Amazing Grace (2006)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Michael Apted

Writer (WGA):

Steven Knight (written by)

Release Date:

23 February 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance

Tagline:

Behind the song you love is a story you will never forget.

Plot:

The idealist William Wilberforce maneuvers his way through Parliament, endeavoring to end the British transatlantic slave trade.

Plot Keywords:

Slave | William Wilberforce | Slave Ship | Social Justice | Love

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Ioan Gruffudd	...	William Wilberforce
Romola Garai	...	Barbara Spooner
Benedict Cumberbatch	...	William Pitt
Albert Finney	...	John Newton
Michael Gambon	...	Lord Charles Fox
Rufus Sewell	...	Thomas Clarkson
Youssou N'Dour	...	Olaudah Equiano
Ciarán Hinds	...	Lord Tarleton
Toby Jones	...	Duke of Clarence
Nicholas Farrell	...	Henry Thornton
Sylvestra Le Touzel	...	Marianne Thornton
Jeremy Swift	...	Richard the Butler
Stephen Campbell Moore	...	James Stephen
Bill Paterson	...	Lord Dundas
Nicholas Day	...	Sir William Dolben
Georgie Glen	...	Hannah More
Nicholas Woodeson	...	Harrison
Tom Fisher	...	John Ramsay
Richard Ridings	...	Speaker of the House
David Hunt	...	Lord Camden
David Toole	...	Beggar
Alex Blake	...	Heckler
Angie Wallis	...	Marjorie
Harry Audley	...	Edward Hope - Quaker
Chris Barnes	...	Michael Shaw - Quaker
Tom Knight	...	Physician
Andrew Whipp	...	MP 1
Andrew Neil	...	MP 2
Estelle Morgan	...	Maid
Philip Dunbar	...	Camber
Adam Woodroffe	...	Parliamentary Clerk
Joseph Traynor	...	Newton's Secretary
Simon Delaney	...	Young Parliamentary Officer
Neville Phillips	...	Old Parliamentary Official
Eki Maria	...	Young African Woman
Daniel Naprous	...	Delivery Coach Driver
Peter White	...	Delivery Assistant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Martin Nigel Davey	...	Boat Servant (uncredited)
Jazz Dhiman	...	Member of Parliament (uncredited)
Derek Hagen	...	Parliamentary Messenger (uncredited)
Peter Halpin	...	Clerk (uncredited)
Alwyn Scott	...	Parliamentary Clerk (uncredited)
Aaron Sweeney	...	Member of Parliament (uncredited)
Nick Thomas-Webster	...	Member of Parliament (uncredited)
Tom Toolan	...	Member of Parliament (uncredited)
Chris Wilson	...	Member of Parliament (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Apted

Writing credits (WGA)
Steven Knight		(written by)

Produced by
James Clayton	....	executive producer
Mark Cooper	....	co-producer
Patricia Heaton	....	producer
David Hunt	....	producer
Jeanney Kim	....	executive producer
Terrence Malick	....	producer
Edward R. Pressman	....	producer (as Edward Pressman)
Duncan Reid	....	executive producer
Ken Wales	....	producer

Original Music by
David Arnold

Cinematography by
Remi Adefarasin		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Rick Shaine

Casting by
Nina Gold

Production Design by
Charles Wood

Art Direction by
David Allday		(supervising art director)
Stephen Bream
Matthew Gray		(senior art director) (as Matt Gray)

