What follows is the text of a letter I composed for my parish bulletin (I am a priest and pastor of a University Parish in Tucson) after having seen Amazing Grace. I often recommend movies to my parishioners, but seldom write a full-fledged review. This weekend I made an exception for an exceptional movie.

Dear Friends,

It is a movie-lovers' favorite weekend: Oscar weekend. So I beg your indulgence as I offer not just a movie recommendation, but an actual review of the remarkable movie I saw on Friday. I had been hearing about it for several weeks and looking forward to its opening in Tucson. "Amazing Grace" tells the story of William Wilberforce, a young American Revolution era British Parliamentarian who waged a three-decade legislative battle to end Great Britain's involvement in the African slave trade (Slavery was outlawed in England six decades before our civil war.) Among those who had influenced this remarkable Englishman was John Newton, the slave ship captain turned evangelical preacher, who penned the lyrics of arguably the best known sacred song in the world, which also lends its title to the movie. Newton had known Wilberforce as a child and, in the film, serves as his conscience when the task is unclear or proves daunting..

This is no schmaltzy feel-good biopic. Everything about it is compelling. It is beautifully written and directed. The cinematography and film-editing are superb. The costume and sets are exquisite. And the acting is top-notch. Ioan Gruffudd, the young Welchman best known for his excellent portrayal of C.S. Forester's seafaring hero, Horatio Hornblower, in eight made-for-A&E movies (1998-2003),brings great depth and passion to his portrayal of this complex hero of social justice. Gruffudd's star is on the rise. Award–winning actor, Albert Finney, graces this picture as an aged and eccentric Newton. The cast is rounded out by a gaggle of veteran British character actors who lend profundity to this compelling story. In addition to the cinematic elements that make this one of the few movies I have seen that I consider to be worth the $9 it costs to see a movie these days, it is first-rate storytelling! And Wilberforce is a hero whose story must be told. He grappled with one of my favorite issues: the place of faith in public life. As a young man, the rising political star began to rediscover an intense faith that had lain dormant for a time. His fire of conviction that something must be done about the slave trade was fueled by this reemerging faith. As he struggled with whether he should use his oratorical talents a politician or a preacher, he is convinced that he can use his popularity as an MP to do God's work by actively advocating for the voiceless slaves. The movie presents the story of a man who finds a perfect balance between his faith and his public life—each shaping the other in the face of a clear vocation. That his secular realm is that of politics and the time is one of great fear and institutionalized injustice gives this period movie much relevance in today's world. I hope every person of faith watches this movie. I especially think that it is pertinent for our student parishioners who may be struggling with the same issues as Wilburforce. (While I fear it would bore younger children, it would be good for older children and teens.) It opened on Friday at the El Con Cinema. I will be organizing a parish outing to see "Amazing Grace" in a couple of weeks. Whether you go then or another time, I recommend this movie as a great Lenten exercise. I loved it and consider it one of the most socially relevant films I've ever seen. "Amazing Grace" has long been one of my favorite sacred songs, but I will never hear it the same again.

Peace, Fr. Bart

Amazing Grace tells us the story of William Wilberforce and his decade and a half long fight to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire. It was a singularly lonely task, but accomplished with grit and determination from a man convinced he was in the right and on the side of angels. Ioan Gruffud plays Wilberforce and fleshes out the three dimensional man he was.

William Wilberforce, born and raised in Yorkshire was an evangelical Christian, brought to his faith under the influence of the famous evangelist George Whitfield in the 18th century. That mean something a whole lot different than what it is today. Wilberforce would be absolutely aghast at such things as the electronic churches and slick and pompadoured reverends on the tube perpetually asking for money. He was a man of means and used a lot of those means in his various enterprises.

Wilberforce was not a one issue man. His interests among other things beside the abolition of slavery, prison reform, and the great disparity of riches between the wealthy and the poor. He even crusaded against animal abuse, years before the Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was founded. The hardshell right-wing attitudes of today's evangelicals would find no supporter in him.

Benedict Cumberbatch plays his lifelong friend William Pitt the Younger. One thing that I liked about Amazing Grace was the way it portrayed the Younger Pitt. Pitt was Prime Minister for over 20 years, one of the longer administrations. Though he wanted to do more, as leader of his Majesty's government he had a whole host of concerns, not the least of which was the very survival of the United Kingdom with the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Two older actors, Michael Gambon and Albert Finney, play Charles James Fox, Pitt's lifelong rival in Parliament and John Newton, minister and former slaver, who wrote Amazing Grace. Gambon at the conclusion delivers a most moving tribute to Wilberforce and his efforts. Finney writes his memoirs, an effective piece of documentation of the horrors of the slave trade in human terms. That was the problem boiled down to its essence, to see the Africans being bought and sold as human.

Amazing Grace should be seen together with Amistad and also with that old Paramount studio classic Souls at Sea. They are the three most effective films on the topic of slavery ever done.

It's 1797 England. William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) struggles to end the slave trade in British. From pushing to end the American war to abolition, Wilberforce is constantly opposed by powerful interests. He is comforted by the lovely Barbara Spooner (Romola Garai),and former slaver John Newton (Albert Finney) who would write "Amazing Grace". He must confront indifference, fear of lost of jobs, war fears, and finally moneyed interests.

The political intrigue could have stifled this movie, but instead it adds layers of fascination. The great actors involved has probably something to do with it. It's one of the first movie I saw Benedict Cumberbatch in. Then there are the great Michael Gambon, Rufus Sewell, Ciarán Hinds, Toby Jones, and many others. It is a fascinating piece of history that usually doesn't get made into movies. The fact that it's done so well is a great triumph in itself.