Detailed item info | Movie description | Based on actual events in 1838, AMISTAD is the story of captured African slaves who took over their transport ship in a bloody revolt with the hopes of returning back to their homeland. After the slaves are caught and imprisoned, their leader, Cinque (Djimon Hounsou), unable to understand the language or court system of America, tries to communicate his desire to return home to his defense lawyer, Roger Baldwin (Matthew McConaughey), and former slave Theodore Joadson (Morgan Freeman). The men plead for help with their groundbreaking court case from former president John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins). Steven Spielberg directed this moving film, using as a reference the book by William A. Owens, BLACK MUTINY: THE REVOLT ON THE SCHOONER AMISTAD. The Africans in the movie speak Mende, with subtitles added. West African actor Djimon Hounsou had to learn to speak the language for his role--and was nominated for a Golden Globe. Spielberg shot the film at the State House in Providence, Rhode Island, the seaport in Mystic, Connecticut, and other New England locations.
| | Credits | | Producer: | Colin Wilson, Debbie Allen, Steven Spielberg | | Cast: | Abu Bakaar Fofanah, Abu Sidique, Adekunle Ilori, Allan Rich, Anna Paquin, Anthony Hopkins, Arliss Howard, Austin Pendleton, Chike Okpala, Chjwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Von Bargen, Darren E. Burrows, David Paymer, Derrick N. Ashong, Djimon Hounsou, El Hadj Malik Sow, Frank T. Wells, Geno Silva, Jake Weber, Jeremy Northam, Jimmy Fotso, John Ortiz, Joseph Kosseh, Lamine Thiam, Lansana Sawi, Luc Assogba, Mariah Campbell, Matthew McConaughey, Michael Massee, Monguehy Fanzy, Morgan Freeman, Nigel Hawthorne, Paul Guilfoyle, Pedro Armendariz Jr., Pete Postlethwaite, Peter Firth, Ralph Brown, Razaaq Adoti, Roy Cooper, Rusty Schwimmer, Samson Odede, Samuel Pieh, Saye Lah, Sheriff Kargbo, Sherly Accosta Williams, Stellan Skarsgaard, Stephen Conteh, Steve Passewe, Sylvestre Massaquoi, Tomas Milian, Victor Rivers, Willie Amakye, Willie Onafesso, Xander Berkeley |
| | Details | | Edition: | Widescreen |
| | Notes | DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Letterbox - 1.85
Dual Layer
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
Theatrical Trailer
Featurette
Talent Bios
Text\Photo Galleries:
Production Notes
Theatrical release: December 4, 1997.
The film was shot on location in Newport and Providence, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts; Mystic, Connecticut; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
| | Editorial reviews | "...Sheer power, moral and otherwise. It possesses a massively majestic hero..." -- 3 out of 4 stars
USA Today - p.1D - Susan Wloszczyna (12/10/1997)
"...It has excellent cinematography....Djimon Hounsou gives the film a strong visual focus as he radiates extraordinary presence and fury..."
New York Times - p.E1 - Janet Maslin (12/10/1997)
"...A monumentally impressive achievement and further proof of Spielberg's ongoing maturation as an artist..."
Box Office - p.56 - Wade Major (02/01/1998)
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