Amistad (4/8) Movie CLIP - The Verdict (1997) HD

CLIP DESCRIPTION:
It's a victory for Baldwin (Matthew McConaughey), Theodore (Morgan Freeman), and Tappan (Stellan Skarsgard) as Judge Coglin (Jeremy Northam) rules in favor of freeing the Africans and finds the Spaniards guilty of slave trading.

FILM DESCRIPTION:
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.

CREDITS:
TM & © Dreamworks (1997)
Cast: Morgan Freeman, Djimon Hounsou, Jeremy Northam
Director: Steven Spielberg
Producers: Debbie Allen, Bob Cooper, Bonnie Curtis, Paul Deason, Laurie MacDonald, Walter F. Parkes, Tim Shriver, Steven Spielberg, Colin Wilson
Screenwriter: David Franzoni

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[PurpleYetii]

I watched some of these scenes in history class and this one gave me chills. I felt so happy for them!

[TheCoolProfessor]

That judge has gigantic balls of solid steel!

[gmcoleman]

The interpreter: Chiwetel Ejiofor. This was his acting debut!

[tudyk]

1:56 what sucks is that this judge has done the right moral, ethical and legal thing, and now has to worry about his career.

[dreamlandnightmare]

That jumping "Yes!" Mathew McConaughey does is something so out of place for the time period, yet it's never bothered me. It perfectly evokes the emotion of the moment. I believe Spielberg recognized this and that's why he left it in the final cut. The emotion of a scene sometimes transcends any technical elements.

[raymondhertz]

The verdict was more complicated than depicted in the movie (no surprise there). Lieutenant Thomas Gedney of the US Coast Guard had intercepted the Amistad in New York waters. The State of New York had abolished slavery, so Lieutenant Gedney ordered the Amistad be towed to Connecticut (where slavery was still legal) in hopes of being awarded salvage rights for the slaves. The actual judge in the Amistad case was
Andrew T. Judson, an appointee of Andrew Jackson. Judson was not an abolitionist and did not believe in racial equality in any way. His decision in favor of the captives was therefore a complete surprise. He ruled that the captives were born free and kidnapped in violation of international law and that they "shall not sigh for Africa in vain. Bloody as may be their hands, they shall yet embrace their kindred." Lieutenant Gedney's salvage claim to the Amistad was allowed, but since the "cargo" were not slaves, they had no salvage value.

[MrActionPacked]

I love that Matthew McConaughey's facial hair fell off haha great scene!

[biggestkkfan]

maybe the most touching scene in the movie... This is such a great movie.

[garrison]

Jeremy Northam was really good in this scene.  

Spielberg did a nice job directing it and the editing is superb.

One of the best scenes in the film.  Amistad should have won best picture.

[ngalahansel]

Wow to think that Chiwetel Ejiofor was just 20 in 1997 when this was shot and delivered such a stellar performance with a very near-real West African accent is truly remarkable.
And great job to all the actors and director Steven Spielberg

[josephmulvihill]

Not the most popular move by that judge but ethical & ballsy & satisfying it most definitely was.

[alanafrazer]

This is the best scene ever.No more suffering, killing, kidnapping etc. HELLO

[vicjones]

This is but one outstanding scene in one of the greatest films ever made

[sadimasochist]

A JUDGE WHO STOOD UP AGAINST THE MOB, THE DEMOCRAT SENATE AND HOUSE AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO SERVE JUSTICE!!

[maxluna]

Coming from that specific judge this was so satisfying to see

[mehmedii]

Who the hell gave this scene a thumbs down ?!?

[megakovalanisback]

Interestingly the judge was a Catholic too, and a great judge

[cherryblossoms]

1:58-2:00
Mr. Coglin looks so tensed. Makes me feel sad for him :(

[doggiesarus]

I love how this judge was basically put there because they thought he would rule in their favor, but he followed the law and his instincts. He had only a bit part but he won the story.

[Sean-Johnson]

1:35

Translation: We are going back home.