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Amazing Grace – Spoiler Free

Period pieces generally aren't my cup of tea. I don't like them, nor do I dislike them; they simply fail to register on my radar. Well, now that I think about it... I do openly dislike them, though not for any logical reason. I think it comes from my time as a wee Geek, a time when I would stay up late with my mom watching the Oscars, hoping and praying that my type of movies would win that little golden statue... Only to have them beaten time and time again by some crappy period piece about the pains (or wackiness) of some Victorian or Elizabethan spinster who refuses to buckle under societies pressures... Whew, that was perhaps the longest disclaimer to a review. To be fair, I do have a more than passing interest in any work that details the story behind a cultural or societal icon...

Did a period film finally sway me?

Not really. The film revolved around the political life of William Wilberforce, an idealistic parliamentary member who wishes to end the practice of slavery throughout the British Empire. Told through a series of flashbacks, Amazing Grace felt more like a series of character based moments and not a cohesive film. Ioan Grufford gives a strong performance as William Wilberforce, a character that must balance the demands of his own conscience while maintaining loyalty to the crown. Indeed, Amazing Grace would have been a stronger film had the story simply followed his life and his struggles within the House of Commons. This is a man torn between two worlds. He knows and believes with every core of his being that slavery is wrong. That people, regardless of color or belief are living sentient creatures and not property. He understands that the country he loves and works to protect has been built on the blood, sweat, and suffering of others. Yet, deep within he is still an Englishman and wishes the best for King and Country. Watching Ioan as William struggle with these diametrically opposed powers within is striking.

The other performers...

When it comes to the actors in Amazing Grace, there really isn't a weak link. Each and every cast member, no matter how large or small the part brings their A game. Albert Finney, like a fine wine, only gets better with each performance and his turn as John Newton is both sly and powerful. Romola Garai as Barbara Wilberforce is the perfect sounding board for William Wilberforce. Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Pitt the Younger, the man who would be Prime Minister. Like Ioan, Benedict perfectly balances a man who has his ideals and his duty to state. It is great to watch the two separate, yet equal paths these two friends are compelled to follow. Again, each and every cast member of Amazing Grace raises a film that is desperately trying to find its footing.

Perhaps that is the problem I have with the film...

Amazing Grace tries to be a little bit of everything. One moment, the film is an in-depth character study on Britain’s abolitionists. The next, it takes a hand at social commentary in our own time, only to switch gears and act as a historical primer. There were even times when I felt the screenwriters were attempting to pen a romantic comedy, in 1789. Perhaps had the film stuck to its original intent, that being the historical events that led up to the United Kingdom ending slavery at home and abroad, I would have enjoyed the film more. As it stands, Amazing Grace feels like a high school primer on the issue of slavery in England. However, I fully admit to this being my problem, as something of a history buff there was little I didn't already know and seeing the events dramatized on screen didn't ring true with me. To those who know very little about the events that slowly ended slavery in England (and, in a fashion, led to Americans opening their own eyes to the evils of slavery) Amazing Grace will work. Perhaps that was always the intention of the filmmakers. To open the eyes of those who were once blind to history and the lessons it can teach. In the end, Amazing Grace is a superbly acted and well made (if slightly thin) film that should be seen by those who are ignorant to the past yet hopeful of the future...

GeekintheCity.com gives Amazing Grace 3.5 out of 5 Critical Hits.