*This is a classic FTR movie review, published and imported long after the movie’s original release*
It’s impossible to forget a movie like “12 Years a Slave”. A film that tackles such a brutal but important part of our history while being able to both pull no punches when telling the story of this cruel era, while at the same time portraying a vulnerability made possible by this stellar cast.
Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Solomon Northup, a free man living in the north who is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the pre civil war south. There he experiences relentless physical labor and emotional torment, while trying to find some way to let his loved ones know what happened.
Everything involved in the filmmaking is done right. Director Steve McQueen takes on a hard to watch journey that is also pace to perfection. The cast, which consists of all star talent all succeed here including Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Lupita Nyong’o who won her much deserved Oscar here.
Nothing in this film is pleasant to observe. It could disturb some viewers. But that’s the way it had to be.
But you need to watch “12 Years a Slave”. It very much deserved it’s Best Picture win and you won’t forget it.
12 Years a Slave
Grade: A+
Rated: R
Running Time: 2 hours 14 minutes