Set Decoration by
Eliza Solesbury

Costume Design by
Jenny Beavan

Makeup Department
Sharon Colley	....	hair stylist trainee: crowd
Sharon Colley	....	makeup artist trainee: crowd
Mandy Gold	....	hair stylist
Mandy Gold	....	makeup artist
John Henry Gordon	....	hair stylist (as Jon Henry Gordon)
John Henry Gordon	....	makeup artist (as Jon Henry Gordon)
Susan Howard	....	hair stylist (as Sue Howard)
Susan Howard	....	makeup artist (as Sue Howard)
Julie Kendrick	....	hair stylist: crowd
Julie Kendrick	....	makeup artist: crowd
Katie Lee	....	makeup trainee
Loulia Sheppard	....	hair stylist
Loulia Sheppard	....	makeup artist
Jenny Shircore	....	hair designer
Barbara Taylor	....	crowd makeup artist
Julia Vernon	....	chief hair stylist: crowd
Julia Vernon	....	chief makeup artist: crowd
Suzanne Jansen	....	crowd hair stylist (uncredited)
Suzanne Jansen	....	crowd makeup artist (uncredited)
Jenny Shircore	....	makeup designer (uncredited)
Barbara Taylor	....	crowd hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Tom Crooke	....	unit manager
Jeffrey Harlacker	....	post-production supervisor
Angus More Gordon	....	unit production manager
Graham Stumpf	....	post-production supervisor
Marisa Clayton	....	post-production supervisor: Modern VideoFilm (uncredited)
Douglas Jones	....	executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul Bennett	....	additional third assistant director
Barney Hughes	....	third assistant director
Olivia Lloyd	....	second assistant director
Vicky Marks	....	third assistant director: second unit
Alex Oakley	....	first assistant director: second unit
Lance Roehrig	....	second second assistant director
Deborah Saban	....	first assistant director
Danny McGrath	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Joe Alley	....	carpenter
Steven Bede	....	stagehand (as Steve Bede)
Perry Bell	....	painter
Mat Bergel	....	chargehand stand-by propman
John Bohan	....	construction manager
Tim Browning	....	draughtsman
Bob Cann	....	carpenter (as Robert Cann)
Darryl Carter	....	carpenter
Lisa Chugg	....	props buyer
Fiona Clarke	....	art department apprentice
Graham Cole	....	carpenter
Graham Cole	....	supervising carpenter
Bernard Collins	....	carpenter (as Bernie Collins)
Nigel Crafts	....	carpenter
Adam Crosby	....	painter
Ben Crosby	....	painter
Ray Dell	....	stagehand
Romek Delmata	....	concept artist (as Romek Delimata)
Clive Drinkall	....	stagehand (as Clive Drinkell)
Colin Ellis	....	dressing propman
Jools Faiers	....	graphic designer
Nico Ferrari	....	carpenter trainee
Michael Finlay	....	painter
Gordon Fitzgerald	....	property master
Robert Flint	....	stagehand (as Rob Flint)
Sarah Forbes	....	assistant set decorator
David Fullbrook	....	plasterer (as Dave Fullbrook)
Nick Goodall	....	carpenter
Gavin Gordon	....	carpenter
Warren Greenham	....	painter (as Warren Grenham)
Alan Grenham	....	painter
Peter Grove	....	carpenter (as Peter Groves)
C.J. Guinness	....	art department intern (as J.C. Guinness)
Jessie Hammond	....	painter
Mark Hedges	....	prop storeman
Terry Heggarty	....	painter
Roger Holden	....	key greensman
Jason Hopperton	....	dressing propman
Tony Horsefield	....	plasterer (as Anthony Horsefield)
Christian Huband	....	assistant art director
Jonathan Ivall	....	painter (as John Ivall)
Nicky Kaill	....	painter (as Nicholas Kaill)
Peter Kane	....	painters laborer
John Keenan	....	stagehand
Scott Keery	....	stand-by propman
George King	....	stagehand
David Lowery	....	carpenter (as Dave Lowery)
Bernie Mayor	....	carpenter
Richard A. McCarthy	....	hod plasterer (as Richard McCarthy)
Richard A. McCarthy	....	plasterer (as Richard McCarthy)
Sean McCarthy	....	carpenter
Eamon McLoughlin	....	hod carpenter
David Mears	....	chargehand painter (as Dave Mears)
James Muir	....	stagehand
Eric Nash	....	plasterer
Geoff Nolan	....	carpenter
Roy O'Brien	....	carpenter
John O'Connor	....	carpenter
John O'Regan	....	carpenter
Mark Overall	....	carpenter
Steve Payne	....	dressing propman
Douglas Regan	....	painter (as Doug Regan)
John Russo	....	stagehand
Bob Sherwood	....	chargehand dressing propman
Mike Smith	....	carpenter
Paul Smith	....	carpenter
Ray Staples	....	supervising plasterer
Matthew Start	....	painter
Jeff Sullivan	....	painter
Jim Taylor	....	plasterer
Tony Vice	....	plasterer
Clive Ward	....	hod painter
Clive Ward	....	painter
Kenneth Welland	....	painter (as Kenny Welland)
Steve Weston Jr.	....	wood machinist (as Steven Weston Jr.)
William West	....	carpenter
Matt Whelan	....	carpenter
Paul Whitelock	....	painter
Julie Whorlow	....	apprentice painter
Peter Wilkinson	....	painter
Darrell Williams	....	plasterer (as Darryl Williams)
David Williamson	....	stand-by carpenter
Ashley Winter	....	stand-by art director
Paul Wolstencroft	....	stagehand (as Paul Woltsencroft)
Bradley Woodbridge	....	stand-by painter
Colin Woodbridge	....	carpenter
Tony Wright	....	storyboard artist
Helen Xenopoulos	....	assistant art director
David Youngs	....	carpenter (as Dave Youngs)
Daniel Elias	....	props (uncredited)
Lee Hedges	....	dressing prop daily (uncredited)
Dougie Lankston	....	dressing prop daily (uncredited)
