IMHO - not a good movie - see it on DVD - .....

[Bullwinkle925]

"Amazing Grace". Fell flat for me. With such a wonderful story to tell, I think it suffered in the wrong producer/director's hands. Actually kept nodding off throughout. I have been anticipating this movie (as I love historical pics) but this one is definitely not worth the $9.50. Wait and watch the DVD.

[regnaD kciN]

1. I'd give it 2 1/2 stars (out of four)...

I have to give everyone involved credit for even attempting to tell the world the story of William Wilberforce and the fight against slavery. (Until now, mention of the name "Wilberforce" would be more likely to bring to mind the later -- and, as far as I know, unrelated -- and most un-lamented Bishop Wilberforce, the leading opponent of Darwinism some fifty years after the events of this film took place.)

However, the script left quite a bit to be desired. At times, it veered between a junior-high "historical pagent"-style simplification, and a Reader's Digest condensed version of a Masterpiece Theatre series. Characters are rarely developed beyond the obvious stereotypes, and the storyline is manipulated to allow for a big upbeat "feel-good" ending with the abolition of the slave trade. (In reality, this was only a minor triumph in Wilberforce's career. The "big prize," the complete emancipation of slaves througout the Empire to which Wilberforce devoted his life, took another twenty-six years, and only passed a month after Wilberforce's own death.)

Still, the film has its moments -- in particular Albert Finney's scenery-chewing turn as slavetrader-turned-clergyman John Newton (the author of the hymn from which the film takes its name) and Michael "Dumbledore" Gabon's droll performance as Lord Charles Fox. And the story, although simplistically rendered, remains worth the telling. I'd agree, though, that it's worth the price of a DVD rental, or at most a bargain matinee, rather than the $9.25 it costs here.