Review of Amazing Grace (2018) by Dewaynep. — 10 Mar 2007

I must admit it was a disappointment. There were so many things wrong about this film that simple corrections could have jolted this film back to life... 1) The film wasn't put into any global historical context.

When the dates flash upon the screen setting each English period, most of those dates and events overlapped and coexisted with America's ongoing conflict and debates on slavery. They could have descreetly noted these events along with the dates, without changing tone of this English based film.

Some of these references could have pointed out the beginnings of the American revolutionary conflict with England, which would have been beneficial for British and American audiences who really don't understand our histories and problems were intertwined at that period.

And for American audiences, I think it would have been especially important to note these historical overlaps, as well as incorporate how these cases challenged America's legal system to see slavery ultimately as a immoral instititutiion.

2) If the movie was trying to show us that the English were in such a moral upheaval about slavery, then why wasn't there any blacks and slaves present in the film??? Even slaves actively walking the streets??? The movie basically only show two??? Hiistorically, black slaves were all over England during this period, slaves were everywhere, because they were used to build England's financial instititutions, so how could none be seen in this film? Because this was done, logically it became consistant.

..the question then is asked, why would the British be so upset and go out of their way to ban it if it's not something they don't see on a day-to-day basis??? The truth of the matter is they were so upset about slavery because slavery was everywhere, and it had permeated itself in all walks of British life that it appalled them, and forced them to address it's morality implications of owning people.

.. In addition, when England outlawed slavery and the American Revolution was in full bloom, England enticed American slaves and free blacks to fight along side England, aganist a rouge American government that still supported slavery.

The one black that was depicted 'Olaudah Equiano,' in England at that time, he was so popular that today he would have been compared to Barack Obama in popularity, people travelled far and wide to hear him speak, but alas he was depicted as playing in a subpar supporting role crying!!?? How were you going to reach a black audience by telling that story? And by doing so, the film ending up distorts the truth in history itself.

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