Movie No. 8 (2014): 12 YEARS A SLAVE
12 Years A Slave (2014)
Director: Steve McQueen
Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt
Based on a true story, the movie is about Solomon Northup, "a free man in upstate New York who was kidnapped and sold to slavery during 1840s." The movie presents mostly (on Solomon's point of view) the different forms of injustice the slaves experience in the hands of their masters. Such injustices are already in history books; however, Steve McQueen lends his meticulous hands in recreating such events in artfully distorted fashion. I use the adjective distorted because the movie is not easy to watch. There are lots of ugly scenes. Some scenes are angry. In fact, such anger is sustained in the end, without promise of redemption. But then, the movie, as an indictment of America's ugly past, deserves to be seen by larger audience.
Director: Steve McQueen
Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt
Based on a true story, the movie is about Solomon Northup, "a free man in upstate New York who was kidnapped and sold to slavery during 1840s." The movie presents mostly (on Solomon's point of view) the different forms of injustice the slaves experience in the hands of their masters. Such injustices are already in history books; however, Steve McQueen lends his meticulous hands in recreating such events in artfully distorted fashion. I use the adjective distorted because the movie is not easy to watch. There are lots of ugly scenes. Some scenes are angry. In fact, such anger is sustained in the end, without promise of redemption. But then, the movie, as an indictment of America's ugly past, deserves to be seen by larger audience.
The movie is the kind that wins Academy Awards. I'm not saying it has followed a recipe for its crew and cast to walk down the red carpet come the Oscars night. Its simply good as it is. In fact, it's one of the best films of 2013. Or, maybe, of the last 5 years. Every aspect of the movie fall into its right place - from directing, acting, script, cinematography and editing.
Rating: 4.0/4.0
Date seen: January 12, 2014
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