A neglected gem and prequel to Lincoln.

Rating: 8/10 (6 July 2019)

My Review Amistad- Rating 8/10
I missed this gem of a movie in the cinema release but obviously not the only one as it barely made half its $36 million USD production cost World Wide but I'm so glad I've added it to my DVD collection and can appreciate it years later.
In I997 Steven Spielberg Directed and Co Produced Armistad his first production for Fox Searchlight Films.
Based on a true story concerning a group of 53 African slaves who revolt and capture their ship The Amistad and
are tricked by their captors who sail them to America where slavery was still legal in 1853 rather than Africa their homeland.
They are all put on trial to fight for their freedom and lives while slave traders in Cuba and the young Queen Isabella of Spain in the unusual cast choice of New Zealander Anna Paquin claim that they own this human cargo of misery.
Be warned there is violence and cruelty depicted in this film but it's necessary to portray the hideous treatment that their unscrupulous greedy captors inflicted on them.
There's some fine performances in this movie ,especially Anthony Hopkins as the frail old but razor sharp former American President John Quincy Adams ,who reluctantly eventually takes on the slaves final legal bid for freedom to The Supreme Court of The United States.
Also great acting from Djimon Hounsou as Cinque the slave leader and Chiwetel Ejiofor in his first movie role as Ensign Covey the African entrepreneur,remember his later well deserved Oscar Nominated role in 12 Years A Slave?
I was also impressed with Matthew McConaughey as Roger Sherman Baldwin the young lawyer who proves to be much more than the inexperienced over confident rookie he first appears to be and is so instrumental in the final outcome.
Steven Spielberg is a fine Director who has won 3 Academy Awards and nominated Seven times and I think this much overlooked movie is one of his finest films and almost a Prequel to Lincoln filmed in 2012 and much more applauded than the overlooked but equally compelling Amistad .