What Do The Critics Say?

"That rare bird: a tear-jerker about the House of Commons and the antislavery movement in England. Michael Apted's idolatrous portrait of abolitionist William Wilberforce is wall-to-wall with intriguing characters and deeply felt performances." Jan Stuart NEWSDAY "Michael Apted’s Amazing Grace, from a screenplay by Steven Knight, turns out to be blessed with inspirational nobility and comic eccentricity to bring it to emotional fruition." Andrew Sarris NEW YORK OBSERVER "It is one of the world's great songs, and now it has a worthy movie to go with it." Robert Roten LARAMIE MOVIE SCOPE "Steven Knight has enlivened what might have been workmanlike, spiced the romance with wit, spiked the period-piece punch with pizzazz." Jeffrey Overstreet LOOKING CLOSER "Amazing Grace is the stuff of great lessons and inspiration and hope, and if it's all delivered with a bit too much moral push, well, moral push apparently was what William Wilberforce was all about. There's another word for such dweebs: Heroes." Tom Long DETROIT NEWS "Apted directs with a firm hand and the film has been gorgeously shot by Remi Adefarasin. The large cast is generally good, with Gruffudd serving as the strong anchor." Ted Murphy MURPHY'S MOVIE REVIEWS

"Amazing Grace arrives Hollywood-slick, a polished British period piece. It manipulates, but then again, so does the song that gives it its title. Movies, like hymns and history, should give us a good cry." Roger Moore ORLANDO SENTINEL "A creditable historical drama about those who choose to be in the world, not merely of it." Peter Canavese GROUCHO REVIEWS "Well-made by Michael Apted, and well-acted all around." Laura Kelly SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL "A movie for people who like uncomplicated, uplifting stories where good triumphs over evil." Matt McKillop FILMCRITIC.COM "Based on the true story of one man's crusade to end slavery in 18th-century Great Britain, Michael Apted's film is a conventional social injustice drama, immenseley helped by Iown Gruffudd's captivating lead performance." Emanuel Levy EMANUELLEVY.COM "All the elements work harmoniously together: beautiful settings, an extremely talented cast who bring the characters to life, gorgeous costuming and a rich script that informs and delights." Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone THEMOVIECHICKS.COM "When Wilberforce finally achieves victory, Lord Fox makes a speech, in which the opening words, sadly, still ring true today: When people think of great men, rarely do they think of peaceful men." Teresa Budasi CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

