Read Negative User Reviews for 12 Years a Slave

2

EvanBNov 3, 2013

Beyond the intriguing premise (a man is kidnapped into slavery) this movie goes nowhere. Brutal, repetitive, and pointless. What is the subtext? What is the message? Slavery was bad? No character development, no plot development. JustBeyond the intriguing premise (a man is kidnapped into slavery) this movie goes nowhere. Brutal, repetitive, and pointless. What is the subtext? What is the message? Slavery was bad? No character development, no plot development. Just one graphic depiction of cruelty after another. Brad Pitt's accent is ridiculous.

Compare this movie to Schindler's List or even Roots and it pales in comparison.

Skip "Twelve Years A Slave" and save yourself an extremely unpleasant 2 hours.… Expand

22 of 49 users found this helpful2227

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2

solutions10Oct 23, 2013

Well, here comes the biggest Oscar-fisher of the year. A totally unnecessary film with every star they could have possibly packed in there for exactly that purpose does nothing special with its characters or its plot (pun unintended). It'sWell, here comes the biggest Oscar-fisher of the year. A totally unnecessary film with every star they could have possibly packed in there for exactly that purpose does nothing special with its characters or its plot (pun unintended). It's kind of entertaining, sure, but not in a way that makes you want to watch it again. It's just kind of there and a tad formulaic. It even feels a bit exploitative (it's a film about life in slavery with an astonishing number of recognizable names in it, but no one who really *fits* into the role. "Dirty Pretty Things" portrayed a few similar themes *FAR* better, and the protagonist was even likable. Can we ever get a slavery-victim role that portrays a realistic human, and not just stereotypes of what we were taught in elementary school?) in its portrayal of the time period, and takes the "drama" genre to the breaking point.… Expand

25 of 78 users found this helpful2553

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1

ErikTheRedNov 4, 2013

Only went to see movie cause wife wanted to. So many stereotypes, excessive brutality and sadism without sufficient redeeming purpose. It's a significant story historically but uncreative, humdrum approach to the subject. Acting of mainOnly went to see movie cause wife wanted to. So many stereotypes, excessive brutality and sadism without sufficient redeeming purpose. It's a significant story historically but uncreative, humdrum approach to the subject. Acting of main character is excellent but even then it doesn't feel true feels like a movie made for some "noble" purpose. I prefer Django Unchained because at least it doesn't try to pretend to be something it isn't.… Expand

19 of 78 users found this helpful1959

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2

TLHGJul 5, 2016

Amistad rip off... a slightly different cover, less emphasis on debates of the matter and more emphasis on the drama and suffering (which the movies protrays in a very repetitive manner), but in essence it tries to make a similar impact andAmistad rip off... a slightly different cover, less emphasis on debates of the matter and more emphasis on the drama and suffering (which the movies protrays in a very repetitive manner), but in essence it tries to make a similar impact and the overall set up is pretty much the same.
I would say Amistad is a much better execution of the same idea, so go watch Amistad instead...… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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3

BroyaxOct 24, 2017

Ce film est vraiment bizarre : il montre avec un certain recul, presque une neutralité (d'ailleurs bienvenue) les horreurs de l'esclavage tout en évitant un pathos excessif et lourdaud comme on peut souvent en trouver à Hollywood dont on saitCe film est vraiment bizarre : il montre avec un certain recul, presque une neutralité (d'ailleurs bienvenue) les horreurs de l'esclavage tout en évitant un pathos excessif et lourdaud comme on peut souvent en trouver à Hollywood dont on sait la propension à faire couiner les violons au moindre prétexte dramatique.

En même temps, il s'appesantit souvent dans le tire-larmes de bas étage mais sans jamais réussir à nous tirer une larme, car la détresse nous apparaît trop éloignée, trop floue et superficielle. Et trop scolaire également. C'est naturellement très paradoxal comme impression et cela nous chiffonne à dire vrai pendant tout le film jusqu'à la fin qui peine aussi à nous émouvoir, trop expédiée et bricolée à la va-vite.

Sans doute le livre de la victime, de ce miraculé est-il plus à même de restituer l'enfer vécu que cette adaptation qui souffle le chaud et le froid. Et pourtant, quelques scènes sonnent juste et la réalisation très travaillée est assurément élégante.

Hélas, cette élégance devient trop souvent maniérée et si statique qu'elle semble engluée littéralement dans la mélasse du film intello qui tient à dispenser son message comme un forcené... alors qu'en fait il se regarde le nombril à intervalles réguliers pendant de longues minutes.

