Amazing Grace

PG

Released Feb 23, 2007

1 hr. 56 min.

History

Drama

List

68%

125 Reviews

Tomatometer

85%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Critics Consensus

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

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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

steve d

Great performances and a powerful true story. It is a fantastic film that should not be missed.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Michael Apted

Director

Ioan Gruffudd

William Wilberforce

Romola Garai

Barbara Spooner

Benedict Cumberbatch

William Pitt

Albert Finney

John Newton

Michael Gambon

Lord Charles Fox

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: B+

Feb 14, 2012

Full Review

Nathan Rabin

AV Club

Apted's unexpected crowd-pleaser is inspirational, but also surprisingly entertaining.

Rated: B

Sep 22, 2007

Full Review

David Fear

Time Out

It's neither amazing nor graceful.

Rated: 2/6

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

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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
Executive Producer: Jeanney Kim, James Clayton, Duncan Reid
Screenwriter: Steven Knight
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Company
Production Co: Samuel Goldwyn Films, Roadside Attractions
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
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

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