RELEASED to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the passing of the bill which outlawed the slave trade in the British Empire, Amazing Grace is an impassioned history lesson painting crusading reformer William Wilberforce as nothing short of a saint.

Director Michael Apted struggles to navigate the choppy waters between Wilberforce's political ambition and his private concerns, ultimately beaching his beautifully crafted picture on preachy and shamelessly sentimental middle ground.

Ioan Gruffudd cuts a dashing swagger in the lead role, delivering keynote parliamentary speeches with gusto.

He brings into stark contrast the character's fiery determination, driven by what he believed was a divine purpose, and his ailing health, battling against a severe bout of influenza.

At the beginning of the film, Wilberforce's good friend William Pitt the Younger (Benedict Cumberbatch) is poised to become England's youngest Prime Minister.

He persuades Wilberforce to join the ranks of the House of Commons and spearhead the argument for the abolition of slavery, in the face of vociferous resistance from Lord Dundas (Bill Paterson) and the Duke of Clarence (Toby Jones).

Investing every waking moment in the fight for freedom, Wilberforce pays scant attention to the warning signs from his weak, exhausted body.

Not even the concern of Barbara Spooner (Romola Garai), the headstrong young woman who becomes his wife, seems to move him.

Screenwriter Steven Knight distils the key points of Wilberforce's crusade with ease, and peppers the character's dialogue with some powerful turns of phrase.

Gambon brings a roguish quality and a twinkle to his eye to his old timer, but unfortunately, Garai is rather short-changed by the script; screen chemistry with Gruffudd is completely inert.

You would never believe that Wilberforce and Barbara were ever in love.

  • See it at the ABC.