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Ioan Gruffudd, Romola Garai, Benedict Cumberbatch, Albert Finney, Michael Gambon ... see more see more... , Rufus Sewell , Youssou N'Dour , Ciarán Hinds , Toby Jones , Nicholas Farrell , Sylvestra Le Touzel , Jeremy Swift , Stephen Campbell Moore , Bill Paterson , Nicholas Day , Georgie Glen , Nicholas Woodeson , Tom Fisher , Richard Ridings , David Hunt , David Toole , Alex Blake , Angie Wallis , Harry Audley , Chris Barnes , Tom Knight , Andrew Whipp , Andrew Neil , Estelle Morgan , Philip Dunbar , Adam Woodroffe , Joseph Traynor , Simon Delaney , Neville Phillips , Eki Maria , Daniel Naprous , Peter White

One man's role in the long battle to outlaw slavery in the United Kingdom sets the stage for this historical drama from director Michael Apted. In 1784, 21-year-old William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd)... read more read more... was elected to the British House of Commons, and soon established himself as a politician with a conscience. Several years later, his close friend William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch) became prime minister, and together they made a bold plan to introduce a bill banning slavery before the English legislature. Wilberforce was aided by anti-slavery activists Olaudah Equiano (Youssou N'Dour) and Thomas Clarkson (Rufus Sewell); however, pro-slavery hard-liners Lord Tarleton (Ciarán Hinds) and the Duke of Clarence (Toby Jones) spearheaded a hard-fought opposition to the legislation, and despite Wilberforce's best efforts, his bill went down in defeat. In 1797, Wilberforce left politics due to poor health and a battered spirit; staying at the country home of his friends Henry and Marianne Thornton (Nicholas Farrell and Sylvestra Le Touzel), he became acquainted with Barbara Spooner (Romola Garai), a beautiful woman with progressive views. Spooner became deeply infatuated with Wilberforce, and she encouraged him not to give up on his noble goals; with her help, Wilberforce launched a second campaign to persuade England's lawmakers to end the slave trade. Amazing Grace made its North American premiere as the closing-night gala attraction at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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85% liked it

52,686 ratings

Critics

70% liked it

121 critics

PG, 1 hr. 56 min.

Directed by: Michael Apted

Release Date: February 23, 2007

Keywords: inspiring, historical

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DVD Release Date: November 13, 2007

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Stats: 5,492 reviews

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Amazing Grace William Wilberforce with the woman he will, in the end, marry This William Wilberforce on the Madagascar Bethany Dillian an Americian singer William Wilberforce Watching Parliament Thomas clarkson, William Wilberforce's friend She is an amazing singer! Bill Paterson Alex Blake List of signatures Martin Nigel Davey Plan of a slave ship Amazing Grace Amazing Grace Amazing Grace
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Flixster Reviews (5,492)

  • TomBowler
    November 16, 2011
    TomBowler
    Not as memorable as you'd think but a good film nonetheless. Full review later.
  • imrealgod
    January 5, 2011
    imrealgod
    A chapter from history which is APTly supported by great performances from the actors involved, but not fluently adAPTed for the screen by Michael Apted.
  • blacksheepboy
    March 17, 2010
    blacksheepboy
    This historical biopic boasts the perfect material to create a quintessential modern classic, but unfortunately it lacks soul and intensity, resulting in a rather dull experience that doesn't quite live up to the importance of its real-life character.
  • 76Majikat
    November 13, 2009
    76Majikat
    A story that rightfully deserves recognition for it's place in history and opens the eyes of those who do not realise exactly what people went through during the slave trade years.

