Reality and Art

Rating: Null/10 (22 January 2000)

There are two things that one must remember when watching film and that is that it is only the illusion of reality and that sometimes reality is altered for the sake of art which ultimately film is.
Yes, this film is about 45 minutes longer than most humans on this planet have been trained to tolerate, and yes, the reality of what happened with the Amistad Africans has been altered. To say, however, that this film is flawed for either one of these reasons is totally missing the point.
Why is it that we can tolerate and even praise the over 3 hours of Schindler's List with it's equally depressing and just as vivid depiction of it's subject matter, but are more than willing to find fault with this one? I have noticed that most of the film critics with any notariety tend to be middle-aged white men. I don't want to make generalist statements, but could we somehow be embarrassed by events of that time period just as a German citizens might be embarrassed by the events in "Schindler's List"?
Whatever the cause of the Civil War (state's rights, economic factors,etc.)slavery will always remain the main cause in the minds of most Americans. Largely because today the differences between the different types of people in this country remains still the bone of contention. Who is meant in the Declaration of Independence as the men who are created equal?
Artistically, it is a beautifully shot film. The detail in this film is incredible. It is a wonderfully acted and directed film. Anthony Hopkins especially turns in a wonderful performance. There is a famous photograph of John Quincy Adams at the end of his life and Hopkins brings this photo to life as if Adams had stepped out of it. If one must find fault with anything the only thing would be that the script itself tends to drag in portions. One day this will be a classic film.
"Titanic" has nothing on this film.