Review of 12 Years a Slave (2013) by Shane M — 02 Nov 2014

From director Steve McQueen comes an unflichingly raw, ultra-violent, and hard-to-watch take on slavery that will make many moviegoers look at slavery a whole lot differently due to it's graphic violence and no-holds-barred examination of the conditions of slaves during that time period (like Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained as that movie was set during slavery, and utilized ultra-violence to detail the horrid conditions of slaves during that time).

Based on Solomon Northup's memoir Twelve Years a Slave, this biopic follows Northup, a free African-American man who was kidnapped in Washington, D.C. in 1841, and sold into slavery. The film then follows him during his twelve years as a slave working on plantations working in Louisiana.

The film does something that many movies that involve slavery never do, offer up as much detail as possible involving the treatment of slaves, the work they do, and the torture they must deal with while also trying to survive and not give up on the hop that they might one day be free, and live normal lives like they were destined to have.

The use of graphic imagery, unfliching performances, and as much accuracy as possible to offer up a sharper focus on the horror of slavery, racism, and humanity's misconceptions, and an exteremely powerful portrayal of one of the most horrifying things humanity has ever done in their history.

The film is not my favorite movie of 2013, as that spot was taken by Alfonso Cuarón's Gravity, the seven-time Oscar winner that I believe should've also won Best Picture instead of this, but still was a high contender anyways.

Now, let's get back to it. Director Steve McQueen deservedly received a Best Director Oscar nod for his ability to use imagery, get incredible performances from his cast, and stay focused on detail to communicate heavy subject matter to its audience without using Hollywood formula, melodrama, or toned down violence and language.

Screenwriter John Ridley won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay (deservedly) by remaining faithful to Northup's memoir, and communicate its messages involving misconceptions and right from wrong to moviegoers with sharp results.

Composer Hans Zimmer should've received an Oscar nod for Best Original Score as his score is a moving piece that offers up emotion without being too bombastic as he has been known for (evidence points to his scores for the Dark Knight trilogy and Inception that were bombastic at times, yet were still amazing).

Production values are also very reminiscent of plantations in the 1800s, and production designers Adam Stockhausen and Alice Barker recreated the South circa 1800s with heavy detail and respect, receiving a Best Production Design Oscar for their effort.

The cast is also brilliant, and many of them seem to have bright futures ahead of them for their careers. Chiwetel Ejiofor portrays Solomon Northup with the right amount of determination, hope, and fear that slaves have while held captive, receiving a Best Actor Oscar for his work.

Lupita Nyong'o won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar as Patsey, a slave who suffered heavy abuse and neared death yet still retained hope that she would one day gain their freedom. Nyong'o portrays her with such grace that it was impossible for the Academy to refuse her the award.

Michael Fassbender has proven himself as one of the best actors of this decade, and this Oscar-nominated performancd only helps him gain higher recognition and respect as a new acting power. His performance as Edwin Epps, one of Solomon's owners, is unrelenting as he makes his workers, his "property" (not trying to be racist or disrespectful as slaves were called that during the 1800s), do such inhumane acts of violence and abuse that you think that Fassbender wasn't even playing a character, instead being the guy or himself, proving that he has loads of potential and will won day win an Oscar.

Other cast members are great, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, and Brad Pitt, who finally won an Oscar for Best Picture alongside McQueen (the two co-produced it), who became the first black producer to have received the award and direct a Best Picture winner.

History was made, and there's only wonder as to what's to come of the people involved with this production that has become one of the best films of the decade so far. A powerful portrayal of slavery, and a highly recommended watch.