Amistad [Blu-ray]

Director: Steven Spielberg Steven Spielberg

Overview

This Steven Spielberg-directed exploration into a long-ago episode in African-American history recounts the trial that followed the 1839 rebellion aboard the Spanish slave ship Amistad and captures the complex political maneuverings set in motion by the event. Filmed in New England and Puerto Rico, the 152-minute drama opens with a pre-credit sequence showing Cinque (Djimon Hounsou) and the other Africans in a violent takeover of the Amistad. Captured, they are imprisoned in New England where former slave Theodore Joadson (Morgan Freeman), viewing the rebels as "freedom fighters," approaches property lawyer Baldwin (Matthew McConaughey), who attempts to prove the Africans were "stolen goods" because they were kidnapped. Running for re-election, President Martin Van Buren (Nigel Hawthorne) overturns the lower court's decision in favor of the Africans. Former President John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins) is reluctant to become involved, but when the case moves on to the Supreme Court, Adams stirs emotions with a powerful defense. The storyline occasionally cuts away to Spain where the young Queen Isabella (Anna Paquin) plays with dolls; she later debated the Amistad case with seven U.S. presidents. The character portrayed by Morgan Freeman is a fictional composite of several historical figures. For authentic speech, the Africans speak the Mende language, subtitled during some scenes but not others.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/06/2014
UPC:	0032429150066
Original Release:	1997
Rating:	R
Source:	PARAMOUNT
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:35:00
Sales rank:	19,702

Special Features

The making of Amistad; Theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Morgan Freeman	Theodore Joadson
Anthony Hopkins	John Quincy Adams
Djimon Hounsou	Cinqué
Matthew McConaughey	Roger S. Baldwin
Nigel Hawthorne	Martin Van Buren
David Paymer	Secretary Forsyth
Pete Postlewaite	Holabird
Anna Paquin	Queen Isabella
Tomas Milian	Calderon
Austin Pendleton	Professor Gibbs
Chiwetel Ejiofor	Covey
Geno Silva	Ruiz
John Ortiz	Montes
Peter Firth	Capt. Fitzgerald
Jeremy Northam	Judge Coglin
Arliss Howard	John C. Calhoun
Harry A. Blackmun	Justice Joseph Story
Razaaq Adoti	Yamba
Abu Bakaar Fofanah	Fala
Derrick N. Ashong	Buakei
Ralph Brown	Lieutenant Gedney
Darren Burrows	Lieutenant Meade,Actor
Allan Rich	Judge Juttson
Paul Guilfoyle	Attorney
Xander Berkeley	Hammond
Willie Amakye	Folowa
Luc Assogba	Gbatui
Mariah Campbell	Masery
Habib Conteh	Bai,Morlai
Monguehy Fanzy	Fabanna
Jimmy Fotso	Kwong
Adekunle Ilori	Kahei
Sheriff Kargbo	Almamy
Saye Lah	Kessebe
Sylvestre Massaquoi	Santigiie
Samson Odede	Kpona
Chike Okpala	Sorie
Willie Onafesso	Jina,Baa
Samuel Pieh	Suuleh
Lansana Sawi	Morlu
Abu Sidique	Tsukama
El Hadj Malik Sow	Golabu
Lamine Thiam	Mahmud
Daniel Von Bargen	Warden Pendelton
Rusty Schwimmer	Mrs. Pendelton
Pedro Armendáriz	General Espatero
Frank T. Wells	Crier
Michael Massee	Prison Guard
Roy Cooper	Pickney
Jake Weber	Mr. Wright
Victor Rivers	Captain Ferrar
Joseph Kosseh	Birmaja
Steve Passewe	Cinque's In-Law
Sherly Acosta Williams	Cinque's Wife,Composer,Actor
Matt Sarles	Young Aide
George Gerdes	Marshal
Jerry Molen	Magistrate
Kevin J. O'Connor	Missionary
Robert Walsh	Guardsman
Sean McGuirk	Courier
Tony Owen	Farmer
William Young	Businessman
Michael Riley	British Officer
Leon Singer	Don Pablo
Castulo Guerra	Spanish Priest
Harry Groener	Tecora Captain
Hawthorne James	Creole Cook
Ingrid Walters	Woman Overboard with Baby
Curtis Shields	Bassie
Charles Udoma	Kessebe
Clarence Mobley	Kenei
Edward Appiah	Followolo
Paul Mwakutuya	Sessi
Samuel Orekhio	Fawni
Ransford Thomas	Alkali
Issac Mayanja	Sanpha
Roosevelt Flenoury	Njaooni
Carlos Spivey	Chike
Andrew L. Josiah	Tamba
Peter Mansaray	Kapr
Brian Macon	Yauai
Denver Dowridge	Kpau
Rory Burton	Vakina
Omo Lara Tosin	Kula
Juliette Darko	Teme
Charlean Isata Bangalie	Margru
M.S. Kaleiwo	Kaleiwo
Stellan Skarsgård	Lewis Tappan
Pedro Armendariz	Actor
Pete Postlethwaite	Actor

Technical Credits

David Franzoni

Steven Spielberg	Director,Producer
David Franzoni	Screenwriter
Debbie Allen	Producer
James Arnett	Stunts
Scott Farrar	Special Effects
Laurie MacDonald	Executive Producer,Producer
Walter F. Parkes	Executive Producer,Producer
Denise Eleanor Ream	Special Effects
Tom Ryba	Special Effects
Victoria Thomas	Casting
Colin Wilson	Producer
Jeanne McCarthy	Casting
Jose Jimenez	Casting
Priscilla John	Casting
Tere Lopez	Casting
Ed Ricci	Special Effects
Randy Cabral	Special Effects
Industrial Light & Magic	Special Effects
Jeff Frink	Special Effects
Robert Cooper	Executive Producer
Ron Judkins	Sound/Sound Designer
Robert Jackson	Sound/Sound Designer