Amistad

In 1839, a shipload of slaves heading for America overpower their captors, killing all but two crew members needed to navigate them back to Africa. Betrayed, intercepted and charged with murder, the slaves' only hope for justice lies with the Abolitionist movement and an inexperienced lawyer. In this lengthy courtroom drama, director Steven Spielberg fails to ignite the same moral outrage his Schindler's List poignantly evoked, despite an all-star cast, an amazing debut by Djimon Hounsou (playing the slaves' leader) and moments of pure visual poetry. Although flawed, this chilling portrayal of outright racism further reveals Spielberg's skill as an expert film-maker unafraid of tackling heavy political issues.

Earnest and dogged, well meaning but too often dramatically inert, this tells a true story from a white viewpoint, in which the slaves remain exotic accessories to the real conflict, which takes place in courtrooms.