Characters / Amistad

Sengbe Bieh/Joseph Cinque

Portrayed by: Djimon Hounsou

Erstwhile representative of the Amistad refugees, Sengbe was one of the leaders in the mutiny and ends up the prime witness of their kidnapping in the following court case.

Tropes:

• Action Dad: Has a wife and baby at home.
• Audience Surrogate: His discovery of the horrific trans-Atlantic slave trade parallels a modern audience's exposure to it.
• Bilingual Dialogue: Speaks Mende for most of the film and only learns a few snatches of English.
• Mr. Fanservice: Spends a lot of screentime shirtless or in a loincloth. Djimon Hounsou was an underwear model before he became an actor.

Roger Sherman Baldwin

Portrayed by: Matthew McConaughey

The lawyer in charge of defending the Amistad refugees.

Tropes:

• Only in It for the Money: Initially makes his pitch to Tappan and Joadson on the grounds that he'll be able to win the case quickly, but first, there's the matter of payment...
• Pretty Boy: Looks pretty young and dashing compared to his peers. This falls under Artistic License – History.

John Quincy Adams

Portrayed by: Anthony Hopkins

Former 6th president of the United States, and an instrumental part of the Amistad defense when it goes to the Supreme Court.

Trope:

• The Cynic: Refuses to take the Amistad case early in the film since he's skeptical about it shaking out.
• Dented Iron: Isn't as sharp as he once was
• Grumpy Old Man: Maintains a generally grumpy demeanor. He was in his '70's at this point.
• Underestimating Badassery: Is perceived as washed up by his peers, but is still smarter than the majority of his peers and can thrown down when he has to.
• "Well Done, Son" Guy: Is perceived as being this.

Theodore Joadson

Portrayed by: Morgan Freeman

A black abolitionist who becomes involved in the Amistad case early on.

Tropes:

• Composite Character: Based on any number of black abolitionists of the time, most obviously Frederick Douglass.
• Get A Hold Of Yourself Man: Tells off Tappan when he considers losing the case to drum up abolitionist sentiment.
• Shell-Shocked Veteran: Seeing the chains and quarters aboard the Amistad leaves him very shaken, likely recalling his own enslavement.

Lewis Tappan

Portrayed by: Stellan Skarsgård

A white abolitionist and wealthy businessman who becomes an advocate for the Amistad refugees early on.

Tropes:

Yamba

Portrayed by: Razaaq Adoti

The second-most prominent member of the Amistad refugees.

Tropes:

Ensign James Covey

Portrayed by: Chiwetel Ejiofor

An ex-slave and navy officer who speaks Mende, and is recruited to translate for the Amistad refugees.

Tropes:

• Nice Guy: Friendly, patient, an excellent translator, and sees the case through 'til its end.
• Translate The Loan Words Too: Refuses to take the bait when asked if the Mende enslave as well and says their word translates better to "workers".

President Martin Van Buren

Portrayed by: Nigel Hawthorne

The 8th and current president of the United States of America, currently trying to get elected to a second term.

Tropes:

• Anti-Villain: He chooses to support the case against the slaves partly to avoid a diplomatic incident with Spain, and partly because his re-election bid is already struggling, and not at least being seen to support the case will tank what little chance he has of winning another term. After the initial trial decides in favor of the slaves he's happy to let go of the matter, until John C. Calhoun threatens dire consequences if he doesn't take the case all the way to the Supreme Court.
• Beleaguered Boss: At the start of the storyline he's already having to deal with a terrible economy while fighting a re-election bid against a more charismatic opponent, and he openly complains that the Amistad case is something that he could have really done without.