Amistad (1997)

“[in Mende] What kind of a place is this where you almost mean what you say? Where laws almost work? How can you live like that?” – Joseph Cinque

Number of Times Seen – 2 (16 Apr 2006 and 6 Nov 2016)

Brief Synopsis – After a murderous revolt on a slaveship, numerous factions wish to claim ownership of the surviving slaves who have reached America which leads to one of the most famed legal cases in history.

My Take on it – This is a film that I had little interest in seeing for nearly 9 years after it was released.

When I finally had the opportunity to see it, I was amazed at how great this film was.

I was quite happy to finally see it again.

This film is carried by numerous factors, but the cast is one of its heaviest strengths because Director Steven Spielberg chose so many talented actors in key roles which helps make the story feel so real.

The story itself seems quite simple, but it is filled with lots of intricate complexities, twists and turns that it makes for a more powerful and impactful kind of film.

There are so many characters here and Spielberg does an amazing job developing each of them and giving them all diverse agendas and viewpoints while trying to deal with all of the legalities of the whole situation.

Of the cast, Anthony Hopkins, who plays former President John Quincy Adams, delivers the best performance and is easily able to steals every scene he appears in despite not being in many scenes because he is so memorable here.

This film’s story is an extremely important part of US History that many people aren’t fully aware of because of the way it helped pave the path for the direction that the country journeyed following such an important legal case like this.

Bottom Line – Amazing cast helps make this film feel so real. The story seems simple, but the intricate complexities help make it so powerful and impactful.  Spielberg creates a great story by introducing us to a vast number of characters who each have their own agenda when dealing with the legalities of it all. Hopkins is superb as the former President John Quincy Adams and despite only being in a few scenes is so memorable because of his character’s ability to steal every scene he is featured in. Such an important part of US history that helped forge the country’s path that is now more widely known due to this movie’s influence.  Highly Recommended!

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – Anthony Hopkins astounded the crew by delivering the entire seven page courtroom speech in a single take. Steven Spielberg was so in owe he couldn’t bring himself to call him Tony, and insisted on addressing him as Sir Anthony throughout the shoot. (From IMDB)

Rating – Oscar Worthy

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