the hideousness of “Master of Disguise” (2002). Two movies that prove that actors sometimes engage in far worse things than prostitution to become stars.

It turns out that Gruffudd can act after all — given the right material — and has a formidable screen presence. He performs with, and is inevitably, understandably outshone by Albert Finney, but not by much.

Sting (the musician, not the wrestler) once said that you can tell a good song if you can sing it while accompanied by one instrument — and it still “works.” Well, I might adjust that to suggest that you can tell good scriptwriting if it could be performed as a stage play — and it still “works.”

“Amazing Grace” would be as excellent a play as it is a movie. This should tell the reader that “Amazing Grace” is good because of its writing, its casting, its acting, its sets, its costumes and its story. You don’t see that everyday, not even in the movies.

William Wilberforce is a “mover-and-a-shaker,” as they say, in the political arena. He is a passionate, fiery, political activist who is commissioned by a grass-roots team of abolitionists to lead the battle to do away with slavery through Parliament.

Yeah, yeah, I know, it sounds like Social Studies class. Yes, it sounds boring. But what makes the movie excellent is the emotion that is connected with its story. If you follow along, it’s impossible not to be stirred from within.

There are other magical touches, such as a cute romance and the story behind the song, “Amazing Grace,” but I’ll let Al Finney give you the experience for himself.

Watching “Amazing Grace” is like going to your health-nut friends’ house for dinner: That steamed carrot stir-fry with wheat-germ sauce isn’t nearly as appealing as the Burger King you passed on the way to their house, but after you eat it, you feel good, like you’ve done something nice for yourself.

“Amazing Grace” is wholesome in the same way.

O Masterpiece (95-100)
X Excellent / theater option (75-94)
O Good video rental (60-74)
O Merely OK (50-59)
O Pure mediocrity (30-49)
O Medusa: don't watch (1-29)

Copyright 2007.
JP0060 : 544