Disappointing and overrated

Rating: 6/10 (20 October 2004)

This is a typical example of Spielberg's failed attempt at making a classic.Another good example is "Saving Private Ryan".Where this film falls short is when it tries to get deeper and give a wider emotional picture of the racial issue.Too much talking and too many unnecessary scenes spoil this attempt.In the end,it almost feels like watching a documentary,just like "Saving Private Ryan".
Both Freeman and Skarsgård are surprisingly wooden here and fail to impress,yes even to deliver palpable performances.That is because their characters are left standing behind much of the time and serve mostly as bystanders who watch and comment,but never make an impact on the happenings.The only pluses are Hopkins and Hounsou,who carry the film along with a little help from McConaughey.This picture got a good reception from many critics,yet I don't see why.It may look and feel like a great movie at first,but soon after it drops down to average and surprisingly boring for such a riveting and engaging story.The only scenes really worth watching are the ones with Anthony Hopkins,specially the final trial scene.The ending doesn't do much but add an epilogue to the story.
This movie could have been much better.In my eyes,Spielberg was the wrong director for this project.Frank Darabont or Ridley Scott would have been better choices.Still,the film gives a good insight in the history of slave trade and America's socio-political situation in that time. Yet still, this film is far from a classic it could have been.6 1/5