Amazing Grace (2007)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Thomas B

  
  Not as memorable as you'd think but a good film nonetheless. Full review later.

• familiar s

  
  A chapter from history which is APTly supported by great performances from the actors involved, but not fluently adAPTed for the screen by Michael Apted.

• Carlos M

  
  This historical biopic boasts the perfect material to create a quintessential modern classic, but unfortunately it lacks soul and intensity, resulting in a rather dull experience that doesn't quite live up to the importance of its real-life character.

• Lady D

  
  A story that rightfully deserves recognition for it's place in history and opens the eyes of those who do not realise exactly what people went through during the slave trade years. Both storyline and cast were worthy enough in the making of a great film, however admittedly, I… More
  A story that rightfully deserves recognition for it's place in history and opens the eyes of those who do not realise exactly what people went through during the slave trade years. Both storyline and cast were worthy enough in the making of a great film, however admittedly, I did find myself losing concentration in parts, despite the story being of great interest to me.

• Dan S

  
  Well-told story concerning William Wilberforce and his tenacity for getting legislature passed that would free Britain from supporting slavery. Ioan Gruffudd sells this movie with his roaring performance as a man whose passion would not die. It does at times get a little over-dramatic… More
  Well-told story concerning William Wilberforce and his tenacity for getting legislature passed that would free Britain from supporting slavery. Ioan Gruffudd sells this movie with his roaring performance as a man whose passion would not die. It does at times get a little over-dramatic (a scene with Gruffudd chopping wood...IN THE RAIN...), and it does feel longer than 110 minutes, but it's still a watchable movie due to great acting (Albert Finney nearly steals the show as John Newton), and an important lesson in world history.

• Anthony L

  
  A fantastic cast and some great acting, informative and well structured....just a bit too schmaltzy and sentimental though. Shame really, as the story is incredible, it just could and should have been better!

• Aliyanto L

  
  It's a 'history film' without being dull, and a 'religious film' without being preachy. But perhaps most of all, it's a movie that will convince any viewer that he or she can also make a difference in a sin-sick world desperately in need of social… More
  It's a 'history film' without being dull, and a 'religious film' without being preachy. But perhaps most of all, it's a movie that will convince any viewer that he or she can also make a difference in a sin-sick world desperately in need of social justice, mercy and compassion.

• danny d

  
  incredible and inspiring. brilliant acting and moving story telling of the life of william wilberforce. a story that all should know, and a movie that all should see.

• Shauna R

  
  I watched this film, as I have been studying the Slave Trade at school and wanted to expand my knowledge. I found this film very interesting, it did not lose my attention at any point. Ioan Gruffudd gives a brilliant performance and is very convincing as William Wilberforce. Also… More
  I watched this film, as I have been studying the Slave Trade at school and wanted to expand my knowledge. I found this film very interesting, it did not lose my attention at any point. Ioan Gruffudd gives a brilliant performance and is very convincing as William Wilberforce. Also giving good supporting roles are Michael Gambon, Albert Finney and Benedict Cumberbatch. Nicely directed with an excellent script, definately worth a view for history fans.

• Jeremy S

  
  The Blind, The Lost And The Found: "I once was blind but now I see, was lost but now am found?" goes the grand hymn Amazing Grace, written by an ex-slave trader John Newton, played by Albert Finney, who was haunted by the twenty thousand slaves he traded, left his life of… More
  The Blind, The Lost And The Found: "I once was blind but now I see, was lost but now am found?" goes the grand hymn Amazing Grace, written by an ex-slave trader John Newton, played by Albert Finney, who was haunted by the twenty thousand slaves he traded, left his life of sin and wrote one of Christianity?s greatest hymn. The hymn and the film Amazing Grace are a testimony to the power of grace to transform everything it touches, blindness to sight, the lost to the found, the slave to the free man. As is the life of William Wilberforce (played by Ioan Gruffold) a man of amazing grace who changed the world through his crusade to abolish the slave trade in England. It is this transformation of English law from enforcing the slave trade to abolishment by the grace and perseverance of one man that the film focuses on, delving into the details and nature of the slave trade, which made the British Empire the most powerful the world, had ever seen. However although the horrors of the slave trade are spelt out, discussed and even shown through diagrams and demonstrations, the actual seeing of the slave trade in action is not shown. Wether or not this adds or detracts from the merit of the film is debatable, yet the opportunity to illuminate the full horrors of the slave trade visually is defiantly missed as the audience has only an idea of the slave trade really was. We follow Wilberforce not through the bowels of the slave ships in trade, or through the plantations they worked or the jungles of Africa, from where most of the slaves came from but through the jungle of politics in the British parliament. A reoccurring theme in this struggle of Wilberforce is the clash between his spiritual life and political life, his idealism and the harsh realism of politics. His ability is blend his spiritual grace and political ability, his idealism and political realism ultimately lead to his victory, in which as Lord Fox (Michael Gambon) most admirably speaks of the true measure of a man, measured not by glory or power but by noble struggle in the cause of bettering the world, by which measure William Wilberforce is a truly great man. An edifying spiritual testimony to the power of grace.

