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This is one a very few titles in our movie and TV series recordings we have in both VHS and DVD format. I got this DVD because I wanted to be able to go to specific scenes and it's difficult to do that with tape formats. There are some scenes that are particularly difficult to view, but from other sources, I am told this was indeed practiced. For example, sometimes, slaves being transported across the Atlantic would be thrown overboard if there was sickness, chance of being boarded, or slaves simply commit suicide, by going over the side. I think the casting is especially well done. Anthony Hopkins plays a wonderful aged past President John Quincy Adams. The actor who played Cinque was nobody I have ever seen before, but he did a wonderful job in this role. In the beginning, the screen is dark and all the watcher experiences is some grunting. Little by little more light is added and we see a man struggling with getting free from shackels and chains. In the history of the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, the voyage of Amistad happened rather late. "She" was actually" just a "coastal" vessel and her mission was to transport the cargo of purchased slaves from one part of Cuba to another, what should probably would be only a few days voyage at most. But, some of the crew were killed by the cargo of slaves and they overtook the vessel and made the remaining crew turn the ship around and sail to the east, back to Africa. They sailed instead to the north and west and made landfall in New England. After that, it is up to courts to decide who, if anybody, has the right to posess these people who were stolen from Africa. They were not slave of the Caribbean Islands, as they spoke no Spainish. I don't know why, but the history of the slave trade and related histories has fascinated me for a while. Amistad is just one little story in a world of knowledge.Read full review
I don't recall this movie ever being in my local theaters or seeing a review about it, so I rented it unwittingly on the strength of its fine cast. Although I'm a western historian reasonably well versed in overall U.S. history, I'd never heard or read of the Amistad incident, so it was with great interest and curiosity that I popped it into the VCR and hit "play." From the very first moment, the plot and characters drew me in and I was completely mesmerized. The smaller drama of a shipload of intended slaves fighting in the U.S. courts for their freedom playing out against the great internal debate of American agony over slaveholding--plus the enormous pleasure of watching several of the primary participants in that great debate over slavery--John C. Calhoun for the south, John Quincy Adams and Daniel Webster for the north, actually debate the issue, made this movie everything I could want in a film. Anthony Hopkins as John Quincy Adams plays one of the best roles of his career--forget Hannibal Lector, folks, Hopkins IS Adams in all his contrary glory in the last years of his life. Matthew McConeghy as the enslaved Africans' young lawyer plays one of the best roles of his career, and Djimon Honsou in the first role I'd ever seen him play, went immediately to the head of my list of favorite serious actors. The courtroom scene where Honsou rises and shouts "Free! Give me free! Free," moved me as few other movie scenes ever have. As in any plot, there are good guys and bad guys and several just out to make a buck, and the job of the judge to weed out all the claims to the cargo of the Amistad much have been extremely difficult even as we realize with a chill that the Amistad's cargo was human, a fact few of the men involved in the lawsuit seemed to acknowledge. It is extremely instructive today to look back on a time when the issues of slavery or freedom were much clearer and hear spoken some of the great points of a debate that led our country to reject the terrible human toll of slavery and attempt to put into practice our belief that all men are created equal. And, in John Quincy Adams' words, may our Civil War have been indeed the last battle of the American Revolution. This is a terrific film, a real sleeper!Read full review
Superbly acted, this movie reviews an historical event: the take over of a slave ship called Amistad by the "cargo" and the trial of the Africans which followed. It depicts a time in America before the cival war when slavery was still legal and gives insight into some of the efforts made by various groups to abolish the institution. Charged with insurrection and murder, the slaves are brilliantly defended by a young property lawyer played by Matthew McConaughey, who understands from the onset that the case can be tried as a simple property matter. Were the Africans free men or were they someone's property at the time of the insurrection? Were they murders or doing what any free men would do to escape who were kidnapped and held captive? Among the obstacles McConaughey's character faces in defending the Africans are communication with clients whose culture and language is entirely different, a political situation in an election year that results in the interference in the judiciary by the President of the U.S., and an explosive situation between the agricultural economy that depends on slavery in the South and the anti-slavery fervor or the North. Though John Quincy Adams (played by Anthony Hopkins) finally impressively argues their case before the Supreme Court, the ending has a heart rending twist, unexpected and realistic. This movie, in my opinion, should be viewed by every American as a treatise on the humanity of every person and as a lesson in the history of our constitution, judicial system, and the seperation of powers.Read full review
Sometimes a great movie comes along. Not often enough. History is a wonderful subject. It changes constantly, and catches many by surprise. This movie is just that. It is a true story, and the story is magnificent in every way. So captivating is this movie, that if you watch it in a theater-like setting, you will actually feel you are back in time. When a movie does this, it deserves all the accolades. The characters pop right out of the screen, and enthrall you with their splendid mannerisms. Let's see...where do I begin? Anthony Hopkins as John Quincy Adams. Totally believable. Matthew McConaughey. This movie must have launched his career. Morgan Freeman. Always entertaining. On and on. Watch it and go back in history. One movie that should be rated much higher. Caution: Too violent for younger audiences.Read full review
Wonderful, monumental movie. Should have gotten several little gold men for best picture, best actor (Djimon Hounsou), best supporting actor(Freeman or Hopkins), best director?(SS has so many already), best costumes, sets etc. (very high, authentic production values), music was great (music from actual tribal background of the people in the story) but Williams has too many already also. 97 was a tough year for Oscars, lots of good stuff. Had to have for my EXCELLENCE collection. Also I am a histo-docu-drama nut. What a buy, unopened at 99 cents!
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