Toby Shears	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Keith Stevenson	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Petra Bach	....	supervising adr editor
Jason Bennett	....	sound assistant
David Betancourt	....	foley editor
Keith Bilderbeck	....	foley editor
Keith Bilderbeck	....	sound effects editor
Colin Cooper	....	adr mixer: UK, De Lane Lea
Steve Finn	....	boom operator
Dawn Fintor	....	foley artist
David Giammarco	....	sound mixer
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer: UK, De Lane Lea
Tim Gomillion	....	sound re-recording recordist: John Ford Dubbing Theater
Jim Greenhorn	....	sound mixer
Robert Ireland	....	adr supervisor: UK
Jon Johnson	....	supervising sound editor
David Lucarelli	....	adr recordist: Twentieth Century Fox Studios
Paul Massey	....	sound mixer
Bryan Pennington	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Charleen Richards	....	adr mixer: Twentieth Century Fox Studios (as Charleen Steeves)
Dennis Rogers	....	sound re-recording recordist: John Ford Dubbing Theater
Brad Sokol	....	first assistant sound editor
William Stein	....	sound re-recording engineer: John Ford Dubbing Theater (as Bill Stein)
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley artist
Bruce Stubblefield	....	adr editor
Bruce Stubblefield	....	dialogue editor
Robert Troy	....	dialogue editor
Derek Casari	....	adr engineer (uncredited)
Nina Hartstone	....	adr editor: UK (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Stuart Brisdon	....	special effects supervisor
Mark Haddenham	....	senior special effects technician
David McGeary	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Tez Palmer	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Nigel Wilkinson	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Will Broadbent	....	CG modeler: MPC
Izet Buco	....	rotoscope artist: MPC
Greg Butler	....	visual effects supervisor
Naomi Butler	....	roto artist
Mark Curtis	....	compositor: MPC
Giles Davies	....	CG modeler: MPC
Laura Dubsky	....	rotoscope artist: MPC
Shayne Farrier	....	rotoscope artist: MPC
Matt Foster	....	rotoscope artist: MPC
Roger Gibbon	....	digital matte and texture painter: MPC
David Gibbons	....	digital matte and texture painter: MPC (as Dave Gibbons)
Jami Gigot	....	CG modeler: MPC
Lisa Gonzalez	....	matchmove artist: MPC
Lionel Heath	....	rotoscope artist: MPC
Richard Helliwell	....	rotoscope artist: MPC
Vlad Holst	....	digital matte and texture painter: MPC
Ryan Hutchings	....	rotoscope artist: MPC
Stephen Jolley	....	CG modeler: MPC
Drew Jones	....	visual effects executive producer: MPC
Peng Ke	....	matchmove artist: MPC
John Leonti	....	cg supervisor: MPC
Christopher Lloyd	....	visual effects editor
Hugh Macdonald	....	compositor: MPC
Nakia McGlynn	....	matchmove Artist: MPC
Alasdair McNeill	....	rotoscoping supervisor: MPC
Dylan Murray	....	matchmove artist: MPC
Dan Neal	....	digital environment artist: MPC
Jessica Norman	....	compositing supervisor: MPC
Jessica Norman	....	compositor: MPC
Mike Outlaw	....	rotoscope artist: MPC
Simon Payne	....	matchmove Artist: MPC
Becky Roberts	....	rotoscoping coordinator: MPC
Vi Smith	....	compositor: MPC
Piotr Stanczyk	....	visual effects technical support: MPC
Mark Streatfield	....	visual effects technical support: MPC
David Sudd	....	matchmove artist: MPC
Claire Thomson	....	rotoscope artist: MPC
Chris Thunig	....	digital matte and texture painter: MPC
Mark Tremble	....	rotoscope artist: MPC (as Mark Tran-Tremble)
Julia Wigginton	....	visual effects producer
Melody Woodford	....	matchmove Artist: MPC
Paul Alexiou	....	visual effects film editorial: MPC (uncredited)
Oliver Armstrong	....	roto artist (uncredited)
Tim Barter	....	roto/prep supervisor: escape pod (uncredited)
Stephen Bearman	....	scanning supervisor (uncredited)
Stuart Bullen	....	roto/prep artist (uncredited)
Jon Capleton	....	matchmove artist (uncredited)
Patrick Clancey	....	digital opticals (uncredited)
Amit Desai	....	technical tracker (uncredited)
Martyn Drake	....	systems: MPC (uncredited)
Michael Elson	....	executive producer: MPC (uncredited)
Marc Hutchings	....	roto/prep artist: MPC (uncredited)
Owen Jones	....	matchmove artist (uncredited)
Gary Marshall	....	previs artist: MPC (uncredited)
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)
Javad Matoorian-Pour	....	roto artist (uncredited)
Ryan Mullany	....	roto/prep artist (uncredited)
Martin Newcombe	....	matchmove artist (uncredited)
Adrian Pinder	....	pre-visualisation artist: MPC (uncredited)
John Purdie	....	roto/prep (uncredited)
James Russell	....	digital compositor: MPC (uncredited)
Laurel Schneider	....	coordinator: Moving Picture Co. (uncredited)
Laurel Schneider	....	liason: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Paul Shore	....	scanning supervisor (uncredited)
Danita Slaughter	....	digital opticals editor (uncredited)
Paul Venn Stirling	....	prep artist: MPC (uncredited)
Paul Venn Stirling	....	roto artist: MPC (uncredited)
Dan Warder	....	data operator (uncredited)
Tamara Watts Kent	....	visual effects consultant (uncredited)
Chris Wilson	....	render wrangler: MPC (uncredited)
Oliver Winwood	....	assistant digital resource manager: MPC (uncredited)
Anna Yamazoe	....	render wrangler: MPC (uncredited)

