Review of Amistad (1997) by M F — 12 Oct 2010

[i]Please be aware! Spoiler alert![/i].

[i]Amistad[/i] is based on the true story of an 1839 slave revolt upon a Spanish vessel, [i]La Amistad.[/i] The ship is transporting slaves between two ports in Cuba when the slaves revolt and capture the ship. They are led by Cinque (played powerfully by Djimon Hounsou) who is well-respected by the other slaves and becomes their de facto leader. Two of the ship's crew are kept alive on the promise that they sail the ship to Africa and release the slaves. The crew accepts the deal, then misleads the slaves and travel up the coast of North America, where the Amistad is apprehended by an American vessel while reconnoitering for provisions along the coast of New York. The slaves are taken to Connecticut, where the American commander files a claim to have the vessel and the slaves legally transferred to him as cargo salvaged from the high seas.

[color=black]Other parties soon join the suit. First, criminal charges of mutiny and murder are also filed against the slaves. Next, the two crew of the Amistad, whose lives the slaves had spared, file to have the Amistad and all its cargo returned to them. The Spanish government, represented by United States District Attorney Holibird at the request of standing President Martin Van Buren, also files a claim to have the Amistad and its cargo returned to Spain as legal property. Finally, American abolishionists file a suit on behalf of the alleged slaves, claiming that they are not cargo, that they were illegally captured in Mendeland (modern day Sierra Leone,) and should therefore be returned to Africa and released.[/color].

[color=black]After much deliberation, the Connecticut District Court finds in favor of the defendants, claiming that they were illegally enslaved and, as such, the mutiny and murder aboard the Amistad were committed in self-defense. Also, due to the illegal enslavement of the Africans, the court decides that they cannot not be considered property at all, but free men, and must therefore be released and returned to Africa.[/color].

[color=black]Martin Van Buren, pressured by a strong southern coalition, decides to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of the United States.[/color].

[color=black]In one of the more powerful scenes in the film, Cinque's attorney (played by Mathew McConaughy) is forced to try to explain the appeals process to his client. Cinque gets angry, then blurts, "[/color]What kind of a land is this where you almost mean what you say? Where laws almost work?".

[color=black]The abolishionists then persuade John Quincy Adams, former President of the United States, to plead on their behalf. Adams is played remarkably well by Sir Anthony Hopkins. [i]Interesting side note: I find it amusing that Hopkins, a British-born actor, has now successfully portrayed two American Presidents...Adams and Nixon.[/i][/color].

[color=black]Adams[/color][color=black] delivers an excellent speech, arguing that the decision isn't about property, but about the inalienable rights of free persons. In the film, at the highlight of his presentation, Adams uses a story that he hears from Cinque to emotionally appeal to the Justices. Cinque thinks that he will be protected by his ancestors, that they will all come to aid him in this time of crisis because he is their living representative...he is the reason they existed in the first place. As Adams is pacing before the busts of Washington, Jefferson, and the bust of his own father, he says that we are also the embodiment of our ancestors and as such, we should invoke their spirits to make the right decision.[/color].

[color=black]I admit that the sentiment is highly histrionic, and as far as I can discern, not in Adam's original speech to the Supreme Court, but it's effective in the film. At any rate, in the movie...as in real life, the Supreme Court finds for the fugitives, and orders that they be immediately released and returned to their homeland if they so choose.[/color].

[color=black]So, how good is [i]Amistad?[/i][/color].

[color=black]I originally saw the movie in the theaters and hated it. I thought it was way too emotionally manipulative. Of course, at that time in my life, I would have applied the same logic to most Spielberg films. I have since revised my standing on Steven Spielberg. He is hokey and emotionally manipulative sometimes, but not enough to dampen my enjoyment of all the things he does properly when he's making a movie. [i]Amistad[/i] has a decent script, lush cinematography, competent acting, and a fulfilling final act. If there's anything wrong with [i]Amistad[/i], it's John Williams' cheesy and overwrought musical score. It hams up the whole movie. Still, I[/color][font=Verdana][color=black] recommend the film.[/color][/font].