Ce qui m'amène au gros problème de rythme du film, soient deux heures et quart qui en paraissent quatre... un double problème puisque le rythme fictif en pâtit aussi : on ne ressent pas le moins du monde ces douze années terribles qui font l'effet de douze mois, tout au plus. Un comble.

En outre, la musique de Hans Zimmer qui recycle éhontément ses vieux thèmes d'Inception est assez énervante : est-ce qu'on ne va pas voir une toupie à la fin ? est-ce que tout cela est "vrai" ? nous voilà donc aux antipodes des intentions du réalisateur, j'imagine.

Dommage donc, car le début laissait augurer beaucoup mieux. Il reste tout de même quelques séquences qui font mouche et le jeu de Fassbender en véritable état de grâce mais 12 Years loupe le coche.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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1

maliciouspuppetDec 25, 2013

For such charged subject matter, this film is a snooze. The script is laughably eloquent and unbelievable, the direction is plodding and slow paced, the acting (with the exception of Lupita Nyongo as Patsey) is adequate at best. The movieFor such charged subject matter, this film is a snooze. The script is laughably eloquent and unbelievable, the direction is plodding and slow paced, the acting (with the exception of Lupita Nyongo as Patsey) is adequate at best. The movie needs about 30 minutes edited out of it to be watchable, for that matter the editing itself is unskilled and sophomoric. Don't even get me started on the overblown soundtrack. This film shouldn't even be nominated for a best film or best actor or best director Oscar. But it will be, because everyone would be afraid not to vote for it since it deals with slavery and just like the Holocaust a film about this subject will be revered whether it's good or not. I think Steve McQueen might very well be the most overrated director today. Boooooring!… Expand

9 of 24 users found this helpful915

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0

MachariusSolarMay 3, 2014

Awful movie. Poor character development. Flat, dull, uninteresting storyline with awful timing. This movie is very much like Passion of the Christ in exploiting an audience with brutality and guilt but with slavery as the theme rather thanAwful movie. Poor character development. Flat, dull, uninteresting storyline with awful timing. This movie is very much like Passion of the Christ in exploiting an audience with brutality and guilt but with slavery as the theme rather than the crucifixion. All this movie had going for it was a large cast of big names and names aren't enough to make a movie good.… Expand

6 of 16 users found this helpful610

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3

2thepointNov 3, 2013

This film is purely exploitative, made to take advantage of people's emotions by reminding them of a terrible and tragic time in history. But as I took a look back and thought of this film objectively, I stand by this opinion. AbsolutelyThis film is purely exploitative, made to take advantage of people's emotions by reminding them of a terrible and tragic time in history. But as I took a look back and thought of this film objectively, I stand by this opinion. Absolutely dreadful acting by a good majority of the cast; even worse the cast was filled with stars so the acting should have been top notch. The overall development of the plot was terrible. It felt as if they just wanted drama for the sake of drama. Almost every scene had dramatic sequences amplified so much, to the point where I couldn't think of an even worse synonym for the phrase 'absolute horror'. And yes, they did have a few rather convincing and emotional parts, however, nearly all of the film was so unintelligible and lacking of any credibility, that those few parts become distant memories linked to ideas of what the film COULD have been. The real drama was what my eyes had to endure. It pretty much sealed my opinion of Steve McQueen; a highly overrated director that shouldn't have even attempted to do a film like this.… Expand

10 of 29 users found this helpful1019

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1

V4dusenDec 27, 2013

Everything you already knew about slavery but didn't bother to ask because you already knew it. Cliche riddled, melodramatic and devoid of subtlety. On the plus side it is well shot.

6 of 18 users found this helpful612

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2

DupedJan 28, 2014

The film was weak (except for the brutal whipping scene) and not worth my cinema fee. I felt it was more likened to something made for TV rather than a movie. The TV Roots" saga was much more impressive and the acting was better too. To beThe film was weak (except for the brutal whipping scene) and not worth my cinema fee. I felt it was more likened to something made for TV rather than a movie. The TV Roots" saga was much more impressive and the acting was better too. To be honest..... I was rather bored… Expand

3 of 9 users found this helpful36

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2

krishstianeApr 1, 2014

this movie was so boring as compared to all the hyping....I had to watch d movie a all day cus i was'nt felling d movie, i just wanted to b sure i finished d movie, although chiwetel was good.....

