Amazing Grace (2007)
Directed by Michael Apted
***
I still struggle to figure out why this film is titled Amazing Grace. It doesn't explain the story behind the writing of the song, as the tagline suggests. John Newton is only a minor character in the story. This is a film about William Wilberforce, the British MP who led the push to end the practice of slavery in the UK.
It's not a perfect film, but it has its moments. To be honest, it has a patched-up feel to it, with some scenes struggling to add anything to its out-of-order plot. The scenes with Albert Finney, magnificent as the aged John Newton, are by far the best, and they raise the level of the whole endeavor. Ioan Gruffud, in the lead role of "Wilbur," is interesting but mainly sickly. In the end, it's a film of interest to historians, believers, and reminds us all that we should appreciate the sacrifice some people made to remind the world that we're all created equal. It just may not stick with you longer than its running time.
[Note: I'm reading this 9 March and realizing it sounds really harsh. I'm sure many people will enjoy watching this - I did too, to a certain extent. I think I'm just pointing out that it's not a fine film.]
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