• Bruce B

  
  This is a good one, tell's many facts about slavery that I did not know. Actors are outstanding. WISH i FOUND IT SOONER.

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic]"Amazing Grace" is an insipid movie about William Wilberforce(Ioan Gruffudd), a member of Parliament, and his role in the abolition of the slave trade which at the time was immensely profitable for the British Empire.(Abolition meaning one thing;… More
  [font=Century Gothic]"Amazing Grace" is an insipid movie about William Wilberforce(Ioan Gruffudd), a member of Parliament, and his role in the abolition of the slave trade which at the time was immensely profitable for the British Empire.(Abolition meaning one thing; enforcement quite another.) The movie is unfocused as it frames the slave trade in the broader subject of activism, only sporadically returning to the subject at hand and spending too much time on an irksome romantic subplot.(Okay, so it gets Romola Garai into the movie but still...) Starting in 1797, it flashes back to 1782, before returning to 1797, resulting in a clumsy and confusing chronology of events.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]What is most bothersome about "Amazing Grace" is that Gruffudd, eternally bland, fails to capture the dynamic personality of Wilberforce who could command a great deal of attention in his time. However, there are some nice character moments from Michael Gambon, Albert Finney and Toby Jones.[/font]

• Burger S

  
  The timeline shifts back and forth in a way that is confusing. I wasn't sure if there were two, three or even four of them until about 70% of the way through the film (it's just the two). The topic this film tackles is obviously a delicate one. I thought that the costumes… More
  The timeline shifts back and forth in a way that is confusing. I wasn't sure if there were two, three or even four of them until about 70% of the way through the film (it's just the two). The topic this film tackles is obviously a delicate one. I thought that the costumes but more importantly the scenery and locations were very convincing for the period.

• Dannielle A

  
  It's so nice to see a Christian film doing really well in Hollywood.

• meril l

  
  Amazing Grace is a veritable who's who of the British film industry. The movie does not preach its cause (not that anyone now is pro-slavery, in any case), but portrays William Wilberforce's battle with the British House through flashbacks, leading up to the vote that… More
  Amazing Grace is a veritable who's who of the British film industry. The movie does not preach its cause (not that anyone now is pro-slavery, in any case), but portrays William Wilberforce's battle with the British House through flashbacks, leading up to the vote that abolished slavery. Normally I find flashbacks to be terrible plot devices - they always seem to be an excuse for bad writing and are unnecessary - but here, they were used seamlessly. The movie is a gorgeous period piece, resplendent with some hefty acting power, but this is not where its main strength lies. The pacing is spot-on, and the story is captivating. I never got bored or felt my thoughts drifting away; even partly told in the past, the story flowed perfectly. Captivating, gorgeous, inspirational: definitely a must-see for fans of Ioan Gruffudd or of period pieces.

• William G

  
  Dry material, overwrought moments salvaged by dedicated cast, direction.

• Constanza B

  
  The story of William Wilberforce, memorably interpreted by Ioan Gruffudd, is one man's role in the long battle to outlaw slavery in the United Kingdom in the eighteenth century. This is an outstanding historical drama from director Michael Apted.

• hawk l

  
  Ioan Gruffudd's flawless performance as William Wilberforce is the centerpiece of this captivating exploration of the legislative battle to outlaw slavery in the United Kingdom in the late 1700s.

• Lovable M

  
  Good movie, but really boring at points.

• deb .

  
  Excellent film. Amazing Grace is based on the true story of William Wilberforce. It follows him through his passion, which is to abolish the slave trade in Britain. Note: If you love bagpipes as much as I do, then at the end of the movie, keep watching and listening...you'll… More
  Excellent film. Amazing Grace is based on the true story of William Wilberforce. It follows him through his passion, which is to abolish the slave trade in Britain. Note: If you love bagpipes as much as I do, then at the end of the movie, keep watching and listening...you'll know what I mean. Simply amazing, Amazing Grace.

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