Amistad
Tags: violence, boring, historical, murder, sadist

Plot synopsis:
Amistad is the name of a slave ship traveling from Cuba to the United States in 1839. It is carrying African people as its cargo. As the ship is crossing from Cuba to the United States, Cinqué, a leader of the Africans, leads a mutiny and takes over the ship. The mutineers spare the lives of two Spanish navigators to help them sail the ship back to Africa. Instead, the navigators misdirect the Africans and sail north to the east coast of the United States, where the ship is stopped by the American Navy, and the 53 living Africans imprisoned as runaway slaves.
In an unfamiliar country and not speaking a single word of English, the Africans find themselves in a legal battle. District Attorney William S. Holabird brings charges of piracy and murder. The Secretary of State John Forsyth, on behalf of President Martin Van Buren (who is campaigning for re-election), represents the claim of Queen Isabella II of Spain that the Africans are slaves and are property of Spain based on a treaty. Two Naval officers claim them as salvage while the two Spanish navigators produce proof of purchase. A lawyer named Roger Sherman Baldwin, hired by the abolitionist Tappan and his black associate Joadson (a fictional character) decides to defend the Africans.
Baldwin argues that the Africans had been captured in Africa to be sold in the Americas illegally. Baldwin proves through documents found hidden on Amistad that the African people were initially cargo belonging to a Portuguese slave ship, The Tecora. Therefore, the Africans were free citizens of another country and not slaves at all. In light of this evidence, the staff of President Van Buren has the judge presiding over the case replaced by Judge Coglin, who is younger and believed to be impressionable and easily influenced. Consequently, seeking to make the case more personal, on the advice of former American president (and lawyer) John Quincy Adams, Baldwin and Joadson find James Covey, a former slave who speaks both Mende and English. Cinque tells his story at trial.
District Attorney Holabird attacks Cinqué’s “tale” of being captured and kept in a Lomboko slave fortress and especially questions the throwing of precious cargo overboard. However, the Royal Navy's fervent abolitionist Captain Fitzgerald of the West Africa Squadron backs up Cinqué’s account. Baldwin shows from The Tecora's inventory that the number of African people taken as slaves was reduced by 50. Fitzgerald explains that some slave ships when interdicted do this to get rid of the evidence for their crime. But in The Tecora's case, they had underestimated the amount of provisions necessary for their journey. As the tension rises, Cinqué stands up from his seat and repeatedly cries, "Give us, us free!"
Judge Coglin rules in favor of the Africans. After pressure from Senator Calhoun on President Van Buren, the case is appealed to the Supreme Court. Despite refusing to help when the case was initially presented, Adams agrees to assist with the case. At the Supreme Court, he makes an impassioned and eloquent plea for their release, and is successful.
The Lomboko slave fortress is liberated by the Royal Marines under the command of Captain Fitzgerald. After all the slaves were hurried out of the fortress, Fitzgerald orders the ship's cannon to destroy it. He then dictates a letter to Forsyth saying that he was right—the slave fortress doesn't exist.
Because of the release of the Africans, Van Buren loses his re-election campaign, and tension builds between the North and the South, which would eventually culminate in the Civil War.

Review: The film is unabashed about showing us the brutality and outrageousness of the covertly institutionalized slave trade that haunted one of America's darkest, most retrograde periods, and pulls no punches about the cultural differences between its victims, its culprits, and those who felt that it was not their problem.Amistad ranks as one of McConaughey's finest performances, perhaps his best.
Instead of having stuff jump at you, you have to search for it or feel it without truly realizing it: touches of genius are very present, but differ from the original style (like the brutal insurrection scenes, cargo dumping scene, etc).The story itself focuses on a mutiny aboard a transatlantic slave ship, led by Cinque.
One by Anthony Hopkins as former president John Quincy Adams (an unusual turn for him, where he really soars), and the other by Djimon Hounsou (later cast as Juba in Gladiator) as Cinque being the true gem.Ultimately, Amistad's greatest strength is that it avoids offering any easy answers and in that sense, does to subconscious issues about race and slavery what Kubrick's 2001 did to space travel and progress, albeit with more humanity and more accessible drama.
The Africans become a legal and political football all the way to the United States Supreme Court.Other performances to note are Morgan Freeman as black free man Theodore Joadson, Stellan Skarsgaard as abolitionist Lewis Tappan, Matthew McConaughey as attorney Roger Baldwin and most of all Djimon Hounsou as Cinque the leader of the African's revolt.
It is well shot, the look and feel is quite right, and it pulls no punches in its cruel depiction of the slave trade.Amistad shows this terrible business better than any other film I've ever seen.