The Inside Story Michael Apted, a British director ("Coal Miner's Daughter" & "Gorky Park") based in Los Angeles, was approached by Bristol Bay Productions ("Ray" & "Sahara") to direct a film about William Wilberforce to coincide with the 200th anniversary (in 2007) of the passing of the bill that outlawed the slave trade in Britain and its Empire. "But, I wasn’t interested in making a dull biopic. This is a great period in British politics. I wanted to make a film that showed how heroic and relevant politics can be," he said. "William Wilberforce and William Pitt were both very young men, under thirty, when they took on the British establishment to bring about the abolition of the slave trade. This is a great moment in British history, and I wanted to portray it as a generational battle; the young men taking on the older generation, like Kennedys and their Camelot court were to America in the early sixties." How would the director then describe the man at the centre of his latest film? "He had a very strong moral drive, based on his religious beliefs, but Wilberforce moved in the real world and could form alliances with people he didn’t totally approve of, in order to get closer to his goal. He proved that although he was driven by a divine purpose to rid the world of this iniquitous slave trade, to execute this mission he needed to be strong, worldly, smart and political. A combination of Christian visionary and skilled politician, his overwhelming tenacity eventually let him reach his goal." The day after he had agreed to direct the film, Apted met with a man whose work he admired, screenwriter Steven Knight. Knight ("Gypsy Woman"), it turns out, was not only a fan of the director, he was also had a particular interest in the period of history surrounding Wilberforce’s life. "He was a single-minded man who kept pursuing his goal, and plucked success from the jaws of defeat. To most people at the time the idea of abolishing the slave trade was ludicrous," Knight notes, "like someone today suggesting that we abandon the internal combustion engine right now! At the same time he was an eccentric. He had a house full of sick animals, and could never bring himself to fire any of his staff, so that by the time he was fifty, he had a house full of old servants, most of whom did nothing. And he would come home to find his house full of people he didn’t know, sleeping there." It should come as no surprise to readers that when it came to casting "Amazing Grace" Apted was determined to use British actors. "I’m a British director, the screenplay writer is British, and it’s a huge moment in British history, so the cast had to be British,” he said. The star of the Marvel Comics "Fantastic Four" film franchise, Ioan Gruffudd (Reed Richards a.k.a Mr Fantastic) got the nod for the lead role William Wilberforce. Apted notes, "This allowed us to surround him with other choice British actors of every generation: Rufus Sewell, Benedict Cumberbatch, Romola Garai, Ciaran Hinds, Albert Finney and Michael Gambon." Gruffudd says three factors attracted him to the project. The combination of director, script and story. "“It’s very rare to find all three of such a high standard in the same project. I was convinced that I could play this role and that I’d be guided skilfully by Michael Apted." And what did Gruffudd discover when he researched the character he was to play. "I did a lot of background reading to immerse myself in the period. I found William Wilberforce to be a likeable man, constantly conflicted between his faith and his work in Parliament, but at his core he was a humanitarian, filled with compassion and courage. At only 5' 4", he had a towering presence and an incredible voice." About that voice. How did he handle having to sing 'Amazing Grace' in the film? "Luckily I had my singing teacher from drama college, who I hadn’t seen for ten years, there to guide me." Did he find playing William Wilberforce daunting? "It was very daunting to be confronted, suddenly, with the set full of extras playing Members of Parliament. It was like having a theatre audience and I had to be careful not to perform," he revealed. Benedict Cumberbatch was cast for the role of William Pitt the Younger. He relished the role of Britain’s youngest ever Prime Minister. "It is initially daunting to take on the role of someone with such iconic statute in British history. In the film Pitt starts out as Prime Minister, in his twenties and we follow his relationship with Wilberforce to his deathbed, so I wanted to understand the whole stretch of the man’s life. He also suffered from ill health and had been told by doctors to drink two to three bottles of port a day, which obviously took a terrible toll on his health, and made him an alcoholic. He was incredibly intense and fiercely intelligent, but physically awkward, tall and gangly. His body suffered the ravages of a peptic ulcer, which eventually killed him," Cumberbatch offered. Wilberforce met Barbara Ann Spooner (1777–1847) on the 15th of April 1797. After a whirlwind romance which lasted only a few weeks they married. Their marriage produced six children: William (b 1798), Barbara (b 1799), Elizabeth (b 1801), Robert Isaac (b 1802), Samuel (b 1805) and Henry William (b 1807). The bonds of love lasted thirty five years till Wilberforce’s death on the 29th of July 1833. A month later, Parliament passed the Slavery Abolition Act which gave all slaves in the British Empire their freedom. Romola Garai plays Barbara Spooner. She notes, "little is known of Barbara’s life before she married William Wilberforce," says Garai. "In those days women were still regarded as someone’s daughter, wife or mother, rather than noteworthy in their own right." Rufus Sewell described the man he plays, Thomas Clarkson, as "a bit of an oddball and a real life force. He had so much energy, devoted to the power of good, but, like many people working for the good of humanity, proved not to be that able at individual relationships." He says the story has relevance for todays audiences. "People who do good are not necessarily all totally clean-cut and wholesome. The Abolitionists were a very mixed bunch of individuals. There is good and bad in everyone, so it’s worth appealing to the good in people. This is a film about real human beings doing something good." Michael Gambon, known to millions of Harry Potter fans as Professor Albus Dumbledore, plays Lord Fox. "He’s an MP and a member of the British aristocracy who initially opposes the abolition of slavery, but then changes his views and backs Wilberforce." What was it like working with director Apted? "He’s the best film director I’ve ever worked with. He films at an alarming rate, and he does very few takes, because he knows exactly what he wants. He’s charming, talented and positive." Of Gruuffudd he says, "He’s young, intelligent and handsome and I enjoy working with him." And reuniting again with friend Albert Finney? "I’ve known Albert for over forty years, and have done a couple of plays and a film with him, so it was good to see him on set." So how would he sum-up working on "Amazing Grace"? "I’ve loved every minute of my time on the film," Gambon said. Finney, who plays John Newton admitted he knew to knowing little of the history of the period before reading the script. "I was a bad scholar, and gave up on history after Henry VIII passed on. What did he discover then about the man he would play? "Newton was a sea captain who profited from the slave trade until, aged fourty five, he suffered a crisis of conscience and left the sea to enter the Church. There he remained and wrote over two hundred hymns, including Amazing Grace." Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour was cast in the pivotal role of Oloudah Equiano, an African slave who bought his freedom and settled in London, writing a book about his extraordinary life, which became a best seller at the time. Campaigning for the abolition of slavery for his people, he joins Wilberforce’s abolitionist movement at a crucial time. "The role of Equiano is crucial and complicated in the film. Youssou had that pure presence; he brings a richness and dignity to his scenes," Apted said. Footnote: The twelve man Abolition Committee began their campaign in May 1787 and within a year had mobilised public opinion, causing debate in London coffee shops, provincial pubs, and around dinner tables throughout the country. Signatures were gathered for more petitions than Parliament had ever received on a single issue, pamphlets were published, and soon three hundred thousand people were refusing to take slave plantation sugar in their tea. Josiah Wedgwood manufactured special cameos for supporters to wear, depicting a Negro in chains, imploring for compassion, inscribed with the same words as the Committee’s seal "Am I not a Man and a Brother?" William Wilberforce proposed Abolition in the Houses of Parliament in 1791. In July 1833, the Abolition of Slavery Bill was passed in the House of Commons at the third reading. Three days later, William Wilberforce died. He was buried at Westminster Cathedral and his statue stands in the North Aisle of Westminster Abbey. Twenty million pounds compensation was paid to the slave owners. That amount was about one half of the worth of their freed slaves. Synopsis

