Amazing Grace (PG)
Earnest drama about fervent English abolitionist.
(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Seen the movie?
Movie details
- Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Company
- Directed By: Michael Apted
- Cast: Michael Gambon, Romola Garai, Ioan Gruffudd
- Running Time: 111 minutes
- Release Date: 2/23/2007
- Video/DVD Release Date: 11/13/2007
- Genre: Drama
- MPAA Rating: PG
- MPAA Explanation: thematic material involving slavery, and some mild language.
Parents need to know
Parents need to know that a former slave and a former slave ship captain describe slavery in direct, no-holds-barred language. Flashbacks and dream sequences also involve slavery. A horse is beaten in an early scene. Instruments of physical abuse -- chains, restraints, clamps -- appear on screen. Men smoke pipes, and several characters drink liquor at parties and sometimes alone. Wilberforce suffers from colitis and takes opium-based medicine to treat it. Mild language ("hell" and "damn"), plus one very pointed use of the "N" word.
Families can talk about how Wilberforce connects his religious calling with his political career. How is his work inspired by his faith? What is the significance of the song "Amazing Grace," both for the early (and lengthy) abolitionist movement, and, later, during the Civil Rights movement in the United States? Do you think the politicians that Wilberforce was up against liked slavery? If not, why did they continue to support the practice? How is the political lobbying and dealmaking of Wilberforce and his gang similar to what goes on in politics today? How is it different?
Families can talk about how Wilberforce connects his religious calling with his political career. How is his work inspired by his faith? What is the significance of the song "Amazing Grace," both for the early (and lengthy) abolitionist movement, and, later, during the Civil Rights movement in the United States? Do you think the politicians that Wilberforce was up against liked slavery? If not, why did they continue to support the practice? How is the political lobbying and dealmaking of Wilberforce and his gang similar to what goes on in politics today? How is it different?
Message
Social Behavior:
Wilberforce is a good man struggling to abolish slavery; his political opponents describe slavery as "good business," even though the film repeatedly demonstrates the dehumanization and violence such "business" entails. Plenty of political wrangling and deal-making.
Consumerism:
Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:
Pipe smoking; several scenes show social drinking (Wilberforce disparages drinking as a sign of low morals); Wilberforce takes an opium-based medicine (laudanum).
Violence
In the first scene, two men beat a horse (Wilberforce stops them); much discussion of slavery and physical abuse; Equiano shows a brand on his chest; metal torture and restraint devices inspire Wilberforce to work harder at abolition; flashback scene shows a child knocked by an explosion; Wilberforce and others describe or imagine slaves in chains and under duress. Wilberforce's poor health leads to some tense scenes.
Sex
Wilberforce dreams of a scene in which fully clothed couples mbrace and cavort in a theater; minor flirting and kissing between Wilberforce and Barbara; she shows cleavage several times.
Language
An overtly "bad" character uses the "N" word; other profanity is mild, including "ass," "hell," and "damn."
Common Sense says
What's the story?
Reviewed by Cynthia Fuchs
AMAZING GRACE follows the career of early British abolitionist/evangelical Christian William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd). As the film begins, Wilberforce is dismayed by England's moral decline and thinks that he might be better suited for religion than politics. Already renowned for his work within the abolitionist movement, he first appears commanding a mud-covered knave to stop beating his horse. Wilbeforce's pained face shows his physical capacity for empathy, a theme that comes up repeatedly in the film.
Is it any good?
As the sober and reverential film begins, Wilberforce appears commanding a mud-covered knave to stop beating his horse. Wilbeforce's pained face shows his physical capacity for empathy, a theme that comes up repeatedly in the film. A series of flashbacks shows how Wilberforce earned his reputation. Their opponents are unconditionally malevolent, especially the Duke of Clarence (Toby Jones), who's introduced as he instructs an underling to "Fetch my [the "N" word]" -- he wants to use his "property" to up the ante in a card game.
Wilberforce's visible horror at this gesture soon turns into inspiration: He decides to make his enemies in government see the evils they're perpetuating. This thematic connection to the song "Amazing Grace" (which Wilberforce sings passionately in one scene) informs the movie's own structure. The more Wilberforce "sees" -- through flashbacks and imagined visions pictured while remorseful slave ship captain/"Amazing Grace" composer John Newton (Albert Finney) recalls abusing and killing slaves -- the more dedicated he becomes to his work.
Related Video
Other choices
Parents and kids say
All Reviews
There are 12 reviews.
Age 11+
Posted on 10/06/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Posted on 04/07/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 17
Age 11+
Posted on 03/17/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Adult Reviews
There are 5 reviews.
Age 11+
Posted on 10/06/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Age 11+
Posted on 03/17/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Kids Reviews
There are 7 reviews.
Posted on 04/07/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 17
Posted on 02/25/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16
Posted on 02/25/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13
Which fantasy book creature has the best name?
Fluffy (3-headed dog, Harry Potter)
33%
Mister Grin (giant crocodile, Peter and the Starcatchers)
33%
Vermicious Knid (shapeshifting monster, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator)
0%
The Incredibly Deadly Viper (harmless snake, Series of Unfortunate Events)
0%
Bunnicula (vampire bunny, Bunnicula series)
33%
6 votes