Film Review- "12 Years A Slave"

12 Years A Slave

Directed By Steve McQueen

Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup, Michael Fassbender as Edwin Epps, Nupita Nyong'o as Patsy, and Benedict Cumberbatch as Master Ford

This is that time of year when all the, as I like to call them, soon-to-be award nominated/winning films are released. You might think that's a pretty premature way of thinking, but look on the past few award seasons, and most of the nominees/winners had their theatrical releases in the late fall or winter. 12 Years A Slave is one of those films. 

Yes, there are loopholes in my way of thinking. Films get overlooked by the academy all the time, even if they are released at this time of the year. I can honestly say though, 12 Years A Slave will not be overlooked, and it will be taking quite a few awards home in the coming months, Oscar and Golden Globe alike.

The film follows the life of Solomon Northup (Ejiofor), a free African American man living in the Northern United States. One night he is tricked and drugged by a pair of men posing as traveling entertainers (One of them played by SNL's Taran Kiliam. Go figure.), and is sold into slavery. The film follows his struggle to preserve and survive his time as a slave (Which I guess as the title suggests, is twelve years. Though it hardly feels like twelve years, but maybe that's not a bad thing). Through the film, he comes across folks kind and cruel, played by the likes of Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamati, and Brad Pitt.

This is a very raw film. Nothing is sugar coated, and it pulls at your emotions from the moment Solomon is kidnapped and sold into slavery, to the final moments of the film. It's a strong script brought to life by strong performances. Ejiofor as our leading man is a powerhouse. Solomon's struggle is real, and you feel it. He's a surefire Best Actor contender. Nupita Nyong'o as Patsy, a slave that Fassbender's Edwin Epps lusts for, gives an equally strong performance that could pull off some surprise victories come awards time. Michael Fassbender is chilling as the malicious slave owner Edwin Epps. I hate to sound repetitive, but he's probably another major contender come awards time.

Everyone else, in their limited roles hit their marks just right. Brad Pitt as the kind, country carpenter. Paul Giamati as the (for a lack of better term) slave vendor. Benedict Cumberbatch, as expected, is a joy to watch every second he's on screen. Taran Kiliam, I didn't even know it was him until the end of his scenes so credit to him. Even Paul Dano, who I really don't care for, does his usual "good job".

The film's only flaw, in my opinion, is the film really starts to slow down as we transition from the second act and into the third. Some might get a bit restless in their seats during this part of the film. That and, to me at least, the climax of the film, is a tad anticlimactic. I know it's based on a true story, but given the intensity of the rest of the film, I guess I expected more.

12 Years A Slave is not an easy film to watch, but it's a film that has to be watched. Full of top-notch performances, it's as a friend of mine on Twitter said "Brutal but beautiful". Keep your eye on this one, as you'll soon see members of its cast and crew on your television screens, accepting awards for their tremendous work.