“ Brave performances throughout this magnificent film.”
-Richard Roeper
(2013; R)
In theaters: Friday, 18 October 2013
Director: Steve McQueen
Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Fassbender, Paul Giamatti
Chrissaid on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 11:41:03 PM12 Years a Slave is one of those films that grabs your attention like a whip and leaves you scarred with images of cruel and grim reality of what it means to be slave. We have Chiwotel Ejiofor playing the lead role in a such a performance that we feel for him the whole movie. Ejiofor plays Solomon Northup, an accomplished violinist and family man in New York 1841 who was tricked and sold into slavery. We have other performers like Michael Fassbender playing cruel and sympathetic slave owner whose cruelties and viciousness make him an unforgettable character in film. Under the direction of Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave describes slavery as cruelest form of inhumanity to a point we are curious if our hero will ever go home. I would describe it as an unforgettable look at history that oversees films like Django Unchained and Amistad.
R Pattonsaid on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 8:26:40 PMI was a gritty realistic movie with great performances, but I found the director too in love with this movie that he couldn't spare us too many long drawn-out moments. There was a great movie underneath this one. I wanted to hit the fast forward button many times.
Treg Filmssaid on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 9:08:35 AMHonestly, the best film I've seen this year. I haven't had a film move me in such a way in a long time. Chiwetel deserves an Oscar nod and it will be a travesty if he is overlooked. Many people I know are avoiding this film because of the violence, but let me tell you, everyone needs to see this film, and they will because this film will live on in the tradition of "Schindler's List" and "Roots". Look away when you need to, but see this incredibly powerful film.
James S.said on Thursday, October 31, 2013 3:03:36 PMEarlier this year, I was incredibly moved by Fruitvale Station, and thought I wouldn't see a better movie this year. Boy, was I wrong! 12 Years a Slave is a true cinematic achievement -- moving, powerful, and featuring extraordinary performances from actors who were given near-impossible tasks.
Tristansaid on Saturday, October 19, 2013 11:02:13 AM12 years a slave...incredibly powerful, moving, sad, heavy, and inspiring. A true work of art. We can never forget these events of our history. There were times in the movie where my wife and I wondered why we were watching this, but that was the point. This was and is apart of our history and it should make us feel uncomfortable. GREAT MOVIE!!!