Stunts
Rob Inch	....	assistant stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ben Adefarasin	....	camera trainee
John Adefarasin	....	clapper loader
Rene Adefarasin	....	additional clapper loader
Steve Anthony	....	chargehand rigging electrician
David Appleby	....	grip: second unit
John Arnold	....	key grip
Chris Bain	....	additional focus puller
Sam Barnes	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Ray Bateman	....	generator operator
Les Beaver	....	rigger
Stuart Bunting	....	additional grip
Tony Burns	....	electrician (as Antony Burns)
David Cadwallader	....	additional grip
Keith Carey	....	chargehand rigger
Chris Clarke	....	clapper loader: "b" camera
Murray Close	....	still photographer
David Cozens	....	focus puller
Frederick Crawford	....	chargehand rigger (as Fred Crawford)
Nic Cupac	....	additional grip
Laurence Edwards	....	crane operator
Simon Finney	....	camera operator
Mark Funnell	....	best boy (as Mark Funnel)
Mark Funnell	....	best boy
Guy Hammond	....	electrician
Gary Hutchings	....	additional grip
William Keenan	....	rigger
Martin Kenzie	....	director of photography: second unit
Stuart King	....	rigging gaffer
Andrew Lawrence	....	camera trainee: second unit
Oliver Loncraine	....	focus puller: second unit
Clive Mackey	....	additional focus puller
Tobias Marshall	....	camera trainee: FT2
Ray Meere	....	additional clapper loader
Paul Molloy	....	electrician
Russell O'Connor	....	crane operator
Ben Perry	....	additional clapper loader
George Powell	....	crane operator
Ben Pritchard	....	additional clapper loader
Gary Romaine	....	grip: second unit
Colin Smith	....	stand-by rigger
Brian Sullivan	....	rigging electrician
Andy Thompson	....	electrical rigger
Alf Tramontin	....	additional Steadicam operator
Ben Wilson	....	camera operator: "a" camera, second unit (as Ben Fox Wilson)
Ben Wilson	....	electrician
Jimmy Wilson	....	gaffer
David Worley	....	additional camera operator
Joe McGee	....	practical electrician (uncredited)
Taylor Tulip-Close	....	assistant still photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Abigail Barbier	....	adr voice casting
Louis Elman	....	adr voice casting
Stephen Moore	....	casting assistant: UK

