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Amistad (1997)

7.1
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Ratings: 7.1/10 from 39,770 users   Metascore: 63/100
Reviews: 199 user | 126 critic | 23 from Metacritic.com

About a 1839 mutiny aboard a slave ship that is traveling towards the northeastern coast of America. Much of the story involves a court-room drama about the free man who led the revolt.

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Title: Amistad (1997)

Amistad (1997) on IMDb 7.1/10

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Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 25 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Theodore Joadson
...
...
...
Cinque
...
...
Secretary John Forsyth
...
...
...
Yamba
Abu Bakaar Fofanah ...
Fala
...
Queen Isabella
...
Calderon
...
Ensign Covey
...
Buakei
Geno Silva ...
Ruiz
Edit

Storyline

Amistad is the name of a slave ship traveling from Cuba to the U.S. in 1839. It is carrying a cargo of Africans who have been sold into slavery in Cuba, taken on board, and chained in the cargo hold of the ship. As the ship is crossing from Cuba to the U.S., Cinque, who was a tribal leader in Africa, leads a mutiny and takes over the ship. They continue to sail, hoping to find help when they land. Instead, when they reach the United States, they are imprisoned as runaway slaves. They don't speak a word of English, and it seems like they are doomed to die for killing their captors when an abolitionist lawyer decides to take their case, arguing that they were free citizens of another country and not slaves at all. The case finally gets to the Supreme Court, where John Quincy Adams makes an impassioned and eloquent plea for their release. Written by M Parkinson, Sarasota, FL, USA

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

A true story. See more »

Genres:

Drama | History | Mystery

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some scenes of strong brutal violence and some related nudity | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

| |

Release Date:

10 December 1997 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Amistad - Das Sklavenschiff  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$11,000,000 (Non-US) (6 March 1998)

Gross:

$44,175,394 (USA) (3 April 1998)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

| |

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Theodore Joadson (Morgan Freeman's character) is a fictional creation. In real life, it was Josiah Willard Gibbs, Sr. (played by Austin Pendleton), a Yale professor of theology and sacred literature, who discovered James Covey, the Mende sailor who served as a translator for the Amistad captives. As depicted in the film, Gibbs learned to count to ten in Mende, and wandered around the docks of New York repeating the numbers, until Covey heard and recognized his own language and spoke to the professor. See more »

Goofs

There is a scene where the men are shown lying on their bunks and their heads are all moving to the rocking motion of the ship. However, there is a chain hanging nearby that is not moving at all. This is because the ship was in port when this scene was filmed and someone out of view was leading all the actors to move their heads to give the impression that the ship was sailing on the high seas. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Ruiz: [to Pedro Montes] That one wants us to sail them back. That one thinks he can sail all the way back without us.
See more »

Crazy Credits

The events depicted did not historically occur at Fort El Morro See more »


Soundtracks

"Hail To The Chief"
(1810)
Traditional
Music by James Sanderson
Lyrics by Albert Gamse
See more »

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User Reviews

 
A film unfairly compared to box office winners that should have received far more recognition.
10 December 1998 | by (New York, NY) – See all my reviews

I do not attend more than a handful of movies a year at a theatre. I rent far more videos, Amistad being one of them. As I recall, Amistad did not wow the theatrical audiences big-time. But the expression "big-time" seems to indicate numbers of dollars and attendees. I am also a big fan of Anthony Hopkins and remember him as a compelling actor long before his Oscar role. I believe that he and the African actor Djimon Hounsou should have been seriously considered for acting awards. I don't recall that any were given or even suggested. The cinematography, set decoration, lighting, and editing were extraordinary. I was reminded that interior spaces in the 1830's were not garishly lit Hollywood sets with dramatic shadows. Perhaps the costuming was a bit overdone. Many of the actors appeared "dressed". The most emotionally devastating episodes for me were the barbaric transporting and drowning of the slaves. I literally held my hands over my face as these scenes unfolded. I hope this film lives on to become a classic. My respect for Spielberg's artistry has been taken to another level. Other viewers have commented on static qualities of this film. Well, folks, This was not "Raiders of the Lost Ark" or "Judgement at Nuremberg"; it was historic filmmaking in more than one way. It was accurate, literate, and not politically correct or incorrect. Bravo, Dreamworks!


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