Amistad

In a previous post I addressed the issue of length in these posts by defending the length as being a result of the craziness in my head (I may have used different words but the point is the same). I bring that up because as I sit here thinking about Amistad I don't have too much to say. I don't think I want to know what that says about me.
I'll start off by saying that this is my film, but my wife is a fan. I bought it with the hope of someday using it in a classroom although I don't think I would show the entire film unless it's an AP class (and even then it would need to be a very mature AP class). The one personal memory is an embarrassing one and I will leave names out to spare the innocent. The film was in theaters in 1997 and was released when a 17 year old version of me had finally worked up the courage to ask a girl out on a date. She said no, then called me later and said yes, but. That but had to do with a friend she had feelings for but wasn't sure if it was going anywhere. Upon hearing this I came up with the brilliant idea of confronting the guy about his feelings, then I went to see Amistad and afterwords I explained to the girl that I talked to the guy (telling him her feeling for him) and I excitedly told her that he doesn't feel the same way towards her thinking she would be fine with that and we would go on our date and all would be good. It's a testament to that girls ability to forgive that about a month later she started talking to me again as friends.
As for the movie there are a few things that standout. First of all, what happened to Matthew McConaughey. I'm all for a man being able to do whatever he needs to to make a living but since Amistad he has done one action film with dragons, an under-rated WWII film and a boat load of crappy Rom-Coms! Seriously, this guy left the '90's as a credible actor and now seeing one of his films requires you to turn in your man card.
And on that note, why isn't Sir Anthony Hopkins held accountable for his decade of garbage. When Amistad came out, Mr. Hopkins was considered one of the top 5 actors going, since Amistad his best work has been in the Red Dragon where he played Hannibal Lector ... again! Since Amistad Mr. Hopkins work has included The Mask of Zorro, Mission Impossible 2, Alexander, Hannibal (worst sequel ever!), All the King's Men and Hearts of Atlantis. It's interesting to go back and watch a film like this in which both men deliver strong performances and then to realize that 12 years later they haven't done a single significant film. Crazy.
Of course the film gets great work out of Morgan Freeman and Djimon Hounsou steals the show as the slave who manages a mutiny aboard the ship he is traveling on to America. The story for those who are not familiar with it follows Hounsou's character from Africa as he reaches America and is taken into custody to become a part of a property dispute between Cuba, America and Spain. McConaughey plays the lawyer who believes the answer to Hounsou's freedom is through property laws and Morgan Freeman comes along for the ride as an free man working in the abolitionist movement. There is a sense of vulgarness to the idea of basing a mans freedom on property laws but the film understands that a triumph of the human spirit by any means is still significant. The film is directed by Steven Speilberg and ranks favorably with Munich and Saving Private Ryan in regards to his more serious work, but is not on a par with Schindler's List. One of my favorite aspects of the film is the way president Van Buren is portrayed and his willingness to act not against the defendants out of racism but as a means to appease the southern slave owners how are already shouting about secession. It is an aspect of our countries history that is not always well understood but for 30 years leading up to the Civil War our federal leaders made some of the most inhumane decisions imaginable in the name of appeasing southern states and avoiding a Civil War. It was a war that would come anyway and while Amistad does not dwell on this aspect of our history it's inclusion is fascinating.
This film does remind us of why Spielberg is a great filmmaker and the story is very moving. If I had one criticism of the film though, it would be that while I leave the film knowing it was an important story, I don't leave with a sense of knowing why it was important. It's an aspect of history that Spielberg struggles with as he closes and one I can't give an answer for. Still, if you never seen it I would recommend you try to.