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Amistad (1997)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer (WGA):
David Franzoni (written by)
Release Date:
10 December 1997 (USA)
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Tagline:
A true story. more
Plot:
AMISTAD is about a 1839 mutiny aboard a slave ship that is traveling towards the Northeast Coast of America. Much of the story involves a court-room drama about the free-man who led the revolt. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Ship
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Slave Ship
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Mutiny
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Slavery
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Supreme Court
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Awards:
Nominated for 4 Oscars.
Another 6 wins
&
22 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(49 articles)
Stephen King’s ‘Under the Dome’ to be Produced by Speilberg
(From Screen Rant. 20 November 2009, 2:35 PM, PST)
“Creation” Movie Poster and Trailer
(From Filmofilia. 3 November 2009, 10:37 AM, PST)
(From Screen Rant. 20 November 2009, 2:35 PM, PST)
“Creation” Movie Poster and Trailer
(From Filmofilia. 3 November 2009, 10:37 AM, PST)
User Comments:
The most un-Spielberg film of his oeuvre.
more (182 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Morgan Freeman | ... | Joadson |
 | Nigel Hawthorne | ... | Martin Van Buren |
 | Anthony Hopkins | ... | John Quincy Adams |
 | Djimon Hounsou | ... | Cinque |
 | Matthew McConaughey | ... | Baldwin |
 | David Paymer | ... | Secretary Forsyth |
 | Pete Postlethwaite | ... | Holabird |
 | Stellan Skarsgård | ... | Tappan |
 | Razaaq Adoti | ... | Yamba |
| Abu Bakaar Fofanah | ... | Fala |
 | Anna Paquin | ... | Queen Isabella |
| Tomas Milian | ... | Calderon |
 | Chiwetel Ejiofor | ... | Ensiign Covey |
| Derrick N. Ashong | ... | Buakei |
| Geno Silva | ... | Ruiz |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for some scenes of strong brutal violence and some related nudity.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
155 min
Country:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Canada:13+ (Quebec) |
Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) |
Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) |
Canada:AA (Ontario) |
Canada:PA (Manitoba) |
Brazil:14 |
Philippines:PG-13 (cut) |
USA:TV-MA (TV rating) |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:M |
Chile:14 |
Finland:K-14 |
France:U |
Germany:12 (w) |
Hong Kong:IIB |
Iceland:12 (video rating) |
Iceland:14 (original rating) |
Malaysia:(Banned) |
Mexico:B |
Netherlands:16 |
Norway:15 |
Peru:14 |
Portugal:M/12 |
Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) |
South Korea:15 |
Spain:T |
Sweden:15 |
Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) |
Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) |
UK:15 |
USA:R (certificate #35700)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Cuba Gooding Jr. also turned down the role of Cinque.
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Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When the judge rules that the Africans are freed and McConaughey's character hugs Morgan Freeman, McConaughey's sideburn falls off. It then reappears on his face in the next shot.
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Quotes:
Movie Connections:
Featured in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Academy of Robots' Choice Awards Special (1998) (TV)
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Soundtrack:
Amazing Grace
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (182 total)
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Dismissed on its release as a dry civics lesson or as "Schindler's List with slaves", which is a shame, because there is so much intricate stuff going on here that fans of Spielberg and his normally in-your-face approach might not grasp the moral ambiguity and more subtle touches that roam beneath the surface. In a year dominated by Titanic this was publicly dismissed as too serious or arty...
Why is it un-Spielberg? Ponderous pacing replaces storytelling fluidity and speed, his normally active camera is replaced by more painterly compositions.. 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. The ship is intercepted by the American navy and a messy trial ensues to see who has rights regarding the cargo, Spain, America... or are the slaves not "legal" slaves after all? Cue abolitionists hiring young property lawyer Baldwin. These events, based on facts, occur before the Civil War.
I can feel people sighing from here. "Oh, no: not a courtroom drama...". Labelling it as such would be missing the point by a mile. It is so much about context and moral ambiguity, and ultimately the tragic ridicule of the situation. Amistad is also a technical marvel. Janusz Kaminski's (SPR, Schindler's List, AI, Minority Report...) photography is superb, a dark study in sepia browns. The acting is magnificent, mainly two amazing performances. 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. It's a shame this film is never talked about.