Worth watching

Rating: 9/10 (1 December 2009)

In the movie Amistad, which is directed by Steven Spielberg and written by David Franzoni, is about a group of Africans, who, after being seized from their home, forced onto a ship and sent away to the United States aboard the boat "La Amistad". On the way, the slaves, led by Cinque finds a way to open the chains around him and rebels, causing the death of almost the whole crew. However, the ship was still directed towards the United States, where the Africans were captured and brought to trial under murder. In the court, several of factions claim the ownership of the slaves, and try to seize them away. The 11 year old Isabella II of Spain, two Spaniards who own "La Amistad" and the American ship who found the slaves are these people who want the slaves for themselves. In the middle of this struggle we find to abolitionists who want the salves to be free. They receive help of the lawyer Baldwin who puts his career at stake in order to free the slaves.
The film itself is a visual wonder. Spielberg sets the film in a special dark mood which brings out the intensity of each character individual. With use of great camera angel and perfect choice of weather the film becomes real to us. At times, the film can be very slow and very systematic. Spielberg shows several times in the movie that he's one of the best directors out there. In for example the opening scene, a scene of Cinque's family, and the brutal voyage of the slaves to America is altogether stunningly made. It is this emotional force that carries us throughout the film. Matthew McConaughey (Baldwin) is superb acting as the lawyer defending the slaves, Anthony Hopkins (John Quincy Adams) is sensational playing as the old Adams and Morgan Freeman (Joadson) is just outstanding in his scenes. The rest of the cast is also quite good, but the movie, however, belongs to Djimon Hounsou (Cinque). His emotional performing is just brilliant. Spielberg manages to make the slowest scenes to glow with focus on Hounsou. One thing that the director impressed me with was how Cinque and his people were presented. The first scene leaves us an impression that the Africans are simply brutal. As the story in the film moves on we get to know them better despite language difficulties. Also when truth unravels we quickly change which side were cheering for.
The main theme in this film must be about freedom. What is it and how does one determine who is free? In 1839, those questions were more difficult to answer then they are now. I found the film quite interesting with this theme, because the film itself brings up something that are so important to the Africans back in 1839, but we don't think of freedom as much as people used to back in the older days. Through the film we get to see how important freedom actually is and that it never shall be forgotten as we have learned from the mistakes of our forefathers.