Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Morgan Freeman | ... | Theodore Joadson | |
Nigel Hawthorne | ... | Martin Van Buren | |
Anthony Hopkins | ... | John Quincy Adams | |
Djimon Hounsou | ... | Cinque | |
Matthew McConaughey | ... | Roger Sherman Baldwin | |
David Paymer | ... | Secretary John Forsyth | |
Pete Postlethwaite | ... | Holabird | |
Stellan Skarsgård | ... | Tappan | |
Razaaq Adoti | ... | Yamba | |
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Abu Bakaar Fofanah | ... | Fala |
Anna Paquin | ... | Queen Isabella | |
Tomas Milian | ... | Calderon | |
Chiwetel Ejiofor | ... | Ensign Covey | |
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Derrick N. Ashong | ... | Buakei |
Geno Silva | ... | Ruiz |
Amistad is the name of a slave ship travelling 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 (Djimon Hounsou), who was a tribal leader in Africa, leads a mutiny and takes over the ship. They continue to sail, hoping to find their way back to Africa. Instead, they are misdirected and 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 (Sir Anthony Hopkins) makes an impassioned and eloquent plea for their release. Written by M Parkinson, Sarasota, FL, USA
Amistad is one of them films that when the credits roll you just sit there and think what a wonderfull film that was ,what a well directed and well acted movie i have just seen. The acting is some of the best i have ever seen. the performances from Mathew McConaughue,Pete Postlethwaite and Morgan Freeman are Brilliant but check out the acting from Anthony Hopkins and Djimon Hounson,they are superb. The story is gripping and moving at the same time. The scenes on the Amistad ship are quite distressing and really show you how repulsive the slave trade was but this just adds to the realism and wonder of this fantastic film. A masterpeice. 9 out of 10.