I attended the premiere of 12 Years a Slave at the Toronto International Film Festival. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner, as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon's chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist will forever alter his life. John Ridley's screenplay has a few fine dynamics, but quite frankly in the end all the characters in the film end up being literally too black or white. In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Let's define difficult, shall we? I hope she has a long career ahead of her, she certainly has the talent for it.
So why should you watch a film that could leave you reeling and devastated? In my opinion, this is his best performance to date. Despite the valiant efforts of Chiwetel Ejiofor and especially newcomer Lupta Nyong'o, this drama about a musician who is duped, drugged and sold into slavery never manages to find an emotional chord. At times feeling perhaps like we're seeing out of the solemn eyes of the ghost of some murdered slave, watching in sorrow and rage. I'd argue that these answers add up to a resounding yes. Despite being a slaver, he is presented in the film as being a good man. Biography, Drama, History 2013 Year 134 Mins 8.
She is the great find of our film year and will surely go on to more dynamic and passionate projects in the future. . A seemingly decent and caring man who treats his slaves with some semblance of respect and kindness. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner, as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. When the events on screen become their most horrifying and ugly is when his camera becomes the most unflinching.
Not everyone will be able to stomach it but it's an outstanding film that deserves and needs to be seen. I literally could not rise up from my seat. Director Steve McQueen has gathered a talented cast, a compelling plot idea, and a wonderful cinematographer and then snuffed the life from them with his clinical, detached directing style that robs what should be the most affecting movie of the year and turns it into a plodding, emotionless, historical biopic. He's vile and strikes fear into not only the people he interacts with but with the viewers who watch. It actually gets to the point where simply looking at this character might be enough to bring you to tears. Alone, these shots would inspire wonder, but in the context of this film they make us feel more forlorn, as if the ugliness of man is encroaching on the natural beauty of the world. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.
I have long admired the talent that's been evident in the works of Chiwetel Ejiofor. Films exploring themes of slavery are few and far in between and never has one been quite as exhaustive and effective as this one. As the film begins, we are exposed to his talent as a musician he plays the violin and get a glimpse of the life he leads with his wife and two children. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Solomon Northup. Michael Fassbender and Sarah Paulson get two roles that feature them being evil incarnate, to the point you expect Fassbender to twirl his mustache at times. This movie is a potent reminder of why we are where we are as a society today.
My body felt as though it were being weighed down by something considerably larger and heavier than myself. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon's chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist will forever alter his life. Lupita Nyong'o's first appearance in a feature film is stunning, as she plays a heart breaking young slave. It's a performance of incredible subtlety that may leave you speechless and in complete awe. How man can be so unflinchingly cruel to his fellow man, especially if he looks, speaks or behaves differently, I will never understand.
Abusive, conniving, entitled, and I loved every second of her. He's also a very patient film maker, utilizing long, steady single shots to emphasize various things. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Benedict Cumberbatch plays a plantation owner, who recognizes Solomon's talent and tries to help him to a certain extent. He's always a menacing and malignant presence even when not on screen, as his slaves must always be aware and prepared for his seemingly random bouts of sadism. He goes through every emotion and gives it his everything. If you've seen McQueen's other works then you more or less know what kind of movie to expect if you haven't then please stop reading and watch Hunger and Shame.
All in all, if you get a chance to see 12 Years a Slave, don't miss it. Because of his character's position as a slave he is usually unable to speak his mind unless he is prepared to be beaten. Epps, Sarah Paulson is just as wretched. There's also a strong and rich sound scope that is present. Where he shines incredibly are the small nuances that he takes as the story slows down, you notice aspects of Solomon that make him even more believable. Is it difficult to see the first openly gay politician gunned down by his closeted colleague? The film is based on the real story of Solomon Northup played by Chiwetel Ejiofor , a free black man living in New York, who is abducted and sold into slavery in Louisiana. By turns pathetic and terrifying, he embodies the ultimate nightmare of a deeply flawed man given absolute power over other human beings, and through that absolute power finds only madness, which drives him to deeper cruelty.