Rating of
3.5/4
Review: 12 Years a Slave
MikePA - wrote on 01/01/14
Director Steve McQueen's lofty ambitions truly shine through in this powerhouse film that tells the story of Solomon Northrup, a free black man who was abducted and sold into slavery. 12 Years a Slave takes you through Solomon's tragic and horrific journey, as you witness the cruelty and extreme inhumanity of slave owners. As a film his story is absorbing and resonating, taking you through the unfortunate circumstances and anticipations he faces. The entire cast is remarkable but the true star is obviously Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon. He provides us with a compelling central character and immediately grabs us to stay by his side and root for him through his struggles. It's the sequences in which his character faces the highest of struggles where his performance becomes effective and emotionally gripping. Steve McQueen crafts the film with passion and care, delivering stunning cinematography which showcases the utter brutality lying beneath the beautiful locations and settings of the time period. But it's his grip on the story and the direction of his actors which make his directorial work so admirable. He's created an experience unlike any other this year - gutting, emotional, absorbing, and equally beautiful.
3.5/4