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Georgina Greathead	....	trainee seamstress
Joe Kowalewski	....	assistant costume supervisor (as Joseph Kowlewski)
Rodney Langer-Paget	....	costume runner
Charlotte Law	....	costume production assistant: Jenny Beavan
Stephen Miles	....	costume workroom supervisor
Sophie Norinder	....	wardrobe assistant (as Sophie Norrinder)
David Otzen	....	costume assistant
Sunita Singh	....	costume assistant
Clare Spragge	....	costume supervisor
Vanessa Woolgar	....	costume assistant
Rob Brown	....	costume assistant (uncredited)
Kate Newbold	....	costume junior (uncredited)
Lora E. Revitt	....	junior costume assistant (uncredited)
Celia Yau	....	costume assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Terra Bliss-Alvarez	....	digital intermediate producer: EFilm (as Terra Bliss)
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Michael Eaves	....	supervising digital colorist: EFilm (as Mike Eaves)
Martin C. Heselov	....	first assistant editor (as Marty Heselow)
Toby Lloyd	....	second assistant editor
Jason Miller	....	post-production coordinator
Kathryn Morey	....	trainee: editing
Jami Philbrick	....	post-production runner
Stephen R. Sheridan	....	color timer
Trudy Yee	....	assistant editor
Greg Barrett	....	scanning producer (uncredited)
Rebecca Budds	....	film scanning coordinator (uncredited)
Ryan Helsley	....	assistant digital intermediate producer (uncredited)
Chris Jensen	....	digital intermediate colorist assist: Efilm (uncredited)
Robb Porter	....	post-production coordinator: Modern VideoFilm (uncredited)

Music Department
John Bradbury	....	orchestra leader
Chris Cozens	....	auricle control systems
Nicholas Dodd	....	conductor (as Nicolas Dodd)
Nicholas Dodd	....	orchestrator (as Nicolas Dodd)
The Dufay Collective	....	musicians: baroque music
Dina Eaton	....	music editor
Lindsay Fellows	....	music supervisor
Andrew Findon	....	musician: ethnic flute (as Andy Findon)
Olga FitzRoy	....	second assistant music engineer
Geoff Foster	....	music score mixer
Geoff Foster	....	score recordist
Dan Gillingwater	....	musical advisor
Paul Gladstone Reid	....	choir master
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Jake Jackson	....	first assistant music engineer
Pete Lockett	....	musician: ethnic percussion
Daryl Moulton	....	singing coach
New Renaissance Choir	....	musicians: special
Rob Playford	....	music programing: score
George Acogny	....	music coordinator (uncredited)
Johnny Caruso	....	additional music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Phil Allchin	....	transportation captain
Trevor Atkin	....	driver: minibus (as Trevor Atkins)
Waseem Barlas	....	unit driver
Colin Bressington	....	driver: transportation facilities (as Colin Brassington)
John Burden	....	driver: minibus
Alan Burrows	....	driver: construction truck (as Alan Burrow)
John Coleman	....	unit driver
Peter Collins	....	unit driver (as Pete Collins)
Colin Davies	....	unit driver
Michael Harris	....	transportation facilities manager
John Hollywood	....	unit driver
Martin Lewis	....	driver: camera car
Colin Morris	....	unit driver
Richard Ong	....	driver: transportation facilities
Abbi Ozturk	....	unit driver
Finn Parker	....	driver: transportation facilities
Duncan Prentis	....	driver: transportation facilitiers (as Duncan Prentice)
Terry Rhys	....	unit driver
Mark Richards	....	unit driver
Eddie Saunders	....	driver: prop truck (as Eddie Saunder)
Albert Smith	....	driver: transportation facilities
Alan Watts	....	unit driver

