Amazing Grace (2006)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Michael Apted

Writer (WGA):

Steven Knight (written by)

Release Date:

23 February 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance

Tagline:

Behind the song you love is a story you will never forget.

Plot:

The idealist William Wilberforce maneuvers his way through Parliament, endeavoring to end the British transatlantic slave trade.

Plot Keywords:

Slave | William Wilberforce | Social Justice | Abolition | Olaudah Equiano

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. July 7	5:30 AM	MAX
Wed. July 15	6:00 AM	MAX

Cast

Ioan Gruffudd	...	William Wilberforce
Romola Garai	...	Barbara Spooner
Benedict Cumberbatch	...	William Pitt
Albert Finney	...	John Newton
Michael Gambon	...	Lord Charles Fox
Rufus Sewell	...	Thomas Clarkson
Youssou N'Dour	...	Olaudah Equiano
Ciarán Hinds	...	Lord Tarleton
Toby Jones	...	Duke of Clarence
Nicholas Farrell	...	Henry Thornton
Sylvestra Le Touzel	...	Marianne Thornton
Jeremy Swift	...	Richard the Butler
Stephen Campbell Moore	...	James Stephen
Bill Paterson	...	Lord Dundas
Nicholas Day	...	Sir William Dolben

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic material involving slavery, and some mild language.

Runtime:

117 min | USA:111 min | Canada:111 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG | Ireland:PG | UK:PG | Singapore:PG | Hong Kong:I | Australia:PG | South Korea:All | Netherlands:6 | South Africa:PG | Finland:K-7 | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade)

Filming Locations:

Ashridge Park, Little Gaddesden, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

FourBoys Films

Trivia:

The scene where William Wilberforce sings "Amazing Grace" at the card house was actually directly sung from Ioan Gruffudd at that moment. In the last several takes, a playback was used, but it is Ioan singing. Director Michael Apted had no idea whether or not Gruffudd could actually sing. Little did he know, Ioan is an accomplished soloist and choir singer. With a little practice, Ioan performed for the first time on set while the cameras were rolling. All much to the surprise of the cast, crew and director.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The House of Commons sat in the St Stephens chamber of the Palace of Westminster at the time. It is a long, narrow room, not the debating chamber shown in the film

Quotes:

William Wilberforce: [Fox walks in unexpectedly] Dear God.
Lord Charles Fox: Well, almost. I spent eighteen months being torn apart in the House by you Mr. Wilberforce. I thought I'd find out what it feels like on your side. Any of you saints drink?
Thomas Clarkson: Well, this one bloody does!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in How Sweet the Sound: The Story of Amazing Grace (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Morning Prayer

Moving period drama

I was well impressed with Amazing Grace; the period was superbly captured, and the interplay of the main action (the fight of William Wilberforce to abolish British slavery) with the other great events of his time (the American and French revolutions) was well presented. The film stirs the emotions but informs the mind. Ioan Gruffudd as Wilberforce is believable and depicts the tenacious Yorkshire MP with both his bodily weakness and great spirit well. Albert Finney as John Newton renders a moving portrayal of the ex-slave trader turned evangelical minister who influences Wilberforce's decision to remain in politics rather than entering the ministry of the church. Benedict Cumberbatch gives a strong representation of William Pitt, and the overall impression of the film is one whose history has been well researched. Well worth a viewing.