Amistad (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
Picture it: 1839, the blackened Caribbean Sea, a tumultuous storm ... in a desperate attempt to free themselves from their chains & return to their home continent, 53 enslaved Africans try to overthrow their Spanish slave ship La Amistad in 'Amistad', an incredible true story directed by the great Steven Spielberg. Led by the powerful tribal leader, Cinque (Djimon Hounsou), they kill most of the loathsome crew, but don't know how to commandeer the vessel back to Africa. Foolishly trusting 2 surviving crewmembers, the captives are tricked, the boat is seized, & they are brought to America in shackles where they are charged with piracy & murder. Doomed to die, the 1st men who come to the captive's defense are abolitionists Lewis Tappan (Stellan Skarsgard), & Theodore Joadson (Morgan Freeman). And with time, they are joined by ill-reputed attorney, Roger Baldwin (Matthew McConaughey).
Roger Baldwin shows - during courtroom battles - that he is a much better lawyer than anyone would give credit for; well-meaning & persuasive. And his main argument to the judge would be that the prisoners were illegally kidnapped FREE African men & not slave property to the U.S. Howwwever, powerful men align against Roger Baldwin's argument; as President Martin Van Buren (Nigel Hawthorne) - quick to please Southern voters & 11 yr. old Queen Isabella of Spain (Anna Paquin) - ignites a rally to keep the Africans from their freedom. With acute attention on the American justice system, as well as the impending presidential election ... everything culminates in the Supreme Court where John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins) makes a stirring last-ditch plea for the Africans' release.
First off, 'Amistad' is a stellar Hollywood prestige film. The themes are rich (civil rights, human courage). The acting is great. The production values are impeccable. And the movie acts as a great history lesson (most of it is textbook accurate - with only a few embellishments for dramatic effect). But there's one main reason why this film isn't the 4-star knock-out that it aims to be ... while I was emotionally stirred (particularly in the treatment of the slaves), I was never truly absorbed into the narrative. There's a slight distancing effect; maybe because the film's 'antagonist' is slavery itself & not a particular person(s). It's a large nitpick for me, but it still don't detract from the overwhelmingly powerful film. 'Amistad' offers great filmmaking without being a masterpiece. Still, it's to be respected, & will be shown in many a history class all across America.
I'd say that one of the film's strengths is it's resounding, impassioned Lead performance from former West African model Djimon Hounsou. His Cinque is the epitome of a noble, heroic figure; a man whose spirit remains unflappable regardless of the hell he's been put through. He knows he's free, so he refuses to give up without a fight. He perfectly represents/embodies the enraged, confused mentality of his people. Morgan Freeman, Stellan Skarsgard, Matthew McConaughey, Nigel Hawthorne (as the out-for-himself Martin Van Buren) & other secondary actors do a fine job. But the only other person to rival Hounsou's effectiveness is Anthony Hopkins. Wow, I could re-listen to his wise, enlivened, climactic speech about humanity/freedom all over again. It seems that the man really can do it all (Hannibal Lecter, Aristocrat, Butler, Nixon, John Quincy Adams).
Speaking of Oscars, though I really loved the film on the whole and, the pedigree behind the camera is astounding ... I believe that Titanic (similar in historical scope, lavishness, opulence) will steal its thunder. Now, some of the stately courtroom scenes lack oomph. I learned a lot, but wasn't always entertained; and I need both. But many moments of humor (black vs. white ways), grandeur & passion permeate the story. There are 2 segments of the film that rivet: 1) a detailed account from Cinque of the Africa's torturous ocean journey. And 2) the power of the final 2 minutes (which I will not specify). 'Amistad' covers a lot: character introduction & development, language barriers, the captive's pain, hearing their stories, the heated Presidential race at hand, the abolitionist's work, legal/political battles, rumblings of an eventual civil war, & resolution. And it covers it all quite beautifully.
Roger Baldwin shows - during courtroom battles - that he is a much better lawyer than anyone would give credit for; well-meaning & persuasive. And his main argument to the judge would be that the prisoners were illegally kidnapped FREE African men & not slave property to the U.S. Howwwever, powerful men align against Roger Baldwin's argument; as President Martin Van Buren (Nigel Hawthorne) - quick to please Southern voters & 11 yr. old Queen Isabella of Spain (Anna Paquin) - ignites a rally to keep the Africans from their freedom. With acute attention on the American justice system, as well as the impending presidential election ... everything culminates in the Supreme Court where John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins) makes a stirring last-ditch plea for the Africans' release.
First off, 'Amistad' is a stellar Hollywood prestige film. The themes are rich (civil rights, human courage). The acting is great. The production values are impeccable. And the movie acts as a great history lesson (most of it is textbook accurate - with only a few embellishments for dramatic effect). But there's one main reason why this film isn't the 4-star knock-out that it aims to be ... while I was emotionally stirred (particularly in the treatment of the slaves), I was never truly absorbed into the narrative. There's a slight distancing effect; maybe because the film's 'antagonist' is slavery itself & not a particular person(s). It's a large nitpick for me, but it still don't detract from the overwhelmingly powerful film. 'Amistad' offers great filmmaking without being a masterpiece. Still, it's to be respected, & will be shown in many a history class all across America.
I'd say that one of the film's strengths is it's resounding, impassioned Lead performance from former West African model Djimon Hounsou. His Cinque is the epitome of a noble, heroic figure; a man whose spirit remains unflappable regardless of the hell he's been put through. He knows he's free, so he refuses to give up without a fight. He perfectly represents/embodies the enraged, confused mentality of his people. Morgan Freeman, Stellan Skarsgard, Matthew McConaughey, Nigel Hawthorne (as the out-for-himself Martin Van Buren) & other secondary actors do a fine job. But the only other person to rival Hounsou's effectiveness is Anthony Hopkins. Wow, I could re-listen to his wise, enlivened, climactic speech about humanity/freedom all over again. It seems that the man really can do it all (Hannibal Lecter, Aristocrat, Butler, Nixon, John Quincy Adams).
Speaking of Oscars, though I really loved the film on the whole and, the pedigree behind the camera is astounding ... I believe that Titanic (similar in historical scope, lavishness, opulence) will steal its thunder. Now, some of the stately courtroom scenes lack oomph. I learned a lot, but wasn't always entertained; and I need both. But many moments of humor (black vs. white ways), grandeur & passion permeate the story. There are 2 segments of the film that rivet: 1) a detailed account from Cinque of the Africa's torturous ocean journey. And 2) the power of the final 2 minutes (which I will not specify). 'Amistad' covers a lot: character introduction & development, language barriers, the captive's pain, hearing their stories, the heated Presidential race at hand, the abolitionist's work, legal/political battles, rumblings of an eventual civil war, & resolution. And it covers it all quite beautifully.