Amazing Grace

[lindragon]

'Amazing Grace' will be shown on ITV3 (U.K.), on Sunday 16th October. 11.20pm.
If you miss that, it will be repeated on Thursday, 20th Oct, again , ITV3, 12.40-2.30am. ( So , really, Friday, very early! )

[rueful]

, it seems like some tv programmer in England is having themself a Rufest lately!

Now if only someone in the US would get a clue!

[kissmekate]

Now I've finally filled that gap in my Rufus collection. What a gem of a movie! I loved it from the very first scene. The cast is nothing short of wonderful. First I had a little trouble discerning between all those men in wigs, but all the actors managed to breathe life into them so well that this effect faded rather quickly.

I was very glad to find that the makers hadn't turned Wilberforce's long fight for the abolition of slavery into one of those tedious, pompous history lessons. Without diminishing the importance of the subject and certainly not without respect for the historical figures featured, they managed to create an entertaining film with lovely little humorous touches. Wilberforce and Pitt's race in the garden was priceless, as were his conversations with the butler or his falling in love with Barbara rather unwillingly.

I loved Ioan Gruffudd (whom I had only known by name before) in the leading role. He showed both Wilberforce's enthusiasm and his later disillusionment very beautifully, and I found him very charismatic when he spoke out for his cause in parliament. Nice voice, too. My heart went out to him so much when he regretted not being able to sing any more.

It was great to see Michael Gambon and Albert Finney again. Two grand old gentlemen of the British film Romola Garai was new to me, too, but I liked her instantly. Good chemistry with Gruffudd, and a nice voice, too. The wedding scene was wonderful - the singing of "Amazing Grace" brought tears to my eyes.

Youssou N'Dour was known to me only as a singer before (I like his "7 Seconds" a lot!) He did a great job with Equiano, and I'd have loved to see a bit more of him.

Benedict Cumberbatch in a wig cracked me up! Nevertheless, I absolutely agree with Rufus that he's a very very talented actor. And hats off to the make-up department for aging him so believably.

And now: cue the Sexy Scarecrow! From the pictures, I have always thought Thomas Clarkson must be a lovable character even if his looks may be debatable. Now that I've seen the movie I totally get the thing Meg has about him I loved Rufus in this role. A truly great performance from our man.

First of all it is incredible how that beautiful specimen of a man morphed into that slouching, awkward figure so authentically. It's not just the wig and make-up that left him barely recognizable. That talent of his to portray a person not just by speaking his lines but by assuming posture, gestures, facial expressions that are absolutely in character never stops fascinating me.

Rufus's Clarkson appeared to be someone with a deep belief in his cause, bordering on fanatic but not quite crossing the line, ready to go to extreme measures if it helped abolish slavery. A strange-looking guy who doesn't seem to care much about his appearance (his hair as older Clarkson was a veritable disaster! ;D ), a bit clumsy and ungraceful in his movements. It would have been easy to fall into the trap of just making him the oddball of the film who provides the occasional laugh, but Rufus makes him a lot more than that. I loved the scene at Equiano's grave. Or the baby (was that his own child? Very sweet scene.) That's not to say I didn't like his funny moments. When he felt nobody was watching him in Wilberforce's kitchen and popped that nut (or whatever it was on the table) into his mouth, his face was absolutely priceless!

I was also surprised that there was much more Clarkson in the film than I had expected. At the very end, with the shorter hair, he even managed to look quite good ;D

This one will be up among my favourites now. I would even have loved it without Rufus (well, maybe not quite as much ;D ).

[Petruchio - Good God]

Totally agree with you... you found the right words KMK

[megagem]

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I'm so happy you finally watched it! I think I was online when I saw you 'like' it on facebook and I thought "hmmm...I wonder..." ;D
Obviously, I love every single thing you said about our sexiest of scarecrows and you captured his essence exactly. He's awkward, looks funny, is funny, but has a heart full of passion for what he does and that, to me, makes up for everything. Even his Spanish-moss-like hairdo (which I actually prefer MUCH more than his earlier tresses).
I was surprised at Ioan's performance too and liked him immediately. I always remember knowing of him, but I can't recall ever actually seeing him in anything before AG. Romola Garai I've liked for quite awhile (doesn't she have the most gorgeous skin?). The first film I saw her in was Vanity Fair (with Reese Witherspoon). I had never heard of Youssou N'Dour before AG, and I was touched to hear that he was being fed his lines during filming because he did not know enough English to say them without help. His diction was better than my own! I'd love to see if he plans to be in more films. I thought he was wonderful.

I'm so glad you liked it!!! I can't imagine what it must've been like for you to hear me gush from here to eternity about Mr Clarkson for so long! ;D

[anglophile]

Oh, meg -- what a little prophetess you turned out to be. it is a wonderful film and a superb performance by rufus that everyone should see. don't you wish you could have been thomas' best friend and helpmate in such an essential cause?

