+ Best Movie of the Year
+ Best American Movie of the Year
 | ||
| The poster for Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave |
Free African American Solomon Northrup, a distinguished violin player and family man, is kidnapped in Washington D.C. in 1841 and sold into terrible slavery in Louisiana which comes to last for 12 long years.
It is the first truly incredible film by London-borne director Steve McQueen, who has previously made the two features, Hunger (2008), a barely watchable film about a hunger strike in a prison, and Shame (2011) a good movie about a New York City sex addict and his sister, - and a bunch of short films.
John Ridley (Red Tails (2012)) is responsible for the adaptation of Northup's autobiographical account of his trials as a Southern slave.
McQueen's keen eye for the physically reprehensible culminates with a great - and greatly engaging - story that unfolds in a fine, always forward-moving pace that still affords itself to linger at details and important events. McQueen is not an American filmmaker, and even in this, his most awarded American film to date, he succeeds in a pacing and explicitness that seems decidedly European. - Furthermore, he never succumbs to sentimentality or falsity, and his film stands taller for it.
The film still feels very American; partly due to its cast that seamlessly portray their subjects, and partly due to its score, a marvelously blended mix of folk and work songs and Hans Zimmer's powerful, emoting score that bursts the already blood-whipped hearts of most audiences. Its percussion underscore the perversity of the slavery system, while the theme's strings put us in the tortured place of Nerthup and his fellow slaves. The catharsis is strong throughout different sections, and there is a strong sense of inevitability about the story, but the plot is so filled with despicable things that the catharsis don't cleanse so much as illuminate and bring despair. - At least I felt some despair after the strong experience of watching 12 Years a Slave, as I thought of all the places in the world where slavery is still prevalent.
12 Years a Slave presents an impressive array of bad guys. Most all of the white stars of the film portray terrible characters, barring Brad Pitt, who also co-produced the film.
But; Paul Giamatti is a rotten buffoon (in one really good, awful scene); Paul Dano is an ass; Benedict Cumberbatch is all wrong; Sarah Paulson is a mean woman; and Michael Fassbender (in his third McQueen-film) is, as most will already know, the worst; sadistic, zealous and highly dangerous.
Aside from all of these, who all give fine performances, the film also has
great people in even the smallest parts, and in the most significant
supporting role, Lupita Nyong'o (Non-Stop (2014)) breaks our hearts as the hardworking slave-girl Patsey, who endures her master's very awful, special attention. Nyong'o's performance is one for the ages; remembering her character, many will forever feel a sting in their hearts.
In the lead, Chiwetel Ejiofor (American Gangster (2007)) is intense and unflinching in his singular portrait, brave and honest.
The
beautiful scenery of the often relentless South - filmed in New
Orleans, close to the actual plantation that Northup was enslaved in, -
is beautifully rendered by cinematographer Sean Bobbitt (The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)). A few of the takes are especially impressive; the realism is simultaneously stunning and grueling.
12 Years a Slave is a monumental film that deserves to be seen by as many as possible; an incredible story of human sacrifice and endurance, and a truly enlightening story of slavery in America.
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Budget: 18 mil. $
Box office: 187.7 mil. $
= Huge hit
What do you think of 12 Years a Slave?
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