| Amazing Grace | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Michael Apted |
| Written by | Steven Knight |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Remi Adefarasin |
| Edited by | Rick Shaine |
| Music by | David Arnold |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 118 minutes |
| Countries | United Kingdom United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $29 million |
| Box office | $32.1 million[1] |
Amazing Grace is a 2006biographicaldrama film directed byMichael Apted, about theabolitionist campaign against theslave trade in theBritish Empire, led byWilliam Wilberforce, who was responsible for steering anti-slave trade legislation through theBritish parliament. The title is a reference to the 1772hymn "Amazing Grace". The film also recounts the experiences ofJohn Newton as a captain of slave ships and subsequentChristian conversion, which inspired his writing of the poem later used in the hymn. Newton is portrayed as a major influence on Wilberforce and the abolition movement.
The film premièred on 16 September 2006 at theToronto International Film Festival, followed by showings at theHeartland Film Festival, theSanta Barbara International Film Festival, and theEuropean Film Market, before opening in wide US release on 23 February 2007,[1] which coincided with the 200th anniversary of the date the British parliament voted toban the slave trade.
In 1797, William Wilberforce is severely ill and taking a recuperative holiday inBath, Somerset, with his cousin,Henry Thornton. It is here that Wilberforce is introduced to his future wife,Barbara Spooner. Although he initially resists any romantic overtures, she convinces him to relate the story of his career.
The story flashes back 15 years to 1782, and Wilberforce recounts the events that led him to where he is now. Beginning as a young, ambitious, and popular Member of Parliament (MP), he experiences areligious enlightenment and aligns himself with theevangelical wing of theChurch of England. Wilberforce contemplates leaving politics to study theology, but is persuaded by his friendsWilliam Pitt,Thomas Clarkson,Hannah More, andOlaudah Equiano that he will be more effective doing the work of God by taking on the unpopular and dangerous issue of the abolition of the Britishslave trade. His conviction in the cause deepens following a meeting with his former mentorJohn Newton (introduced mopping a church floor dressed insackcloth) who is said to live "in the company of 20,000 ghosts… slaves". As a former slave ship captain turned Christian, he deeply regrets his past life and the effects on his fellow man. Newton urges Wilberforce to take up the cause.
Pitt becomes Prime Minister and Wilberforce becomes a key supporter and confidant. Pitt gives Wilberforce the opportunity to present a bill before the house outlawing the slave trade. Wilberforce's passionate campaigning leads him to become highly unpopular in theHouse of Commons. He is opposed by a coalition of MPs and peers representing vested interests of the slave trade in London,Bristol,Glasgow, andLiverpool led byBanastre Tarleton and theDuke of Clarence. Despite popular support and the assistance of an unlikely ally in the form ofCharles James Fox, Wilberforce's bill to abolish the slave trade goes down to defeat. Afterward, the film portrays Pitt as one of his few friends and allies remaining in Parliament, however even their relationship becomes strained. Pitt, now facing the stresses of leading ashaky coalition during theFrench Revolutionary Wars, tells Wilberforce that his cause must now wait for a more stable political climate.
Wilberforce keeps up the fight but after years of failure he is left exhausted and frustrated that he was unable to change anything in the government. Believing his life's work has been in vain, he becomes physically ill, suffering from chroniccolitis which causes him to become addicted tolaudanum prescribed for the crippling pain, which brings the story back up to 1797. Having virtually given up hope, Wilberforce considers leaving politics forever. Barbara convinces him to keep fighting because there is no other person who is willing or able to do so. A few days afterward, William Wilberforce and Barbara marry. Several years pass with no further success. Wilberforce's wife and new children provide him with the support and strength needed to carry on the fight.
Finally, with a renewed hope for success Wilberforce devises a backdoor method ofslowly weakening the slave trade through seemingly innocuous legislation. Aided by Thornton, Clarkson, and new allyJames Stephen and cheered on by the now terminally ill Pitt, he reintroduces his bill to abolish the slave trade. In time, after the 20-year campaign and many attempts to bring legislation forward, he is eventually responsible for abill being passed through Parliament in 1807, which abolishes the slave trade in theBritish Empire forever.
The film was shot primarily inHull,East Riding of Yorkshire. Baker's Quay, which forms part of the Parliament Docks on theGloucester and Sharpness Canal, was used as a backdrop against which to recreate the atmosphere of theEast India Docks in London circa 1780. Shooting took place during October 2005 and involved thetall ships,Kaskelot,Earl of Pembroke,Johanna Lucretia andPhoenix.[2] During January 2006, the scenes from the Houses of Parliament were shot at the 1743 Church withinChatham Historic Dockyard. The wedding scene was filmed at St Mary’s Church,Garsington in Oxfordshire.[3]
A number of outside scenes were shot at the formerGreenwich Hospital, now part of theUniversity of Greenwich, and aroundSalisbury, Wiltshire.
The Executive Producer was Jeanney Kim, with Mark Cooper as co-producer. Producers on the film were Terrence Malick (The Thin Red Line) and Ed Pressman under their Sunflower Productions banner, Patricia Heaton and David Hunt for FourBoys Films, and Ken Wales.[4]
The soundtrack ofChristian music included the title song "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" byChris Tomlin. The score was named Instrumental Album of the Year at theDove Awards of 2008.[5]
Amazing Grace brought in a little over $4 million at the US box office over its opening weekend of 23–25 February 2007, making it the 10th-highest-grossing film for the weekend, behind such new releases asThe Astronaut Farmer andThe Number 23. As of 26 August 2007 the film had $32,050,774.[1]
Amazing Grace received positive reviews.Philip French described the film as "not exactly innovative" and compared it to "earnestly worthy prewar Warner Brothers cinebiographies". Overall he called it "a very decent contribution to the present bicentennial celebrations of the parliamentary bill that outlawed the slave trade in the British empire".[6] Wally Hammond writing forTime Out singled outBenedict Cumberbatch's performance for praise saying his performance "quietly upstaged" the fine performance of Gruffudd.[7] The Guardian gave it a C− for the entertainment value and an A− for its historical accuracy.[8]
Review aggregation websiteRotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 68% based on review from 123 critics, with an average rating of 6.50/10. According to the website, the film is "your quintessential historicalbiopic: stately, noble, and with plenty of electrifying performances".[9]Metacritic gives the film a 65 out of 100, based on reviews from 29 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[10]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Evening Standard British Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Steven Knight | Nominated |
| 2008 | London Film Critics' Circle | British Breakthrough – Acting | Benedict Cumberbatch | Nominated |
| 2008 | Christopher Award | Feature Film | Amazing Grace | Won |
| 2008 | Genesis Awards | Outstanding Feature Film | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Humanitas Prize | Feature Film | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Satellite Award | Production Design | David Allday Matthew Gray Charles Wood | Nominated |
| Best Costume Design | Jenny Beavan | Nominated |
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