Freedom (2014)
Two men separated by 100 years are united in their search for freedom. In 1856 a slave, Samuel Woodward and his family, escape from the Monroe Plantation near Richmond, Virginia. A secret network of ordinary people known as the Underground Railroad guide the family on their journey north to Canada. They are relentlessly pursued by the notorious slave hunter Plimpton. Hunted like a dog and haunted by the unthinkable suffering he and his forbears have endured, Samuel is forced to decide between revenge or freedom. 100 years earlier in 1748, John Newton the Captain of a slave trader sails from Africa with a cargo of slaves, bound for America. On board is Samuel's great grandfather whose survival is tied to the fate of Captain Newton. The voyage changes Newton's life forever and he creates a legacy that will inspire Samuel and the lives of millions for generations to come.
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recommended
Good start, but then it gets ruined
Did you people see the same film I saw?
The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
I am reminded that we are all slaves in this world, with Christ, but the true victory is freedom in Christ Jesus.
It was poorly written and acted. Cuba Gooding, Jr.'s character was melodramatic, which provided annoying faux drama. It's a musical, but the music had not been written at the time the movie was set, except for "Amazing Grace," of which you can hear better versions elsewhere. Largely historically inaccurate in all ways. I don't see how anyone could enjoy anything about this movie, except that they ultimately escape despite the lead character's idiocy.
There are lots of things to criticize here. Too much overt religion. Slow moving story. The clever idea of paralleling the story of slaves to the story of hymns. Weak plot.But if the story of slavery in America is a huge jigsaw puzzle little understood by today's Americans, then this film has a few jigsaw pieces to consider. For example, we don't learn often enough today about the Underground Railway, and that is a key part of this film. Some of its methods are highlighted here, including the role played by Quakers. There are some heart rending scenes here which will be distasteful to many, but which only scratch the surface of the immense cruelty these humans suffered, particularly in the voyage to America.There are some detours here that were distracting and added little to the story. For example the theatrical segment was just so out of place. And the whole flashback in time aspect of the story...well, I think it sounded better on paper than it turned out on the screen.Cuba Gooding had so little dialog here it's almost funny, He's an actor that started out with real promise, but made many poor project choices. His gravelly voice is beginning to be a problem.As a film, this movie is an almost epic failure. Its value lies only in certain images that burn into your mind even more the evils of slavery and what Black men, women AND CHILDREN endured.On a personal note, I was interested in one aspect of this film -- that part of it took place in Woodbridge, Virginia, the area in which I lived my last few years in the state.
A family of runaway slaves head for Canada on the Underground Railroad, along the way, the eldest tells the story of how the family came to America and how they first found faith.It feels like a passion project for Cuba Gooding Jr. who produced the project as well as acted in it. It was worth it.The movie does not hold back on what a dark time slavery was, which made it all more inspiring watching this family escape from it. Along the way, meeting such famous figures as Fredrick Douglas. I'm not to big on religion, so the whole Christian thing did not appeal to me at all. Cuba plays a man who gave up on God (which I feel is understandable for a slave) While the rest of his family believes that God is guiding them to freedom. I also was disinterested in the sub story of a the ship captain that reluctantly brought slaves into the States. The whole thing at times acted like a bad Broadway musical which was unattractive.Overall, it's hard to find a movie about slavery enjoyable, but I did. It was a very realistic look at the subject and worth taking a look at.