Staring: Ioan Gruffudd, Benedict Cumberbatch, John Newton, Romola Garai, Ciaran Hinds, Ruffus Sewel, Jeremy Swift, Michael Gambon
Premise: William Wilberforce has reached a low point of his life after health and frustration take their toll after a fifteen year battle to abolish the slave trade in England. As some well meaning friends try to match him with a wife, Wilberforce flashes back to long term battle and how he came to be to his current point in life.
Review: This film is full of people I’ve seen elsewhere, which made it a total treat! The second Dumbledore from the Harry Potter films, the father from Big Fish, Reed Richards from the Fantastic Four, Caesar and his trusty slave from HBO’s Rome, the protagonist from Dark City. But even without that fun, this film was very very good. Slavery as regards England is not a topic often discussed, so I was eager to see it for the information it would impart. Excellent acting by all involved. And a good showing of all the views and sides and what made the subject so very hard in those times. The addition of the song Amazing Grace and the man who created the song, make all the facts and struggles even more poignant. Excellent showing! ***3/4!!
Tags: Movie Review; Gloria Oliver; Amazing Grace
