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Amistad

Play trailer 2:32 Poster for Amistad R,  1997,  2h 32m,  History/ Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Amistad: Trailer 1 Amistad: Trailer 1 Now Playing View more videos
Stream Now Watchlist 78% 68 Reviews Tomatometer 79% 50,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
78% Tomatometer 68 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
In 1839, the slave ship Amistad set sail from Cuba to America. During the long trip, Cinque (Djimon Hounsou) leads the slaves in an unprecedented uprising. They are then held prisoner in Connecticut, and their release becomes the subject of heated debate. Freed slave Theodore Joadson (Morgan Freeman) wants Cinque and the others exonerated and recruits property lawyer Roger Baldwin (Matthew McConaughey) to help his case. Eventually, John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins) also becomes an ally.
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Amistad

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Critics Consensus

Heartfelt without resorting to preachiness, Amistad tells an important story with engaging sensitivity and absorbing skill.

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Critics Reviews

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Mike Clark USA Today Jan 9, 2018
3.5/4
The narrative perils are daunting in this little-known true tale of a bloody slave-ship rebellion in 1839 and its jumbled aftermath in the U.S. judicial system. Go to Full Review
Jason Bailey Vice Dec 15, 2017
'Amistad' may not be the first, or fifth, or tenth film people talk about when Spielberg's name comes up. But it has more moments that will put your hair on end than other filmmakers' best works, and that says something. Go to Full Review
Nell Minow Common Sense Media Dec 21, 2010
4/5
Powerful story for mid-teens and up. Go to Full Review
Alan Jones Radio Times Apr 12, 2024
3/5
Although flawed, this chilling movie further reveals Spielberg's skill as an expert film-maker unafraid of tackling heavy political Go to Full Review
Dan DiNicola The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY) Jan 10, 2023
B+
A much finer movie than Spielberg's sophomoric The Color Purple, it has power and dignity and it leads us into new places. Go to Full Review
Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Dec 25, 2022
3.5/5
Whether or not Steven Spielberg is the right filmmaker for the job, Amistad tells an important story in not just American but world history. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Jan 26, 2019 The best inspiring courtroom movie ever made!
Hermione L Nov 18, 2018 Emotionally strong historical drama making powerful anti slavery points. Anthony Hopkins shines as ever.
Jul 26, 2018 It was a very realistic movie and captured the brutality of how black slaves were handled like their life didn't mean anything. It made me very emotionally and helped me grasped a new aspect when it comes to not only slavery but black rights. See more
Albus W Jul 4, 2018 An indictment on the United States founding fathers who allowed slavery in the United States. We are still paying today for countless actions against our fellow humans merely because they were black and therefore unequal to a white man. See more
Han M Jul 3, 2018 A Beautiful Film That Accurately Depicts Slavery. Steven Spielberg directs yet another classic of American cinema with Amistad. This is the incredible true historical dramatization of a slave revolt made by free men that are unjustly held by the United States court system. It reveals parallels to present day American and her flawed justice system showing how relevant and timeless Amistad truly remains. Spielberg's direction is peerless with countless clever cuts that juxtaposes the present visual frame with the next scene. The close up shots in Amistad may be the best framing work of Spielberg's career. The story is significant historically and Spielberg justifies the story's necessity and importance with historical context. We get a long narrative that is contained to a lengthy 2 hours and 35 minutes; yet Amistad is so well paced it only feels like 2 hours, if that. I found myself fascinated by the story and captivated by the performances. Speaking of which, the acting in Amistad is top notch. Djimon Hounsou gives the most compelling and passionate performance of his career. He is thoughtful and interesting in every scene. You are drawn to his magnetism and sincerity. Similarly, Matthew McConaughey delivers a wonderful and relatable performance as the lawyer representing the slaves. Furthermore, Anthony Hopkins is excellent as President John Quincy Adams. Hopkins is equally joyful and stern as Adams. He captures the man's love of nature and reverence for the law. Overall, Amistad is aptly cast across the board with peak acting for several cast members. Musically, John Williams composed a score with many new sounds for his style. He combines African vocals with classical instrumentation for an emotional soundtrack to the harrowing Amistad. Williams perfectly matches the intensity and spirituality of Amistad's atmosphere. In all, Spielberg crafted a lovely historical film that doubles as a deeply moving movie. Amistad is the best film from 1997 as far as I'm concerned. It remains a must watch film to witness how slaves were tormented and abused. See more
Kylo M May 15, 2018 https://letterboxd.com/edmundpoliks/film/amistad/
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Amistad

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1839, the slave ship Amistad set sail from Cuba to America. During the long trip, Cinque (Djimon Hounsou) leads the slaves in an unprecedented uprising. They are then held prisoner in Connecticut, and their release becomes the subject of heated debate. Freed slave Theodore Joadson (Morgan Freeman) wants Cinque and the others exonerated and recruits property lawyer Roger Baldwin (Matthew McConaughey) to help his case. Eventually, John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins) also becomes an ally.
Director
Steven Spielberg
Producer
Debbie Allen, Steven Spielberg, Colin Wilson
Screenwriter
David Franzoni
Distributor
DreamWorks SKG, United International Pictures
Production Co
DreamWorks SKG, Home Box Office (HBO)
Rating
R
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 10, 1997, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 15, 2011
Runtime
2h 32m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
35mm
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