Amazing Grace
A transcendent archival gospel concert captures Aretha Franklin turning a Watts church into a stage for communal musical revelation.
Overview
Experience the power of gospel music like never before in a live performance that transcends time and space.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- ecstatic
- devotional
- intimate
- music night
- concert film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a thrilling, beautifully preserved concert documentary that captures Aretha Franklin’s extraordinary gospel power and the communal force of the performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The January 1972 performance takes place at New Bethel Baptist Church in Watts, making the religious setting an active part of the musical experience.
The documentary presents the historically important 1972 footage and its long-delayed arrival for audiences.
Aretha Franklin’s singing dominates the film, presenting her at the height of her expressive and technical power.
The choir, church congregation, musicians, and Franklin interact through gospel performance as a shared spiritual experience.
Films like Amazing Grace, and why
Stop Making Sense
immersive concert-documentary form, iconic vocalist, and ecstatic live musical performance
The Last Waltz
reverent portrait of a major recording artist shaped around archival performance footage and musical intimacy
Soul Power
electrifying gospel performance, communal spirituality, and documentary immediacy
Gimme Shelter
performance-centered music documentary capturing an artist at a defining creative peak
Movie Details
- Directors
- Alan Elliott, Sydney Pollack
- Release Date
- 2018-12-07
- Runtime
- 87 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (113)
Cast
- Aretha Franklin
- James Cleveland
- C.L. Franklin
- Bernard "Pretty" Purdie
- Chuck Rainey
- Clara Ward
- Mick Jagger
- Sydney Pollack
- Charlie Watts
- Alexander Hamilton
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Amazing Grace about?
- A transcendent archival gospel concert captures Aretha Franklin turning a Watts church into a stage for communal musical revelation.
- What is Amazing Grace like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Amazing Grace as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Amazing Grace violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Amazing Grace.
- What did critics think of Amazing Grace?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a thrilling, beautifully preserved concert documentary that captures Aretha Franklin’s extraordinary gospel power and the communal force of the performance.
- Which films are like Amazing Grace?
- Films with a similar feel include Stop Making Sense, The Last Waltz, Soul Power, and Gimme Shelter.
- How long is Amazing Grace?
- Amazing Grace runs 87 minutes.
- Where can I watch Amazing Grace?
- In United States, Amazing Grace is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
