Saw this surprising period piece last night. No huge actors, just a lot of accomplished lesser mortals, such as Richard Harrisof Dumbledore fame, and the dude who played Horatio Hornblower. Rufus Sewell, who has eerie Johnny Depp/Tim Burton-esque moments, was especially good and sadly didn’t contribute to more of the story. I hope to see him cast in a leading role someday soon.
The story was that of William Wilberforce trying to pass an anti-slavery bill and the British House of Commons in the years beginning 1797. A yawner one would think but it was very well done. The only weakness the movie had was the confusing flashbacks and forwards from time to time. And, for me, old guys in powdered wigs tend to look alike, so I confused the Dumbledore fellow with the guy who does a superb job of playing the man who wrote the Amazing Grace hymn.
Religious movie? Nope. The hymn seems to just a means of explanation of personal philosophy instead of worship. Interesting…but I thought almost unnecessary. This movie could have been called William Wilberforce for all the hymn came into play.
I still am tickled when people who do good also know others who do good and perhaps they are well-known or become well-known in the future. It’s like a secret club of do-gooders just doing their good thing together. Good for them!
2 Comments
November 19, 2007 at 9:14 am
Do-gooders Club
If we said one to another
“We are not doing right,”
Would we stop
Gaze earnestly
At the world,
See it for what it is,
Suddenly become
True citizen of the earth;
Brothers and sisters
Hand in hand,
Doing our duty
In perfect conscience?
Would we
Could we do that?
Maybe this is the day
Of that good news
Where we,
Shut eyes opened,
No longer silent
Get up, stand up
And roar until the daylight?
So come on now
Let us go and shout for the right
On the streets!
November 20, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Richard Harris has been dead for several years now. You mean Michael Gambon, the hippie, not-near-as-good-as-the-first Dumbledore! =)
I don’t know…those old guys in powdered wigs looked pretty dead to me…. (thank you, hugs!)