A good friend of England’s youngest Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger, William Wilberforce is elected to the House of Commons at the age of 21, and entrusted by Pitt with the cause for the Abolition of Slavery. In spite of his preternatural political prowess, Wilberforce finds himself torn between his successful rising career and his desire to give it all up for a life of spirituality. He seeks the advice of friend and mentor John Newton, a former slave trader who turned to the Church in order to atone for his earlier life, who suggests that the best way for Wilberforce to serve God would be to fight injustice with his political influence. Inspired by Newton, Wilberforce quickly becomes the rallying voice in Parliament for a fragmented group of like-minded people to fight the cause and make the people of Britain, and ultimately the world, acknowledge the horror of the infamous Slave Trade.

The Verdict "A film about a man much to be admired for his commitment, tenacity and vision, "Amazing Grace" is more than a history lesson. A strong, believable cast headed by Ioan Gruffudd makes this a film worthy of your attention. Stephen Knight's screenplay reveals a man whose character will eternally stand the test of time. It's a pity that the memory of William Wilberforce, a man who did so much good for his fellow man, has like slavery, faded with passing of time. In a year which celebrates the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery, "Amazing Grace" is a must see for adults and children (of reasonable age) alike. Highly commended. 4 STARS." Cast & Crew Bytes "AMAZING GRACE" stars .......
Ioan Gruffudd ["Very Annie Mary", "King Arthur", "Fantastic Four" and "Fantastic Four Rise Of The Silver Surfer"]; Romola Garai ["Nicholas Kickleby", "I Capture the Castle", "Vanity Fair" and "Scoop"]; Rufus Sewell ["A Knight's Tale", "The Illusionist" and "The Holiday"]; Albert Finney ["Erin Brockovich", "Big Fish" and "A Good Year"]; Benedict Cumberbatch ["Hills Like White Elephants", "To Kill a King" and "Starter for 10"]; Jeremy Swift ["The Tale of the Rat That Wrote", "Gosford Park", "To Kill a King" and "Oliver Twist"]; Youssou N'Dour ["Picc Mi"]; Ciarán Hinds ["Road To Perdition", "Calendar Girls", "Munich" and "Miami Vice "] and Michael Gambon ["Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow", "Layer Cake" and "The Good Shepherd"] as Lord Charles Fox.
"AMAZING GRACE" was .......
directed by Michael Apted ["Gorillas in the Mist", "The World Is Not Enough", "Enigma" and "Lipstick"]; screenplay by Stephen Knight ["Dirty Pretty Things"]; costume design by 1987 Academy Award, 1985 & 2002 BAFTA Award, 1996 David di Donatello Award winner Jenny Beavan ["Room With A View", "Gosford Park" and "Jane Eyre"]; production design by Charles Wood ["The Italian Job", "Laws of Attraction" and "Flyboys"]; edited by Rick Shaine ["A Nightmare on Elm Street", "Crossing Delancey", "Pitch Black" and "Enigma"]; cinematography by Remi Adefarasin ["Truly Madly Deeply", "The House of Mirth", "Match Point" and "Scoop"] with original music by David Arnold ["Zoolander", "Die Another Day", "The Stepford Wives", "Four Brothers" and "Casino Royale"]. Who's Who?

Ioan Gruffudd Romola Garai Benedict Cumberbatch Albert Finney Michael Gambon Rufus Sewell Youssou N'Dour Ciarán Hinds Toby Jones Nicholas Farrell Sylvestra Le Touzel Jeremy Swift Stephen Campbell Moore Bill Paterson Nicholas Day

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

William Wilberforce Barbara Wilberforce Pitt the Younger John Newton Lord Charles Fox Thomas Clarkson Oloudaqh Equiano Lord Tarleton Duke of Clarence Henry Thornton Marianne Thornton Richard the Butler James Stephen Lord Dundas William Dolben

Run Time 118 minutes Rated PG [AUST] Copyright ©2007 - Roadside Attractions/Samuel Goldwyn Films - All Rights Reserved ©2007 All Rights Reserved - Protected by Australian & International Copyright. Trademark Laws Apply.