Other crew
Colette Appleby	....	utility stand-in (as Collette Appleby)
Guy Barker	....	financial controller
Holly Bates	....	assistant accountant
Kevin Belmonte	....	historical advisor
Bob Beltz	....	special advisor
Alison Brister	....	business and legal affairs: Ingenious Film Partners
Hannah Brown	....	floor runner: second unit
Chorley Bunce	....	caterer
Gilly Case	....	location scout
Helen Chapman	....	floor runner: second unit
Cara Cheeseman	....	post production consultant
Kazuko Cowley	....	legal services
Chris Cranstoun	....	location assistant
Bill Darby	....	supervising location manager
Teresa Darby	....	location manager
R.H. Davies	....	marine coordinator (as Robin Davies)
Kate Davis	....	legal services
Emma Dent	....	horse mistress
Steve Dent	....	supplier: horses and carriages
Sara Dony	....	unit nurse
Mark Fielding	....	accountant: Ingenious Film Partners
Linda Gamble	....	unit publicist
Hannah Godwin	....	assistant: Mark Cooper
Anne Marie Gormley	....	first assistant accountant
Bob Gowland	....	golf advisor
Robin Hilton	....	legal services
Emily Hobbs	....	base runner
Paula Jack	....	voice coach: Youssou N'Dour
Paula Jalfon	....	production executive: physical production, Ingenious Film Partners
Martin Joy	....	location manager
Esther Kelly	....	head animal trainer
Cort Kristensen	....	assistant: Michael Apted
Matthew Lee	....	assistant production coordinator
Donna McCormick-Smith	....	animal trainer
Steve Morphew	....	stand-in: Ioan Gruffudd (as Stephen Morphew)
Clarissa Newman	....	production coordinator
David Parlett	....	card advisor
Amelia Price	....	assistant: Mr Gruffudd
David Redhead	....	assistant marine coordinator
Charlie Reed	....	floor runner
Steve Ricard	....	utility stand-in
Catherine Rushworth	....	unit nurse: second unit
Ben Schoen	....	title designer
Julie Shapiro	....	travel arranger
Gemma Smithers	....	assistant accountant
Bertie Spiegelberg	....	production runner
Jane Steele	....	assistant accountant
Jenny Uglow	....	etiquette advisor
Angela Wharton	....	script supervisor (as Angela Noakes Wharton)
Lesley Wise	....	legal and business affairs: Ingenious Film Partners
Joanne Woodward	....	post-production accountant
Tonia Wright	....	assistant: Jeanney Kim
Cassandra Barbour	....	rights and clearances: Entertainment Clearances (uncredited)
Dougal Cousins	....	location scout: Ireland (uncredited)
Andrew Dalmahoy	....	location scout (uncredited)
Evan Feuerman	....	assistant post-production accountant (uncredited)
Christopher Fosh	....	military stand-in (uncredited)
Samantha Gardner	....	production assistant: re-shoot (uncredited)
Matthew Jenkins	....	production coordinator: re-shoot (uncredited)
Mark Joseph	....	development (uncredited)
Forbes KB	....	military stand-in (uncredited)
Sarah Ramey	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)
Laura Sevier	....	rights and clearances: Entertainment Clearances (uncredited)
Tracey Taylor	....	accounts trainee (uncredited)
Clodagh Tierney	....	location scout (uncredited)

Production Companies

• FourBoys Films
• Walden Media
• Bristol Bay Productions
• Ingenious Film Partners
• Roadside Attractions

Distributors

• Momentum Pictures (2006) (UK) (theatrical)
• Long Shong Entertainment Multimedia Company (2007) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• Roadside Attractions (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Samuel Goldwyn Films (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Cinevista Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Facets Multimedia Distribution (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Benelux Film Distribution (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Vendetta Films (2006) (New Zealand) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Moving Picture Company (MPC)

Other Companies

• 20th Century Fox Studios  post-production facilities
• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting equipment supplied by
• ARRI Media  camera equipment provided by
• Air Studios  music recorded and mixed at
• CIS  opticals
• COS Prop  costumes
• Chorley Bunce Meals on a Mission (I)  catering
• Dakota Music Services  music preparation
• David Deane Associates  health and safety coordination
• De Lane Lea  adr stage: UK
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• EFilm  opticals
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Global Entertainment Partners  editing equipment supplied by: US
• John Ford Dubbing Theater  sound re-recording stage
• Lew Morgan Associates  location security
• Location Facilities  transportation facilities
• Midnight Transfer  video transfers
• Modern VideoFilm  high definiition on-line editing
• Picture Production Company  electronic press kit
• ProMed Medical Support Services  medical services
• Salon  editing equipment supplied by: UK
• Scarlet Letters  titles
• Twentieth Century-Fox Studios, Hollywood  adr stage: US

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic material involving slavery, and some mild language.

Runtime:

117 min | USA:111 min | Canada:111 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG | Ireland:PG | UK:PG | Singapore:PG | Hong Kong:I | Australia:PG | South Korea:All | Netherlands:6 | South Africa:PG | Finland:K-7 | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Ashridge Park, Little Gaddesden, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

FourBoys Films

Trivia:

A special screening of the film was shown in Buncrana, Co. Donegal in Ireland. This was in celebration of John Newton's link with the county, when in 1748 his slave ship, the Greyhound, came ashore after surviving a terrible storm. This event began the spiritual journey for Newton, which culminated in his authorship of the song, Amazing Grace.

