Amazing Grace review

I went with Cicada over the weekend to support my boyfriend Ioan Gruffudd by watching his movie. I even watched The Fantastic 4 for him, I'll have you know. And I'll probably end up watching the second Fantastic Movie--but I'll be waiting til it comes out on DVD. I have my limits.

Highlights:
My boyfriend Ioan finally getting to be in a movie that's All About Him, Dangit.
Lovely England scenery.
Romola Garai's fabulous Titian hair.
This one time when a sick Ioan climbs out of bed wearing a puffy shirt and you almost see his bum.
Michael Gambon (aka Dumbledore) playing funny, crusty, floor-crossing MP.
Rufus Sewell (aka Seth Starkadder) playing a wild-eyed, fanatical good guy rather than a wild-eyed bad guy.
Lots of other fun actors to recognize and get excited over.
Ioan Gruffudd and Rufus Sewell being cute with babies, toddlers, and pets.
I was impressed by the story because I hadn't know much about the abolitionist movement in England. I mean, here in the US we had a war and then *bam,* one day slavery was abolished. Then it took us about 100 more years to get public opinion to change. In England they had to get public opinion on their side first and then find a way to get the law passed. It turns out that they totally cheat near the end and get a small, seemingly unrelated bill passed that ends up crippling the slave trade. Which is awesome.
It made me want to learn more about the real William Wilberforce, because he sounds pretty cool.
The part where Ioan sings "Amazing Grace" and shames the bad guys into silence with his goodness.

Lowlights:
That singing part was pretty heavy-handed, Ioan's gorgeous voice notwithstanding
A scenery-chewing Albert Finney dressed in some sort of hair shirt--he was good, don't get me wrong, but it was a bit much.
Ioan played a sick man for lots of the movie so they had to make him look not as pretty
I don't feel compelled to rush out and buy a copy or anything. The movie was good but wasn't particularly intense except for a few scenes.
The people sitting near me kept clapping. I hate it when people do that.

ps. I totally forgot the most important highlight of all! We walked from Cicada's apartment to the theatre, and she told me that every time she walks anywhere in her neighborhood she gets some kind of greeting or shout or honk from someone on the street. So that really made me nervous because what if I jinxed her perfect record??? Am happy to report that we received THREE (thank you very much) shows of appreciation during our walk. Because we're hot, that's why.

Posted in: Anglophilia,men I love,Sumptuous Literary Adaptations