Amazing Grace

Reviewed by:
Pete Hammond

You might only know the star of this historical epic as superhero Mr. Fantastic in Fantastic Four, but Ioan Gruffudd is no less fantastic or heroic as William Wilberforce, leader of the British abolition movement, which exactly 200 years ago this month ended the slave trade in England and set a tone that is still pertinent today. This is an inspirational, moving and wonderfully well-told story that comes to the screen at just the right time. Basically it's a movie that shows how one determined person can make a difference. Although the film's tricky back-and-forth structure can be challenging and the talky slow pace is sometimes difficult to plow through, Amazing Grace (yes, the birth of the famous song is shown here) portrays a slice of history that is rarely studied, making it viable and fresh for a new generation still dealing with issues of racism and inequality every day of their lives. Thankfully, the filmmakers did not attempt to portray the main characters as the kind of perfect do-gooders we often see in this kind of family flick. These are flawed young individuals, led by Wilberforce, who basically were forced to rise to the occasion and do what was right when pitted against an older, out-of-touch generation that just didn't get it. This, in fact, is the rare film today—outside of what you see on The History Channel—which attempts to show us the everyday heroes who made a better world two centuries ago. Gruffudd, Albert Finney and the rest of the cast magnificently pay tribute to significant leaders of an important movement that should not be forgotten. Amazing, indeed.

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