AMISTAD

"Freedom isnt given. It is our right at birth. But there are some moments when it must be taken."

This pretty much sums up this 1997 stephen speilberg movie. This movie has become one of my favorites now. It is based on a slave mutiny that took place aboard a ship of the same name in 1839, and the legal activity that followed.

The movie stars Matthew Macounagay, Anthony Hopkins, Morgan Freeman Djimon Hounso.

It all starts on the ship carrying slaves,Le Amistad(meaning Friendship), One f the slaves,Cinque(Djimon) breaks loose.He frees everyother slave and they kill the crew,takeover the ship,but they miscalculate the directions and they reach America,where they are overcome by the US soldiers and are arrested for killing the crew..

The word immediately goes to Martin Van Buren,the then President and Queen Isabella II of spain(played by 12 yr old Anna Paquin)..Lotsa ppl claim the slaves to be their property.
including Queen Isabella II. A young lawyer,Baldwin is brought in by the abolitionists(the group of ppl who wanted to abolish slavery) to save these slaves...

The slaves can hardly speak a word of English..But soon,Baldwin finds a translator and talks to Cinque,the leader of the group.He narrates how he was captured in Africa, tortures they underwent and how 50 ppl wer drowned in order to save rations.(This part is the most cruel,looks like a holocaust movie at this point)..He also says how he was finally taken to the Caribbean Islands, where he was illegally sold to the owners of La Amistad.

In the district court, Baldwin brings as evidence a book he found on the ship. It conclusively proves that the Africans did indeed come from Africa. U.S. law at the time outlawed anyone who wasn't the child of a slave from being enslaved. This meant that those held aboard La Amistad were being traded illegally, and were officially abducted citizens of West Africa.Thus the court frees them.

But, President Van Buren under pressure from the southern slave owners,who threaten him about a civil war, appoints a new young judge and moves the case to the supreme court.
Baldwin becomes depressed and seeks help of former president ,John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins)..Finally the case goes on.. Hopkins makes a splendid 10 min Abolitionistic talk..

And a predictable climax at last...

Morgan Freeman is underused in the movie,yet he puts up a good show.Hopkins steals the show with his incredible performance as John Quincy Adams.(Trivia :He became the only guy nominated for oscars twice for plaing US Presidents,"Nixon" being the other movie where he plays title role.)

The main plus point of the movie are its touching,sometimes witty dialogues....Anthony Hopkins' ripostes are enjoyable.The court monologue by Hopkins is soul-stirring.

Quotes:

"The only thing John Quincy Adams will be remembered for is his Middle Name"

John Quincy Adams: Do you understand what the Supreme Court is?
Joseph Cinqué (through his interpreter): The place where they finally kill us.

Dialogues(Audio and text) available here

Spielberg tries to reweave the magic he once did in "Schindler's List", Though not that gripping,This IS a must watch movie...

I give this a 51/100