Spielberg pulled few punches, only darkening the worst scenes to keep it from degenerating into some Rob Zombie horror film (thereby retaining an audience).The film also does a good job with the portrayal of the heroes, the slaves who fought for their freedom aboard the schooner Amistad.
Some of the best scenes involve the ignorance of the Connecticut gentry as they stare blankly at the Africans as they speak their tongue; incompetent linguists stating the obvious and disguising it as "science"; lawyers trying to figure out the slaves' stories; and finally the leader of the escaped Africans declaring "Give us free!" That part really stood out for me.There are a few criticisms I can lay upon this film, however.
Through various legal proceedings, the case appears before the Supreme Court, where it is argued by ex-President John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins).The film itself is a visual wonder.
While theatergoers in 1997 were being amazed by special effects on another ship, this magnificent story given to us by the master director Steven Spielberg gives us the true story of our country and what it means to be American.We are not free as long as one of us is in chains.
You can search for Fool's Gold or you can watch Matthew McConaughey in her greatest performance as the lawyer who risked it all.Djimon Hounsou may Never Back Down this year, as he certainly didn't in this film.Morgan Freeman certainly knows about "Freedom: A History of Us" and he helped the Africans find theirs.One of the very best films I have ever seen..
Instead it's around solid middle when it comes to his films.Starting with the positives, the best things are the production values, coupled with the handsome and evocative period detail and the rich, searing cinematography there are some really arresting images here, and the sensational debut of Dijimon Hounsou, a performance of blistering passion and grave sensitivity.Throughout, especially in the first three-quarters, 'Amistad' boasts moments that are harrowing (the brutal voyage of the slaves), powerful (the opening scene) and moving (most of the film).
Morgan Freeman is underused but is as you expect.On the other hand, 'Amistad' is a long film (not a bad thing necessarily), but could have been about 20 minutes shorter with less characters and some of the final act being trimmed.
Despite being brilliantly delivered by Hopkins and clearly written with thought and good intent Adams' big speech just went too far making its point.In conclusion, a brave attempt at bringing a significant, if not as well known, event to film that works very well in a lot of elements but just misses the mark of completely working as an overall film.
That said Amistad is a period piece; a courtroom drama; an historical tale; a biopic of some sorts; at times, a comedy and also a film that threatens to break out into the war genre when so many nations disagree and argue over what's right and wrong.
Then there is the clever inclusion or mentioning at least of Sierra Leone's capital named 'Freetown' and how the British renamed it so thus stopping incidences like the one that transpires in this film from ever happening.But there are lots of basic things to be had out of Amistad, be it through the cast of specific actors and acting performances or whatever.
Towards the end, the film is in search for a plot point and whilst the 'getting there' is eerie as well as horrific whenever told through the eyes of Cinque (Hounsou) in flashback mode, Adams' re-emergence and long, courtroom finale feels just as forced as it does uplifting.If there's anything to get out of the film, it is the brutal establishment of a situation that could've escalated into something really disastrous; a series of scenes that disregard human life in a nasty manner; an intriguing and thought provoking court battle and a finale that wants to be reminiscent of 1991's JFK but doesn't quite make it.
Maybe there have been too many other slave/oppression movies that had a stronger story and were more visually appealing but it just didn't capture my emotions.It may have been better when it was released but if you decide to watch it now and have not seen it previously I think you will be disappointed.
"Cinque," literally called a hero in this film and last time I checked, murder was not classified as something good.This is the story of "Cinque" and the slave ship "Amistad" with our man leading an uprising against the slave owners on the boat, murdering them and taking over, only to be caught and tried in court for their actions.On the plus side, all the characters are interesting and the acting is excellent.
Still, Spielberg pulled his punches--there are a variety of issues related to slavery that he didn't explore, and elements of the characters he didn't bring up.For instance, Cinque, for all his sympathetic portrayal here, was shipped back to Africa where he promptly became a slave trader.That sort of thing could have been used to great effect in exploring the complexities of the instititution, or for that matter that slavery was commonplace in Africa and the middle east, which was only hinted at.
It did bring up the fact that the British essentially ended the trans-Atlantic trade by the middle part of the century, which you have to give credit for.Though the movie is adequate, and the world is a better place for it having been made, Spielberg probably wasn't the guy to direct this.His world is one of black and white and though everyone can agree slavery was a pretty awful institution, he doesn't delve very far into the various shades and realities..