    Both storyline and cast were worthy enough in the making of a great film, however admittedly, I ... read moredid find myself losing concentration in parts, despite the story being of great interest to me.
  • fb619846742
    October 2, 2009
    fb619846742
    Well-told story concerning William Wilberforce and his tenacity for getting legislature passed that would free Britain from supporting slavery. Ioan Gruffudd sells this movie with his roaring performance as a man whose passion would not die. It does at times get a little over-dra... read morematic (a scene with Gruffudd chopping wood...IN THE RAIN...), and it does feel longer than 110 minutes, but it's still a watchable movie due to great acting (Albert Finney nearly steals the show as John Newton), and an important lesson in world history.
  • SirPant
    October 1, 2009
    SirPant
    A fantastic cast and some great acting, informative and well structured....just a bit too schmaltzy and sentimental though. Shame really, as the story is incredible, it just could and should have been better!
  • aliyanto
    December 3, 2008
    aliyanto
    It's a 'history film' without being dull, and a 'religious film' without being preachy. But perhaps most of all, it's a movie that will convince any viewer that he or she can also make a difference in a sin-sick world desperately in need of social justice, mercy and compassion.
  • sanjurosamurai
    July 11, 2008
    sanjurosamurai
    incredible and inspiring. brilliant acting and moving story telling of the life of william wilberforce. a story that all should know, and a movie that all should see.
  • shauna1354
    January 2, 2008
    shauna1354
    I watched this film, as I have been studying the Slave Trade at school and wanted to expand my knowledge. I found this film very interesting, it did not lose my attention at any point. Ioan Gruffudd gives a brilliant performance and is very convincing as William Wilberforce. Also... read more giving good supporting roles are Michael Gambon, Albert Finney and Benedict Cumberbatch. Nicely directed with an excellent script, definately worth a view for history fans.
  • smith44
    December 13, 2007
    smith44
    The Blind, The Lost And The Found: "I once was blind but now I see, was lost but now am found?" goes the grand hymn Amazing Grace, written by an ex-slave trader John Newton, played by Albert Finney, who was haunted by the twenty thousand slaves he traded, left his life of sin and... read more wrote one of Christianity?s greatest hymn. The hymn and the film Amazing Grace are a testimony to the power of grace to transform everything it touches, blindness to sight, the lost to the found, the slave to the free man. As is the life of William Wilberforce (played by Ioan Gruffold) a man of amazing grace who changed the world through his crusade to abolish the slave trade in England. It is this transformation of English law from enforcing the slave trade to abolishment by the grace and perseverance of one man that the film focuses on, delving into the details and nature of the slave trade, which made the British Empire the most powerful the world, had ever seen. However although the horrors of the slave trade are spelt out, discussed and even shown through diagrams and demonstrations, the actual seeing of the slave trade in action is not shown. Wether or not this adds or detracts from the merit of the film is debatable, yet the opportunity to illuminate the full horrors of the slave trade visually is defiantly missed as the audience has only an idea of the slave trade really was. We follow Wilberforce not through the bowels of the slave ships in trade, or through the plantations they worked or the jungles of Africa, from where most of the slaves came from but through the jungle of politics in the British parliament. A reoccurring theme in this struggle of Wilberforce is the clash between his spiritual life and political life, his idealism and the harsh realism of politics. His ability is blend his spiritual grace and political ability, his idealism and political realism ultimately lead to his victory, in which as Lord Fox (Michael Gambon) most admirably speaks of the true measure of a man, measured not by glory or power but by noble struggle in the cause of bettering the world, by which measure William Wilberforce is a truly great man. An edifying spiritual testimony to the power of grace.

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Critic Reviews

Susan Walker
March 23, 2007
Susan Walker, Toronto Star

It is to be hoped that Amazing Grace is not the only, or the last, cinematic celebration of 200th anniversary of abolition, for there are more stories to tell, more imaginatively. Full Review

Rick Groen
March 23, 2007
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

So much to admire and so little to amaze. Full Review

David Denby
February 26, 2007
David Denby, New Yorker

As square as this movie is, it has been made with eloquence and jaunty high spirits, and it tells a good story that is virtually unknown here.

Manohla Dargis
February 23, 2007
Manohla Dargis, New York Times

Amazing Grace, a prettified take on the life and times of the 18th-century reformer William Wilberforce, carries a strong whiff of piety. It isn't a bad smell; there are notes of roses and treacle in ...

Mick LaSalle
February 23, 2007
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

A detailed, affecting biography of one of the great souls who moved humanity forward. Full Review

Kyle Smith
February 23, 2007
Kyle Smith, New York Post

Amazing Grace isn't quite an accurate title for this entertaining history lesson, but no one will ever write a song titled 'Amazing 20-Year Period of Parliamentary Maneuvering to End Britain's Role in... Full Review

Jack Mathews
February 23, 2007
Jack Mathews, New York Daily News

Michael Apted's compelling and highly informative Amazing Grace is an apt celebration of America's Black History Month, even though its story takes place in England.

Bruce Westbrook
February 23, 2007
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle

Director Michael Apted tells the story with dry devotion to parliamentary procedurals and a worshipful approach to Wilberforce. But [actor] Gruffudd lacks the intensity and charisma to pull it off. Full Review

Tom Long
February 23, 2007
Tom Long, Detroit News

Amazing Grace is the stuff of great lessons and inspiration and hope, and if it's all delivered with a bit too much moral push, well, moral push apparently was what William Wilberforce was all about. ... Full Review

Terry Lawson
February 23, 2007
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Director Michael Apted has turned out a movie that might be best described as faithful, both in its attention to accuracy and in its acknowledgement of the role faith played in righting one of the gre... Full Review

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Amazing Grace Trivia

  • What was the main characters name in the 2007 movie "Amazing Grace?"   Answer »
  • In the movie "Amazing Grace" William Wilberforce kept trying to end the slave trade for many years and succeeded. He then spent the rest of his life with his wife and kids, being too old and tired to continure making the world a better place. He died in 1833 and was buried in Westminster Abbey   Answer »
  • Who played William Wilberforce in the movie Amazing Grace?  Answer »
  • What 2007 movie has this tag: line Behind the song you love , is a story you will never forget ?   Answer »
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