Goofs:

Continuity: William Pitt's deathbed scene: when Pitt says "I'm scared", a blob of pale yellow discharge can be seen beneath his left eye. The shot then cuts to Wilberforce, but as soon as it cuts back to Pitt (after about a second) we can see that the blob has vanished.

Quotes:

Pitt the Younger: It's your wedding day - I agree with everything you say.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in How Sweet the Sound: The Story of Amazing Grace (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Amazing Grace

The redemption story of something terrible into something beautiful

I had the pleasure this past week of seeing a pre-screening outside of Washington, D.C. of the movie Amazing Grace, starring Reed Richards...err...Ioan Gruffudd as William Wilberforce – the famous British Christian politician that helped end the slave trade in Great Britain in the early 18th Century. The movie progresses through Wilberforce's life from about the time he begins his crusade against the slave trade in Parliament in his early 20's to the time it is eventually abolished. Everything in between is composed of all the hardships, victories, and relationships he goes through in the meantime. At some points the story can be a bit yawn inducing, but the film consistently seems to add just the right amount of humor or political intrigue to keep it afloat (more on the pacing below). There is a love interest Barbara, played by the quite attractive and dynamic Romola Garai, who keeps Mr. Fantastic...err...Wilberforce on track and encouraged. You get the feeling he would've never made it through the hard times without her (which is probably the case for most successful men as they say). The film does delve into evils of the slave trade, but it doesn't focus specifically on it, much like Amistad did focus on it. It seems to keep the main goal in mind, abolishing that heinous evil. This gives the film a "glass half full" feeling instead of a "glass half empty" one. You find yourself cheering for the good guys instead of seeking the heads of the bad ones.

You may be thinking they should've just called this film "Amistad: The Prequel", but that would do it a great disservice. Where Amistad succeeded in many ways such as exposing the horror of the slave trade in much more visual and visceral detail and containing great acting by Djimon Hounsou and Anthony Hopkins, I feel you ultimately left the theater not really feeling much better about anything. In fact, I'd say you may have left if feeling worse, maybe even shameful and/or guilty. Amazing Grace doesn't feel like that. In fact, it's not even really a "feel good" movie; it transcends that status. It's really a "do good" movie. You almost feel personal empowerment from the story, like you want to go out and change some social injustice yourself! Sure, we don't all have the political clout of a William Wilberforce, but we do have a voice. And I think that's why Amazing Grace stands above previous "social injustice" films like it. It feels organic instead of static. It feels like it could apply to today instead of some time long forgotten. It also appeals to everyone; black, white, or whoever. One African-American in the audience mentioned how he was impressed and encouraged at how passionate these white men were for the plight of the slaves. You also realize that slavery wasn't just an American problem, it was a world problem; which further emphasized the fact that the social injustice we see today isn't just a "fill_in_the_blank" problem, it's a world problem.

I'm not knowledgeable enough to comment very much on the technical aspects of this film, but don't let the religious overtones fool you into thinking this is another technical mess like so many in the past. It is on par with any period film of its kind from Hollywood in almost every way; acting, set design, costume design, story, etc.

One thing I found a drawback to it was its pacing though. It starts off fairly tepid, and though it builds up, it seems to go through a cycle of building up and then falling back down again. This could ultimately be a good thing though, because if you can keep your focus throughout the film, you'll be in for a very powerful ending that evokes positive emotions you didn't think you had, and I think the cyclic nature of the film's progress enhances the fulfillment the ending provides. I also found the time period jumping around within the film to be a bit confusing at some points; like some scenes I didn't know if they were in the past or present.

The representative at the screening said the movie would be playing on about 850 screens nationwide on its opening weekend (Feb. 23). Though this is small compared to most major movies, it is a pretty good amount for a smaller movie like this. I recommend going to see it if you're interested in a movie with depth, passion, character, goodness, virtue, and victory. Does it entertain? Sure. But it seems to do a little more also. You can't say that about too many movies these days. You won't leave wishing you had that $8.50 back.

In case you're wondering about the title, John Newton, the composer of the famous hymn 'Amazing Grace', (played powerfully by Albert Finney), was a contemporary and friend of William Wilberforce. John Newton was also a reformed ex-slave trader.