It is safe to say that I was excited to see this film based
purely on the fact that it is directed by Steve McQueen. I thoroughly enjoyed
his two previous films: Hunger and Shame and I was intrigued to see how he
would handle a film with a much larger budget and cast. After all the positive
reviews I made myself walk in knowing that it could have been overhyped. It wasn’t.
12 Years a Slave is one of the few
times I have left a film thinking that there was literally nothing that could
have been altered, added or taken away that could have improved it for what it
was and was trying to be.
The story is about an African American hardworking man who
lives a privileged life of freedom in 1800s America, up until the day where he
is tricked and sold into slavery for twelve long years. Chiwetel Ejiofor gives
the best performance of his career as Solomon Northup, the victim of this
horrific injustice. Many famous faces play supporting roles in the film. These include
Paul Giamatti, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Brad Pitt and most prominently Michael
Fassbender as Northup’s main owner who is psychotic and extremely cruel towards
his many slaves.
As excellent as each and every actor was, this film undoubtedly
belongs to Ejiofor as Solomon. In terms of writing and performance I have never
felt this sympathetic towards a character since the first time I saw The Shawshank Redemption. Ejiofor’s
performance is absolutely mesmerising and many times he even made me tear up. He
creates this alignment with his audience that makes you want so badly for him
to escape this horrific injustice. If anyone should get nominated for an Oscar
for this film it should be Chiwetel Ejiofor. Michael Fassbender also delivers
an incredible performance in his role as deranged slave owner Edwin Epps.
Fassbender gives monologues that make us hate him as a character and love him
as an actor.
Steve McQueen’s direction is absolutely hypnotic and his
film is beautifully shot. Like his two previous projects he has no problem including
long uncut shots that engross you in the story that much more. One scene in
particular with a certain character hanging from a tree is immaculately filmed.
The way sound is used also, McQueen occasionally allows a certain sound from a
previous scene to continue into the next which gives this haunting feel. I have
very little doubt that McQueen is going to be amongst the great film director’s
of our time in a few years. He is storming towards a Best Director nod this
year and 12 Years a Slave will be
nominated for Best Picture. The score of the film is excellent also, it is
subtle and elegant in places, but gives this incredibly tragic quality that
otherwise may not have been as prominent.
Seeing as this is a near perfect film in my opinion I
honestly have very little to criticise. My only small problem was that Brad
Pitt was slightly distracting and I would have been just as happy with a lesser
known actor in his small role. I give 12
Years a Slave a 10/10. I absolutely loved it and cannot recommend it
more to anyone who is up for an emotional rollercoaster.
Follow me on Twitter for more film shit! - https://twitter.com/MaxBezant
