Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace Beats and Dialogue 

Dialogue- in Amazing Grace was used almost constantly throughout the movie. During sessions, the men would speak and be either approved or not by the noises and words of the other men in their seats. It was used to show whether they agreed or disagreed on what the speaker was proposing, with their unintelligible words becoming louder based off of how strongly they felt about the bills being proposed. The lack of dialogue was also able to send its own message and to cause the audience to reflect on what the movie is trying to tell us by what it isn't saying or through a brief sentence and then a pause, such as during the dinner when Wilberforce is told, "You can do both."

ACT 1

Opening Image- Wilberforce "saves the cat" by riding along in the rain and stopping to help save a horse from being beaten. Afterwards, you see that Wilberforce appears to be rich and you find out that he is known for giving speeches in London. He also commonly has nightmares and must take pain medication due to his colitis while staying in his family's home. His family sets him up on a blind date with a woman who holds the same ideals as Wilberforce, though the date does not go particularly well. You find out that Wilberforce vehemently opposes slavery during a poker game where a black man is being used as money to wager with, and he leaves with his friend Pitt. Wilberforce finds God and then discusses with Pitt about changing the government.
Theme- While talking with Pitt, Wilberforce decides that they are going to "Change the world."
Set Up- The initial idea of wanting to get rid of slavery is the main set up, however there are many smaller ones such as how Wilberforce can no longer sing, as well as the bottle joke with Miss Spooner.
Catalyst- At the slavery dinner, Wilberforce is told that, "You can do both."
Debate- Whilst trying to make his decision, Wilberforce chooses to visit Johnny at the church who proceeds to give him the advice that he should go for it and stop the slave trade.
Break Into 2- Wilberforce decides that he is going to help the people wanting to abolish the slave trade.

ACT 2

B-Story- This is the romantic point in the story where the family and Miss Spooner collect for lunch at his family's home and we have the payoff to the bottle joke made earlier. After lunch, Spooner and Wilberforce walk around the yard talking and further convincing Wilberforce to go with his gut and fight for the slaves.
Fun & Games- Wilberforce and Pitt make multiple arguments and attempts to bring up how the slave trade is unethical. Outside of Parliament, Pitt brings many people onto his ship for a meal, only to find out that it was a ploy for Wilberforce to make another argument against the slave trade, this time while standing on the deck of the Madagascar, a slave ship that has just dropped off new slaves from Africa, which is parked next to Pitt's ship. As he gives his argument, the smell of death radiates to the passengers of Pitt's ship, making the argument appear more valid. Pitt and Wilberforce collect more followers who hold meetings together to discuss their next move.
Midpoint- Fox signs the petition to abolish slavery in the midst of a Parliament session.
Bad Guys Close In- There are extreme arguments against the proposed bill to abolish slavery, and Wilberforce's friendship with Pitt becomes strained.
All Is Lost- The bill is officially rejected in court.
Dark Night of the Soul- Wilberforce talks again with Barbra Spooner about what has been happening in court and with the slaves in general.
Break Into 3- Wilberforce decides that he needs to go back to London.

ACT 3

Finale- Wilberforce and Spooner are married and Wilberforce visits Johnny again to see him with a scribe, writing down the story of what happened when he was in charge of a slave ship and his 20,000 ghosts. Pitt gets sick and dies. Then Wilberforce "cheats" by giving all of the men opposing the slave trade free tickets to the races at the same time that the votes are taken and counted for appealing the slave trade. The bill passes this time! "The slave trade is no more."
Final Image-Wilberforce's life was talked about through text on the screen about how he continued to fight for various rights until his death. Military men play the song, "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes as the movie comes to a close.


Deus ex Machina Moment- was when the men left for the races, rather than casting their votes, causing for there to be far more votes in favor of getting rid of the slave trade.

Setup/Payoff- where Wilberforce was unable to sing caused for an uproar of emotion within the audience, myself included, when Barbra called for the song to be sung at their wedding and Wilberforce was able to sing again. More specifically, the fact that Barbra chose the song, "Amazing Grace" was a payoff and a setup for how the song affects the story at many different stages. First with the title of the movie, with Johnny, then at the wedding, and the song is used again for the final image of the movie. The song was a constant sort of setup and payoff for itself throughout the movie as it was used to describe different moments of self-reflection.