Amistad

SYNOPSIS

Steven Spielberg's lengthy historical courtroom drama has its moments of pure visual poetry, but it fails to ignite the same moral outrage that Schindler's List so poignantly evoked. In 1839, a shipload of men from Sierra Leone who are destined to become slaves overpower their captors, killing all but two crew members needed to navigate them back to Africa. Betrayed, intercepted in American waters and charged with murder, the men's only hope for justice lies with the Abolitionist movement and an inexperienced lawyer. Anthony Hopkins and Matthew McConaughey lead the all-star cast, and there's an amazing debut by Djimon Hounsou as the leader of the captives. Although flawed, this chilling portrayal of outright racism further reveals Spielberg's skill as an expert film-maker unafraid of tackling heavy political issues.