The respect was likely inspired by the subject matter--an obscure historical event in which Africans on their way to slavery in America stage a mutiny, ultimately standing trial for their actions--while the lack of enthusiasm had to do with Spielberg's pedestrian handling of the story.
Forgive me my cynicism, but I suspect Mr. Freeman is present only because he is black, whereas Mr. Spielberg is white and in need of credibility with those who, like Spike Lee, think only blacks are qualified to make films on African-American themes.
But the uniformly excellent acting (shall we start with Hopkins and Freeman?) and the tight writing, cinematography and sensitive direction (Spielberg) make this underrated work a great film about our momentous struggle to achieve human emancipation..
What I like is the original idea--choosing this little-known but interesting event during the Presidency of Martin Van Buren (who?), having non-English-speaking black slaves defended in court by "John Adams" (Quincy--who's that?), and the legal concepts involved.Both the plight of the slaves and the events in their quest for victory are dramatized well, moving and evocative.
Thus I disagree with AMG rating giving it only 5 points.But the most remarkable thing in this film is the outstanding characterization of former President John Quincy Adams performed by Anthony Hopkins.In fact, I don´t think that Anthony Hopkins is a very good actor.
Remarkable is his simple answer to Cinque (Djimon Hounsou has here also a very good acting performance)when this one asks "Which words did you use to convince them?"  He simply says "Yours" as only John Quincy Adams in the whole world could have said it.Naturally, the search of justice, the fight against slavery and other human values are very important and they contribute - as well as the historical interest of this international affair - to my suggestion that the film is surely worth seeing..
Yet still remains one of the most depressing films of all time- closely followed by Requiem for a dream on the 'i want to top myself now' stakes.It wasn't a satisfying emancipation story, it was depressing and hard hitting to see such well depicted suffering and although historically accurate, I felt it was slightly malevolent for a piece of entertainment.Although I'd recommend it for people interested in the topic, or time period- I definitely wouldn't recommend it as light viewing, or in fact, to anybody under the age of 18..
Spielberg is at his best when action is at the fore, but always frames his moralities around heavy-handed, condescending clichés which just continues to drain the soul out of this film, despite Hounsou's overbearing effort to achieve just the opposite.Despite it's acceleration into mediocrity, Amistad is one of those movies that should be seen once, if for nothing then production alone.
Movie Review: "Amistad" (1997)Director Steven Spielberg fights through visions, creatively-spoken, of an unforgotten U.S. trauma to make sense into a delicate story of the slaveship "Amistad", which brought West African Natives, personified in an overall-intense portrayal by actor Djimon Hounson, story-line supporting further cast as former U.S. president John Quincy Adams in a picture elevating performance by Sir Anthony Hopkins within a 1840s court room designed by Rick Carter and hot-spot-intense daylight-lit by cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, where the movie also produced by Steven Spielberg in the first year of releases under the banner of DreamWorks Pictures (est.
1994) with further budgetary infusions by U.S. pay-TV channel HBO (Home Box Office) to present a 150 minutes motion picture for the bargain of 36 Million U.S. Dollars that lives from the occasional passionate performances by their cast members and one controversial representation of stormy night to day-time business slaveship sequence, where the West African Natives get treated like animals under deck and second rate human beings on deck to skin-splicing, blood-spreading consequences, which handles the director with utmost dramatizing care under punchy sound design, over-done light reflections, yet shying away from an infant death under panicked flesh moving masses and a more delicate-received musical score by John Williams, making "Amistad" a movie to be watched with the family, leading to a gathered discussion on U.S. history over tea.© 2017 Felix Alexander Dausend (Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC).
Powered by sincere performances, told with unflinching determination & strongly resonating the voice of freedom, Amistad finds director Steven Spielberg trying to expand his creative horizons for this historical drama brings on screen one of American history's most shameful acts & while the few artistic license taken here is up for dispute, the film is engaging for the most part.Set in 1839, Amistad refers to a slave ship carrying a cargo of Africans who were sold into slavery & are on their way to American coastline.
Yet, deceived by a couple of white survivors, they arrive in America where they are brought to trial & find an unlikely ally in an abolitionist lawyer.Directed by Steven Spielberg, Amistad opens with the mutiny sequence that might be too disturbing to watch for a few and throughout its first act, the film maintains its tight grip on the viewers' emotions.
Camera-work is skilfully carried out, Editing lets the film run a tad too long, set pieces are in tune with the timeline this story is set in & the background score by John Williams is evocative.Coming to the performances, Amistad packs in quite a star-studded ensemble in Matthew McConaughey, Djimon Hounsou, Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, Pete Postlethwaite, Stellan Skarsgård, Chiwetel Ejiofor & Nigel Hawthorne, and the best work comes from both McConaughey & Hounsou.
