21 February, 2007

a movie for your consideration

I will not often use this blog as a place to promote a film, but today I have great reason to do so.

Back in November, I was given the opportunity to do something I have never done before. Because of a connection the TFA has, we were able to prescreen a major motion picture. The film was Amazing Grace, and it is being produced by Walden Media, the same company that is making the Narnia films.

Amazing Grace is about William Wilberforce, the British member of parliament who devoted his life and political career to the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire. He was good friends with John Newton, a pastor and former slave trader, who is also the author of several of the best hymns in the Christian tradition--Amazing Grace being the best known.

The film is well written and acted, beautifully filmed, and thoroughly enjoyable. It is a top quality film, comparable to other period British films like Pride and Prejudice. In fact, I plan to go see it again this weekend, when it opens.

I also had the opportunity this winter to spend some time with Micheal Flaherty, the president of Walden Media, and we discussed the film. He said that a film like this, which is released on a relatively small number of screens nationwide, really has one shot at gaining a wider audience. If the movie does well on opening weekend at the few theaters that show it, then it may be picked up by additional theaters. But if it doesn't thrive on opening weekend, even the few theaters that are showing it will drop it after a couple of weeks. This is a function of the movie market that makes it difficult for a small film, even one of high caliber, to be successful. Having seen Amazing Grace, and being convinced of its quality, I am recommending that anyone interested in Wilberforce, the abolition movement, black history, social activism, or faith and politics should go see this film on opening weekend--February 23.

 If you go, let me know what you think! I found it to be a wonderful film. If you have any questions about the film, please feel free to post a comment in response to this entry.

For more information about the film, go to http://www.amazinggracemovie.com/
There you can find a list theaters where it is showing.

posted by Wendell at 9:37 AM

5 Comments:

  • I loved it!

    By Blogger Caroline, at 5:31 PM, February 26, 2007  

  • I too enjoyed the movie thouroughly. Great representation of that time period.

    By Blogger Reid, at 9:22 AM, February 28, 2007  

  • A marvelous exchange of powerful themes, dynamic characters and unforgettable dialogue, exemplary of the way a movie should be, even after viewing it once and after the first curtains fall, the beautifully crafted storyline makes a person scheme of ways for yet another big screen seizure before it leaves the theatre.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:42 AM, March 14, 2007  

  • this movie was a washed-out disappointment. the powerful religious themes were diluted, and Newton was portrayed as a self-hating cornflake.

    unsurprisingly, it flopped.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:31 PM, March 26, 2007  

  • Qwndell...please write something. I am craving your intellectual ramblings.

    And despite anonymous' breakfast-themed comments, I'm putting the film on my Netflix. I might even move it to the top of my queue.

    Boo-yeah.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:08 AM, March 27, 2007  

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