"...give...us...free..."

AMISTAD (R) 

Reviewed December 17, 1997 - Check out the Amistad web site.

The year is 1839, and we find ourselves in the midst of a dark, stormy night at sea.  Brief flashes of lightning reveal the pained face of a man shackled with others in the crowded underbelly of a ship.  He is trying to break free.  His fingers bleed as he struggles to pull out the stake which ties him to the ground.  Around him are the sounds of men and women shivering, starving, and dying.

Welcome to "La Amistad," the Spanish slave ship on which Steven Spielberg's latest work begins.  

Amistad opens with an angry, graphically violent portrayal of the slave ship uprising on "La Amistad" in 1839.  Hoping to return to Africa, the 53 previously-captive Africans spare the lives of two crewmen and ask them to navigate the ship home.  Instead, the Africans are fooled into a six-week journey to America, where they are promptly arrested and put on trial.  At issue is who has legal right to this "property"--who do these slaves belong to and how should they be punished for murdering "La Amistad's" crew?

The Africans, led by Cinque (Djimon Hounsou), are at a disadvantage at every step.  With no understanding of the English language, they enter into court both lost and confused.  Fortunately, abolitionists Theodore Joadson (Morgan Freeman) and Lewis Tappan (Stellan Skarsgard), along with attorney Roger Baldwin (Matthew McConaughey) come to their aid, hoping to prove to the courts that these Africans are not anyone's property, but rather are free men. 

The ensuing tale is one part courtroom drama and one part journey of discovery, as Spielberg and company unravel the story of Cinque and his fellow Africans.  The power in the story comes in the simplicity of the message it attempts to convey.  These Africans are human beings.  They have a right to be free.  Let them go home.

In its 160 minutes of runtime, Amistad is at its very best when it focuses on this simple message.  When it does, Amistad is incredibly powerful, moving, and thought-provoking.  There are times, however, when Amistad seems to drift from this message, focusing instead on characters or subplots (e.g. Queen Isabella of Spain) that dilute rather than strengthen the storyline.  The final result is a film with many wonderful moments, but one that does not deliver as much impact as it could.  Still, this is a film worth seeing, and one that can teach as well as entertain.  Kudos to Djimon Hounsou and Anthony Hopkins (as ex-Pres. John Adams) for a couple of great performances, and to Spielberg for another fine directorial effort.

Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing!

bobby@aol.com gives this movie  stars: "It was an excellent film and I recommend everyone to see it" (12/28/99)

Ashley gives this movie  stars: "I loved the ovie but to grafic at some times. but gave m a great idea of what it was like to be a slave" (2/6/99)

brooks3@aol.com gives this movie  stars: "Very important subject, but too long and often boring. We need more movies to show us the plight of these unfortunate people, but don't lose people's attention by too many side issues." (10/18/98)

karr1@marshall.edu gives this movie  stars: "I debated whether to rent this movie or not. I finally did, and am glad. Very good movie, good performances, especially by Djimon Hounsou and Anthony Hopkins." (7/28/98)

Ohno@wouldilie.com gives this movie  stars: "The substance is good but the presentation is so boring..." (4/8/98)

hozef@stanford.edu gives this movie  stars. (3/3/98)