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Freedom Photos

David Rasche as Jefferson Monroe in "Freedom."

Cuba Gooding Jr. as Samuel in "Freedom."

(L-R) Sadler as Plimpton and David Rasche as Jefferson Monroe in "Freedom."

Bernhard Forcher as John Newton in "Freedom."

(L-R) Michael Goodwin as Garrett and Cuba Gooding Jr. as Samuel in "Freedom."

William Sadler as Plimpton in "Freedom."

View All Photos (40)

Movie Info

In 1856, a runaway slave (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and his family find help from the underground railroad, while in 1748, the man's grandfather is captive aboard the ship of Capt. John Newton (Bernhard Forcher).

Rating:

R (Some Violence)
Genre:

drama, history
Original Language:

English
Director:

Peter Cousens
Writer:

Timothy A. Chey
Release Date (Theaters):

Jun 5, 2015 limited
Release Date (Streaming):

Jun 29, 2016
Runtime:

1h 33m
Production Co:

Production One

Cast & Crew

Cuba Gooding Jr.
Samuel Woodward

Bernhard Forcher
John Newton

William Sadler
Plimpton

Sharon Leal
Vanessa

Diane Salinger
Fanny

David Rasche
Jefferson Monroe

Show all Cast & Crew

News & Interviews for Freedom

William Sadler’s Five Favorite Films

Critics Consensus: Spy is Certified Fresh

View All

Critic Reviews for Freedom

All Critics (15) | Top Critics (9) | Rotten (15)

This is one of those movies that is as dull as it is well-meaning and man, is it ever well-meaning.

June 5, 2015 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

Peter Sobczynski
RogerEbert.com
The preaching is earnest and the intentions are good, but the corn is high and the presentation is amateurish.

June 4, 2015 | Rating: C- | Full Review…

Tom Long
Detroit News
"Freedom" takes a compelling chapter in American history - the flight of slaves from Southern bondage to Canada via the Underground Railroad - and flattens its drama.

June 4, 2015 | Full Review…

Andy Webster
New York Times
The film leaves us with the impression that slaves' survival had more to do with sheer luck than dogged resilience.

June 4, 2015 | Full Review…

Martin Tsai
Los Angeles Times
The film tries to have the scope of "12 Years a Slave." But it's ruined by the sanctimonious songs that turn the drama into a half-baked musical. Much worse: the filmmakers' need to show that not all whites employed in the slave trade were evil.

June 4, 2015 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…

Graham Fuller
New York Daily News
A schmaltzy, deeply sentimentalized drama about American slavery and the rise of the Underground Railroad.

June 4, 2015 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…

Tirdad Derakhshani
Philadelphia Inquirer
Peter Cousens' mawkish Freedom is an apologia for the white Christian people who helped slaves escape, or at least wrote songs to make them feel better.

December 31, 2015 | Full Review…

Sherilyn Connelly
SF Weekly
Religious historical film has disturbing, graphic violence.

July 7, 2015 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Grace Montgomery
Common Sense Media
Though Gooding tries hard to look sincere and troubled, often he appears slightly embarrassed. It's no surprise. Too bad so much talent is wasted here.

June 4, 2015 | Full Review…

Simi Horwitz
Film Journal International
Ambitious period piece without the budget or the script to cover as much of the Abolition Movement as it tries to fit in.

June 4, 2015 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

Roger Moore
Tribune News Service
Noble in intention, this story of slavery and the origin of John Newton's hymn Amazing Grace opens with style but then steadily sinks into messy theatricality, overwhelmed by its own earnestness.

August 21, 2014 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Simon Weaving
Screenwize
I'm very half-hearted about this.

August 20, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…

Margaret Pomeranz
At the Movies (Australia)