Review of Amistad (1997) by Matthew D — 02 Jul 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.