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Amistad

Amistad

Drama · History · Mystery · 1997

In 1839, the slave ship Amistad set sail from Cuba to America. During the long trip, Cinque leads the slaves in an unprecedented uprising. They are then held prisoner in Connecticut, and their release becomes the subject of heated debate. Freed slave Theodore Joadson wants Cinque and the others exonerated and recruits property lawyer Roger Baldwin to help his case. Eventually, John Quincy Adams also becomes an ally.

Movie details

Amistad

“Freedom is not given. It is our right at birth. But there are moments when it must be taken.”

1997 Drama · History · Mystery 2h 35m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.0 / 10

Community rating

In 1839, the slave ship Amistad set sail from Cuba to America. During the long trip, Cinque leads the slaves in an unprecedented uprising. They are then held prisoner in Connecticut, and their release becomes the subject of heated debate. Freed slave Theodore Joadson wants Cinque and the others exonerated and recruits property lawyer Roger Baldwin to help his case. Eventually, John Quincy Adams also becomes an ally.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Amistad?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Steven Spielberg

Written by

David Franzoni

Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman

Theodore Joadson

Nigel Hawthorne

Nigel Hawthorne

Martin Van Buren

Anthony Hopkins

Anthony Hopkins

John Quincy Adams

Djimon Hounsou

Djimon Hounsou

Cinque

Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey

Roger Sherman Baldwin

David Paymer

David Paymer

Secretary John Forsyth

Pete Postlethwaite

Pete Postlethwaite

Holabird

Court is in session

Put Amistad on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.