Amistad

AMISTAD (15)

D: Steven Spielberg

Dreamworks/HBO (Steven Spielberg, Debbie Allen & Colin Wilson)

USA 🇺🇸 1997

152 mins

Drama/Historical

W: David Franzoni & Steven Zaillian

DP: Janusz Kaminski

Ed: Michael Kahn

Mus: John Williams

PD: Rick Carter

Cos: Ruth E. Carter

Morgan Freeman (Theodore Joadson), Matthew McConaughey (Roger Baldwin), Djimon Hounsou (Cinque), Nigel Hawthorne (Martin Van Buren), Anthony Hopkins (John Quincy Adams), David Paymer (US Secretary Of State John Forsyth), Pete Posthelthwaite (Holabird), Stellan Skarsgard (Lewis Tappan), Anna Paquin (Queen Isabella), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Ensign Covey)

A Spielberg history lesson, traversing the line between facts and entertainment value with trepidation.

Prior to the abolishment of slavery, a group of captives mutineer a ship off the coast of Cuba and subsequently face trial in the US, where young, ambitious lawyer Matthew McConaughey must prove that they are of African origin and victims of illegal slave trade.

Much like the director's 2012 film Lincoln (qv), Amistad tells us much what we already know; slavery was an evil practice.

There's a handful of excellent performances, especially Djimon Hounsou as the slave who received the most of the focus in the film and Anthony Hopkins as former US president John Quincy Adams. The cinematography, production design and costumes are of the usual high standard you expect from a Spielberg movie, the biggest problem is that there's much preaching over a subject which hasn't been an important issue for the best part of a century, although, perhaps it's a subject which ought to be learned so that the dark history will never repeat itself. There's much better films which tackle the same subject though.

7/10

Matthew McConaughey & Djimon Hounsou in Amistad

Did You Know:

In Spanish, the word "Amistad" means "friendship".

Award Wins & Nominations:

MILSTEAD MOVIE AWARDS:

Wins: none

Nominations: 3 (Best Cinematography; Best Costume Design; Best Original Dramatic Score)

OSCARS:

Wins: none

Nominations: 4 (Best Actor in a Supporting Role; Best Cinematography; Best Costume Design; Best Original Score)

BAFTAS

Wins: none

Nominations: none

OTHER WINS:

Critics Choice Awards (Best Supporting Actor); Image Awards (Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor); OFTA (Breakthrough Male Performance); Satellite Award (Best Cinematography)