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Amazing Grace

Play trailer Poster for Amazing Grace PG Released Feb 23, 2007 1h 56m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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68% Tomatometer 123 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
In 18th-century England, House of Commons member William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) and his close friend and a future prime minister, William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch), begin a lengthy battle to abolish Great Britain's slave trade. Though Wilberforce's legislation is soundly defeated in 1791, his growing affection for Barbara Spooner (Romola Garai) inspires him to take up the fight once more.

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Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace

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Critics Consensus

Amazing Grace is your quintessential historical biopic: stately, noble, and with plenty of electrifying performances.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: B+ Feb 14, 2012 Full Review David Fear Time Out It's neither amazing nor graceful. Rated: 2/6 Sep 22, 2007 Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian A decent cast under Michael Apted's direction does its best, but it's dull, naive and dramatically inert. Rated: 2/5 Sep 22, 2007 Full Review Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site Amazing Grace fails to explain the different social interests lined up against slavery, for many of whom, manufacturers and others, the question was hardly a moral one. Sep 2, 2020 Full Review Kaleem Aftab The List Alas, the subject matter is far more interesting than the execution... It's a film bogged down with staid dialogue that reeks of horse manure. Rated: 2/5 Nov 3, 2018 Full Review Adam Hochschild The New York Review of Books In a year that offers the occasion for a deeper and richer look at British slavery and abolition, it is a pity that artists of the caliber of Michael Apted and Steven Knight lent their talents to a tamely traditional and misleading film. Aug 23, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member An inspiring biopic about how one man can make a difference by going against the grain of society and always doing the right thing. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/10/24 Full Review Alec B At times it's a little too stuffy but it is an effective chronicle of the slow march of progress. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/04/24 Full Review Graham N l think it was great but other to see for then and see if they like if Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/24/23 Full Review georgan g Well done all around. Emotional look at what it took (and takes!) to do the right thing by all human beings. People need education, but politicians also need stealth, to help progress move along. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Director Michael Apted of 'James Bond' fame tells the true story behind the famous song used in religious practice Ioan Gruffudd, Benedict Cumberbatch, Albert Finney, Ciaran Hinds, Michael Gambon It's the early 1800's and the slave trade is still domineering the world as well as making money and business flourish by taking over 11 million black men, women, and children Great Britain was on top of the world because of it But one man, William Wilberforce sees that things needed to change The story here has him confronting the House of Commons to abolish the institution entirely giving the blacks being exploited their freedom to be treated as human beings He faces so much opposition though from other members but he wants to fully understand the hardship these slaves go through on a daily basis to back up his arguments for immense change Ultimately he is defeated in 1791 but after meeting and falling in love with a woman Barbara Spooner he gains enough inspiration to continue fighting The movie spends a lot of time in discussions and political debates about this topic so it might be derivative for a lot of viewers Still this marked a substantial point in human history with a special performance by Gruffudd William Wilberforce continued fighting injustice and campaigned until his death in 1883 yet his strong actions and passion for making all equal remain a great triumph Even if the subject matter is better than how it's executed the film is balanced by noble performances so it manages be above average as far as biopics are concerned Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member A wonderful film of a true story that is extremely historic and correlates to the problems society is still going through today. The actors all played their roles terrifically! One of the best films I have seen in a while. They only issue I had was understanding a few of the facts given in the story and how makes the ending result. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/31/20 Full Review Read all reviews
Amazing Grace

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 18th-century England, House of Commons member William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) and his close friend and a future prime minister, William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch), begin a lengthy battle to abolish Great Britain's slave trade. Though Wilberforce's legislation is soundly defeated in 1791, his growing affection for Barbara Spooner (Romola Garai) inspires him to take up the fight once more.
Director
Michael Apted
Producer
Edward R. Pressman, Terrence Malick, Patricia Heaton, David Hunt, Ken Wales
Screenwriter
Steven Knight
Distributor
Samuel Goldwyn Company
Production Co
Roadside Attractions, Samuel Goldwyn Films
Rating
PG (Thematic Material|Mild Language)
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 23, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$21.2M
Runtime
1h 56m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS
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