[kissmekate]

Nov 20, 2011 1:33:07 GMT megagem said:

He's awkward, looks funny, is funny, but has a heart full of passion for what he does and that, to me, makes up for everything.

Definitely! And he's got that wicked grin that makes you grin along with him, especially in the scene on the golf course. Sometimes he appears like a big child, too, like when he examines the golf club ;D

Romola Garai I've liked for quite awhile (doesn't she have the most gorgeous skin?).

She's a very pretty lady, and I was surprised to find how young she was when she did this. Very accomplished acting. I hope we'll see much more of her.

I had never heard of Youssou N'Dour before AG, and I was touched to hear that he was being fed his lines during filming because he did not know enough English to say them without help.

Oh, really? He had a hint of a French accent but it certainly didn't show that he speaks little English.

I've known him as a singer for the 1994 (?) duet with Neneh Cherry, 7 Seconds, where he sings in his African mother tongue, Wolof. (I like the original video a lot, but unfortunately I only found this link which is cut off halfway through ...)

I'm so glad you liked it!!! I can't imagine what it must've been like for you to hear me gush from here to eternity about Mr Clarkson for so long! ;D

;D

Honestly, I don't remember why I didn't get the DVD right away when Rufusitis set in! But maybe it was good that I waited, for there was a re-release with a German soundtrack and I think this is one of my Rufus films even Mr. Kate might appreciate. Not least because Rufus is not pretty in it ;D

[dovescorpio]

I only know Rufus in TOTS, 9/11 poems, T&I , and AG. All very different characters yet all unmistakeably Rufus. In some ways Thomas is like Rufus's character who reads the 9/11 poems - its a soul thing.

This Thomas character of Rufus's was so gentle and unworldly I wanted to hug him and would have felt like weeping for him except he was so strong, too. The way he held and described that terrible thing they tied around the slaves' necks so that they could not move in those nightmare boats, showed that he was as tough in character as he was gentle - unafraid of looking at torturous cruelity and suffering in the eye.

Amazing Grace is a great song and I think they could have made much more of it. Youssou n'dour is a wonderful musician - I bet he could have done something wonderful with it.

I like R's long hair with the side parting in this film. Partly because it reminds me of someone special from the distant past but also, when it is glossy and bouffant I think it makes his excellent brow and cheek bones stand out more sharply than ever. And even when it is dull and flat I think it admirably suits his character.

[francesca]

It is quite a while since I last watched this. I found it as moving as the last time.

Each part played meticulously but without the undue reverence that films of this content sometimes have.

Needless to say, Rufus was superb in spite of his makeup and wig

A lovely lovely film

[anglophile]

By way of explanation -- I teach a class that explores various spiritual topics (what else?) on Wednesday nights at church. For the past couple of weeks, we've been watching a film called "The Ultimate Gift" and following a study guide that relates themes in the movie to religious teaching, etc.
As I was preparing for the lesson this week, I noticed for the first time the previews from the company that apparently has adapted several films for similar studies. Since I'm posting this here, you can probably guess what one of the films available is!!

I've already recommended it for the study that will begin next fall and, of course, I'm volunteering to teach again. I just hope it's not too terribly embarrassing if I pant heavily when Rufus' scenes come on the tube. It will just go to prove you can be "all things to all people" if I can pull this off.

[kernowsqueen]

Sadly, my deep seated dislike of Ioan kept me from seeing this film however I feel that Rufus was the best thing in it - Mr Cumberbatch not withstanding...

Sadly its near the bottom of my Rufus list so far - but he - as always - was wonderful.

[voiceover]

KQ glad you found the strength o watch AG. The historian in me flinches at some of the inaccuracies in the film, but heck what does it matter I agree with Anglophile -the film is so useful as an introductory teaching tool, whether for history or morality, it is excellent and one I have used in anti slavery projects. As to Clarkson - the man himself was older, bigger and more powerful than the part RS was given in the script. He was working for abolition for years and history has put him too far to the sidelines. Sad!

[sgev]

I studied History so I have a guilty pleasure for this kind of movies. It’s not 100% historical correct and Wilberforce’s goodness is exaggerated but who cares.
I agree that Rufus and Cumberbatch give the better performance in the piece. It has a lot of great old actors but the characters of those two were the most ambiguous and better written (Doesn’t you hate how wonderful actors like Toby Jones seems condemned to play always the same character? He was with Cumberbatch in my favorite film of past year Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and he and the also great Cierán Hinds are playing the same dynamic than in this film).

[rueful]

Sgev, I agree that some of the characters were written pretty one dimensionally, especially the "bad guys". You're right, as soon as you see poor Toby Jones, you always know he's going to be a jerk. I'm sure he hates the type casting too.

They were lucky to have such a good cast who could bring life to their roles. I like this film a lot anyway, especially for the two performances you mention (Rufus and Benedict), as well as Youssou N'Dour and Albert Finney.

[kernowsqueen]

I do adore Toby Jones - he's always good in any role he plays.