Freeman rarely does anything, Hopkins makes his mark only in the final moments & Ejiofor does a good job in his debut role.On an overall scale, Amistad remains one of Spielberg's least appreciated works that can use a wider audience for its plea for freedom, equality & humanity alone makes it a worthy example of its genre yet the overlong plot, snail-paced narration & sentimentality approach robs it of its true value.
Steven Spielberg directs this authentic looking film that tells the story of African tribal leader Cinque(Djimon Hounsou) who is sold into slavery by another tribe and is on a ship from Cuba to the U.S. when he leads a revolt against their cruel captors, killing them.
The crew is later captured and put on trial as being murderous runaway slaves, when an abolitionist lawyer(played by Mathew McConaughey) comes to their defense, but, despite winning the case, is undermined by a presidential appeal, so turns to former president John Quincy Adams(played magnificently by Anthony Hopkins) to plead the case before the U.S Supreme Court.Good drama has fine acting by all, harrowing ship-board recreation of the slave revolt, though has its fair share of dramatic lulls as well, though does have a memorable end..
This tells the story of potential African slaves, the cargo on "Amistad," a Spanish sailing ship, who revolted (1839) and ended up in American jails and courts.
But "Amistad" is largely a drama of historical courtroom events (IMO, grossly accurate with exceptions that will be minor to many, major to a few).Hopkins (as a lawyer, the former president, John Quincy Adams) got a deserved Oscar nomination for his supporting role.
The story of the Amistad slaveship revolt and the subsequent court case over the fate of the Africans who revolted isn't particularly well known but gets a well deserved high profile treatment from Steven Spielberg in this movie that fairly faithfully recounts the events all the way from the journey of the Amistad across the Atlantic to the final decision of the U.S. Supreme Court.As a historical re-creation this is excellent and captures a number of different angles and competing interests in the case.
On the whole, the movie doesn't have the sensory explosiveness of Spielberg's seminal historical films, Schindler, Saving Private Ryan, The Color Purple and Empire of the Sun, which all moved me to tears.The instances of the most feeling in Amistad transcend the central story.
Finally, there are some technical issues (like how it is so easy for the crew members of La Amistad to understand the prisoners while it takes a long time for the Americans to become able to do so).Spielberg's films are typically known for their strong performances (there are exceptions, however), and "Amistad" is no different.
Although not as pervasive as Spielberg's second WWII epic, there are at least two scenes that will likely provoke a similar response."Amistad" is an okay film, as long as you don't compare it to "Schindler's List." Or "Jurassic Park," for that matter..
And in fact Spielberg pulls no punches, not just with the opening sequence, but also with the flashback depiction of slavery life.Unfortunately, the majority of the film focuses on the legal work and courtroom scenes, and could have benefited from more time spent with the slaves awaiting their trial - but I guess this would have slowed the film's pace further.And the pace is a little out of the ordinary, as we are lead to believe that the abolitionists have won, only to have another 30 minutes of appeal hearings and a rather tedious speech by Anthony Hopkins' character about the importance of our ancestors on our current lives - a little obscure, and a bit meandering considering the direction the material was previously taken.However, there are many things to admire - not just the incredible cast (Hopkins, Matthew McConaughey, Morgan Freeman, Nigel Hawthorne and Pete Postlethwaite among many), but the acting, in particular Djimon Hounsou..
With the help of two anti-slavery campaigners, Theodore Joadson (the always brilliant Morgan Freeman), Lewis Tappan (Stellan Skarsgard) and idealistic property lawyer Roger Baldwin (an excellent Matthew McConaughey) the slaves case eventually engages the the services of former President John Quincy Adams (a masterful Anthony Hopkins), who argues brilliantly on their behalf in the Supreme Court.During the trial of the slaves, Spielberg shows us their capture in Africa and subsequent horrific journey to Africa aboard La Amistad in unflinching detail.
If you are even remotely interested in American history, slavery, African-American issues, Steven Spielberg or just great cinema, you really must see Amistad.
I do not like most of Steven's films and think he is highly over rated but amistad was a very good movie.
Hopkins, Freeman, Skarsgård and the lawyer(don't remember his name) and off course the actor playing Cinque(don't know his name either) are all doing a very fine performance.There is only one thing in the movie I didn't like, and that is the statement that it was the slave question that started the American-civil-war.
Maybe this film should have been made by a different set up, after all Schindler was very much Spielberg's story, but amistad?I have to say that it was entertaining, but Hopkins was slightly hammy, then again, he always is.