Simon Delaney
One man's role in the long battle to outlaw slavery in the United Kingdom sets the stage for this historical drama from director Michael Apted. In 1784, 21-year-old William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) was elected to the British House of Commons, and soon established himself as a politician with a conscience. Several years later, his close friend William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch) became prime minister, and together they made a bold plan to introduce a bill banning slavery before the English legislature. Wilberforce was aided by anti-slavery activists Olaudah Equiano (Youssou N'Dour) and Thomas Clarkson (Rufus Sewell); however, pro-slavery hard-liners Lord Tarleton (Ciarán Hinds) and the Duke of Clarence (Toby Jones) spearheaded a hard-fought opposition to the legislation, and despite Wilberforce's best efforts, his bill went down in defeat. In 1797, Wilberforce left politics due to poor health and a battered spirit; staying at the country home of his friends Henry and Marianne Thornton (Nicholas Farrell and Sylvestra Le Touzel), he became acquainted with Barbara Spooner (Romola Garai), a beautiful woman with progressive views. Spooner became deeply infatuated with Wilberforce, and she encouraged him not to give up on his noble goals; with her help, Wilberforce launched a second campaign to persuade England's lawmakers to end the slave trade. Amazing Grace made its North American premiere as the closing-night gala attraction at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ioan Gruffudd, Romola Garai, (more)
- 2003
- R
Conor McPherson's comedy The Actors stars Michael Caine as an aging never-was performer. Anthony O'Malley (Caine) convinces young colleague and castmate Tom (Dylan Moran) to hone his craft by pretending to be someone he isn't in real life. Tony suggests that they rip off gangster Barreller (Michael Gambon). All goes according to plan, until Barreller's daughter Dolores (Lena Headey) falls in love with Tom, who is disguised as his sister's boyfriend Clive (Ben Miller). Miranda Richardson rounds out the cast as a London crime boss. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Caine, Dylan Moran, (more)
- 2001
A luckless gambler finally finds the secret to picking winners at the track -- a head in a jar -- in this comedy. Brendan (Robbie Coltrane) is a janitor at a university who has a fondness for gambling, especially betting on horse races. However, he doesn't have much skill at it, and poorly considered bets have drained the bank account he'd set aside for his daughter's education. Brendan's wife (Brenda Blethyn) has made Brendan promise to give up gambling, but when their daughter announces she's just been accepted to Trinity College in Ireland, Brendan has to come up with the tuition money, and fast. While doing his sweeping at work, Brendan makes a remarkable discovery -- the preserved head of an aboriginal tribesman who, under proper conditions, can pick the winners in horse races. Despite his promise to his wife, Brendan takes his new discovery and puts it to work forecasting upcoming races, and while the head's predictions are as good as gold, Brendan soon finds not everyone is happy about his new run of good luck. His wife is angry that he's gambling again, mobsters want to know what his secret is, a scholar from Australia insists that the head be returned to the people of his tribe, and a dean at the college (Dan Aykroyd) has some questions for Brendan about his discovery. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robbie Coltrane, Brenda Blethyn, (more)
- 2000
Hot on the heels of the BBC's multipart 1999 adaptation of Charles Dickens' semiautobiographical novel David Copperfield came this American-financed version, prepared for the TNT cable network as part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame. Child actor Max Dolbey and adult performer Hugh Dancy share the role of David Copperfield who, after enduring a tempestuous youth at the hands of his cruel stepfather Murdstone (Anthony Andrews), manages to survive into adulthood with the help and support of such sympathetic figures as Aunt Betsy Trotwood (Sally Field), the eternally-in-debt Mr. Micawber (Michael Richards), and loyal old Dan Peggoty (Nigel Davenport). Even so, David's later years are none too serene, thanks in great part to antagonists like the wheedling, "'umble" Uriah Heep (Frank MacCusker), and to his own star-crossed romantic misadventures. At the time of its first telecast on December 10, 2000, this two-part adaptation of David Copperfield was criticized for the "stunt" casting of former Seinfeld regular Michael Richards as Micawber, who is transformed into a Kramer-esque slapstick figure; however, one must remember that not everyone was enamored of W.C. Fields' now-classic interpretation of the same character in the 1935 film version. David Copperfield was lensed on location in Ireland. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
