12 Years a Slave

Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dwight Henry, Lupita Nyong'o, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt, Paul Giamatti, Paul Dano, Alfre Woodard, Quvenzhané Wallis, Scoot McNairy, Ashley Dyke, Kelsey Scott
Directed by: Steve McQueen
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
2013

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A free black man (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is captured and sold into slavery.

Review:

Tim: 12 Years a Slave is one of the most critically acclaimed movies of the year. Some people have called it one of the greatest movies about slavery in America ever made. The film won three Academy Awards- Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay. By any measure, this is one of the best films of the year. While I don't doubt the movie's greatness (it really is great) and while I'd put it near the top of my 2013 movie list, I still believe Gravity should have won Best Picture. That shouldn't take anything away from how good this movie is.

Now, I want to be clear that this is the type of film you watch once, but not very often. It's just too depressing and depicts too much about the ugliest aspects of humanity. While it is important for us to watch movies like this- we can never forget the sins of our forefathers, it's not an easy exercise. Watching brutality and hatred displayed so vividly on screen takes a toll. This is an important movie, but it's rewatchability is fairly low.

The story is pretty amazing, especially because it is all true. It's a heartbreaking story in many ways- a free man is illegally captured and sold into slavery. I can't imagine what that experience must have been like. It could only be truly, truly awful. We see this experience through Solomon Northup's eyes. It's a fascinating approach, because while he understood the evils of slavery quite well, it is something else entirely to witness them first hand. We go along on this terrible journey with Northup. The slavery here is depicted in vivid brutality. It doesn't seem to take any pleasure in it (unlike say, Django Unchained), but it doesn't shy away from it, either.

Chiwetel Ejiofor is incredible as Solomon Northup. I've been waiting for a decade for him to truly break out and his performance here is stunning. He doesn't do anything that is especially flashy (maybe why he didn't win Best Actor), but gives this quiet, subtly beautiful performance. You can see the horror and pain on his face. This role required him to portray an individual who had to swallow his indignation and put on a happy face for his slave masters. The willpower this took is beyond me, and Ejiofor did a terrific job of playing that role. He's easily the best part of this entire movie.

Lupita Nyong'o is amazing in a supporting role, and she received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. To be honest, I question this decision. While I'm glad Jennifer Lawrence didn't win, Nyong'o only had 18 minutes of screen time. Yes, several of her scenes are heartrending and shattering in their depiction of raw emotion and great physical torment. Nyong'o did an outstanding job, no question. However, most of these things are done to her and she reacts. We really never get the chance to connect with her as a character or to understand her on any deep level. We know the brutality she faces causes her to want to die, but other than that, her character is a bit underdeveloped. I would not have given her the Academy Award, but I acknowledge what an incredible job she did in her small role.

The supporting cast is pretty amazing. In addition to Nyong'o and her strong performance, we have Michael Fassbender as an unflinchingly horrific character. I give Fassbender credit for portraying such a hateful man in such a believable way. Benedict Cumberbatch was a great addition- I just wish he had more screen time. Brad Pitt felt a little unnecessary, but I suppose did a fine job. Paul Giamatti makes every movie better and I was impressed by his ability to make my skin crawl because of his horrific behavior. Paul Dano is incredible at getting the audience to hate him, and he achieves that here. Alfre Woodard was good, but doesn't have a lot to do. As a whole, the cast is remarkable and it's one of the biggest reasons this movie was such a success.

You have an incredible cast, very good direction by Steve McQueen, and you're addressing one of the darkest times in American history. It's no surprise this movie competed for multiple Oscars. You could put this movie at the top of your 2013 list and you would have easily defensible, compelling proof for doing so. I agree that it's one of the very best movies of the year. While I wouldn't put it on top, this is a truly great movie and one that every person should watch.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Glory, Django Unchained, The Butler