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"If That Is
Grace... Then Yes, She
Is Amazing!" |
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Directed by Michael
Apted - Written by
Stephen Knight
Starring Ioan Gruffudd,
Romola Garai, Albert
Finney, Benedict
Cumberbatch, Michael
Gambon, Rufus Sewell,
Ciaran Hinds, Youssou
N'Dour, Toby Jones
Distributed by Samuel
Goldwyn Films -
2007 - 111m - Rated PG13 |
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"Amazing Grace," the latest film from award-winning
feature/documentary filmmaker Michael Apted, is practically the
definition of a good film. |
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Apted, a no-nonsense
storyteller with an eye for detail, does a nice job of sharing the
true story of William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffud), a 21-year-old
elected to England's House of Commons who takes up the wildly
controversial cause of abolition.
"Amazing Grace," told in both a flashback and straightforward
manner, is very much a no-nonsense, simple telling of the battle to
abolish slavery in England and the forces of compassion and evil
involved in the battle.
Wilberforce is most aided by William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch),
while facing staunch opposition from the likes of the Duke of
Clarence (Toby Jones) and Lord Tarlton (Ciaran Hinds). Throw into
the mix the oddly chap Thomas (the always reliable Rufus Sewell) and
a previously freed slave (Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour) and you
have the makings of a passionate, yet modestly mechanical fight for
moral right.
"Amazing Grace," a Heartland Film Festival award winner, is clearly
made to inspire and it succeeds at this goal with an energy and and
attitude that, but where the inspiration often works the film
struggles at times to reach the level of authenticity required to
convincingly portray such a story. Gruffud, a fine a young actor,
seems a bit perplexed by a character who seems equal parts
inspirational superhero and romantic wonderboy with his beloved
Barbara (Romola Garai).
The film features marvelous supporting performances from Albert
Finney and Michael Gambon, rounding out the film's largely British
cast. "Amazing Grace" is being released to coincide with the 200th
anniversary of abolition in England and it will be interesting to
see how the film plays in both the U.S. and the U.K.
Much like Apted's direction, the script by Steven Knight is a sort
of workmanlike piece that admittedly takes more than a few liberties
in the name of drama and storyline. As well, the production design
is simple yet effective and while the film falls short of what could
be called a masterpiece it is, most definitely, an emotionally
impactful, efficient piece of filmmaking.
Michael Apted is, for me, practically the definition of a consummate
director. Whether dealing with his masterful "7 Up" documentary
series or films such as "Coal Miner's Daughter," "The World Is Not
Enough" or this film, Apted consistently manages to create films
that are entertaining, admirable and technically proficient.
"Amazing Grace" is, well, not quite amazing...yet it is a powerful,
emotional and inspiring film that is likely to have you leaving the
theatre with its images and words vividly in your mind. While
closing credits are seldom a reason I recommend staying until a
film's very end, in this case to leave early would be to miss two
magnificently rendered tunes, a bagpipes version of the title song
and a remarkable performance by N'Dour himself. It is the perfect
closure to a an inspirational film. |
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© Written by Richard Propes -
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