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(1 - 19) of 19 OFCS Rating: 74% Fresh Page   1   B- "History purists will find the details enchanting, period drama fanatics will adore the arm's-length posture of the piece, and the true-life tale is one worth being told. Just make sure to ingest loads of caffeine before watching."   OhmyNews.com   Brian Orndorf "The focus on Wilberforce's ailing body seems a peculiar, not to say "amazing," displacement of affliction."   Nitrate Online   Cynthia Fuchs 2.5/4 "Fernando Meirelles and Edward Zwick take note: Amazing Grace is proof that liberal filmmakers can make movies that aren't desperate manifestations of their political guilt."   Slant Magazine   Ed Gonzalez B "As a period piece, it's remarkably detailed, smartly written, and likably acted."   EricDSnider.com   Eric D. Snider 2.5/4 "...ponderous and relentlessly padded in its moral morass... Grace manages to work effectively as a crusading costume drama drenched in consciousness and conviction."   TheWorldJournal.com   Frank Ochieng B- "Though it's not as inspiring as its makers might have wished, it's a solid, respectful treatment of a significant episode in the anti-slavery movement."   One Guy's Opinion   Frank Swietek 5/5 "An inspiring drama directed by Michael Apted about a zealous abolitionist in eighteenth century England who models for us a moral heroism."   Spirituality and Practice   Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat 2.5/4 "Apted is without a doubt one of the foremost documentarians working today. His Up Series represents a cinematic hallmark. His feature credits are less certain."   ReelViews   James Berardinelli 2.5/4 " Climax is a groundswell of tear-inducing virtue that ultimately leaves Grace on a high, if not amazing, note."   Palo Alto Weekly   Jeanne Aufmuth "The whole thing feels a bit smug and complacent, as if having a worthwhile subject were the only requirement for making a worthwhile film, and Apted directs in a respectable "Masterpiece Theatre" style that effectively drains away any inherent drama."   Pajiba   Jeremy C. Fox 2/5 "There's a lot of good intentions behind Amazing Grace, but the movie's a bore, swirling into the minutia of antiquated British law."   7M Pictures   Kevin Carr B+ "[Screenwriter] Knight should be remembered at year's end for not only telling a compelling story, but for delightfully smart and witty dialogue that never feels unnatural in the actors' mouths."   rec.arts.movies.reviews   Laura Clifford 3/4 "[The screenwriter] does an admirable job of streamlining a story that unfolds over the course of 20 years. Meanwhile, Apted allows his fine cast the breathing room to make historical figures feel like living, breathing people rather than waxworks."   TV Guide's Movie Guide   Maitland McDonagh 6/10 "AMAZING GRACE is a second-class film on a first-class theme. The film smolders for almost two hours without ever catching emotional fire. Some enormous liberties were taken with history."   rec.arts.movies.reviews   Mark R. Leeper 3.5/5 "Skilfully written and directed, the film is an involving drama, even if it's overly worthy and sentimental."   Shadows on the Wall   Rich Cline A "It is one of the world's great songs, and now it has a worthy movie to go with it."   Laramie Movie Scope   Robert Roten A- "Amazing Grace is an important historical drama that comes out at a good time for movie-goers who want high quality, thought provoking entertainment."   Reeling Reviews   Robin Clifford "[Apted's] picture, openhearted and enthusiastic, is partly an ode to Wilberforce and partly a love letter to the simple act of taking action."   Salon.com   Stephanie Zacharek 2.5/4 Read review   Big Picture Big Sound   Joe Lozito  (1 - 19) of 19 OFCS Rating: 74% Fresh Page   1