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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2

KenyanCriticJan 14, 2014

12 minutes into the movie (no pun intended) and I already knew I would be bored. A star studded movie that is not the least bit entertaining. After an hour I gave up and realise that the only reason this movie is alive is because of some12 minutes into the movie (no pun intended) and I already knew I would be bored. A star studded movie that is not the least bit entertaining. After an hour I gave up and realise that the only reason this movie is alive is because of some exemplary acting.… Expand

5 of 16 users found this helpful511

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2

judahjsnJan 25, 2014

This movie is just torture porn masking as art. It asks no questions and really doesn't make any social comment. All it does is elaborately illustrate the human capacity for cruelty, ignorance and sadism - but from the safe vantage point of aThis movie is just torture porn masking as art. It asks no questions and really doesn't make any social comment. All it does is elaborately illustrate the human capacity for cruelty, ignorance and sadism - but from the safe vantage point of a couple of centuries' distance from the cruelty's context. Zero Dark Thirty asked a question: what if we had spent all that money, effort and talent on, say, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, rather than a single manhunt? Prisoners asked a question: even if torture seems the only option, what can it do to us if we use it? Even Her asks questions, about our relationships to machines and each other. 12 Years A Slave simply pushes our fear buttons. All of us have an engine in us of past injustices that we can draw on at a moment's notice. 12 Years just puts gas in that tank. If you're going to make a movie that simply says "this is an atrocity," than why not make it about one occurring on our planet right now, that we can possibly still do something about? Because that would be taking sides, and would make some people uncomfortable. There is a form of entertainment where useless righteous indignation is stoked for its own sake. For that to work we must all be in agreement. Nazis, child molesters and slave owners. Those are the only boogeymen we can all still agree on. Think about the movies getting the most praise at award's season. Two of them deal with historical accounts of racism. Three if you count the Mandela biopic. Mud is a much better film than Dallas Buyer's Club, but Dallas Buyer's Club depicts (without saying anything new about) homophobia, decade's old misconceptions about AIDS and a bit of Big Bad Drug Industry for good measure. Plus McConnaughey lost weight for the role. So that's what gets the attention. One is more gentle and thought provoking. One triggers our fear. So that's the "issue" movie. Even Philomena takes a swipe at the catholic church's cruelty masking as piety (again, using the vehicle of a many decade's old instance of systematic abuse).

Anyway, 12 Years made me very uncomfortable. But not morally uncomfortable. Just uncomfortable at the sense the director was getting off on all that CGI blood spatter and whipping and hanging scenes that carry on far longer than needed to make their point. Points for nice cinematography. Hans Zimmer essentially reprises one of his themes from Inception in the score. Ejiofor is perfect. Brad Pitt is tone deaf as ever, but he produced the thing so...… Expand

4 of 13 users found this helpful49

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2

deadsparrowJan 16, 2014

If you have read Uncle Tom's Cabin you know this story though seeing the sadistic cruelty inherent in slavery displayed, and endlessly repeated, on the big screen will be new to you. And that seems to be the point of the movie, according toIf you have read Uncle Tom's Cabin you know this story though seeing the sadistic cruelty inherent in slavery displayed, and endlessly repeated, on the big screen will be new to you. And that seems to be the point of the movie, according to this British director and mainly British cast. Its a grim movie. Not one that many people will want to see twice. It says nothing new about the subject of slavery and it adds nothing that people who have read about slavery didn't already know. Nice photography though.… Expand

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

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0

asdasd33aFeb 21, 2014

the movie message is slavery is bad. For two hours it hammers that message with a sledge hammer till the head ache from all of the excess noise in form of superb but ultimately useless star appearance, needless violence and sexual abuse isthe movie message is slavery is bad. For two hours it hammers that message with a sledge hammer till the head ache from all of the excess noise in form of superb but ultimately useless star appearance, needless violence and sexual abuse is unbearable.
It all has been done before and better. complete misuse of excellent cast.… Expand

9 of 34 users found this helpful925

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1

englishroseJan 31, 2014

Once again Hollywood waves its sanctimonious wand over history with this glossy movie about slavery in the United States. Like a self-righteous teetotaler telling off an alcoholic, it is a sentimental, holier-than-thou piece that challengesOnce again Hollywood waves its sanctimonious wand over history with this glossy movie about slavery in the United States. Like a self-righteous teetotaler telling off an alcoholic, it is a sentimental, holier-than-thou piece that challenges you to criticize it or ´you’re a racist too´. Following in the footsteps of Django it uses the excuse of history and a worthy theme to justify gratuitous scenes of violence.

The film begins in the home of the central character, Solomon Northop, a free black man, who lives a genteel life with his family in New York. The director is clearly eager to get to the gory bits though, and within the first ten minutes Solomon has been kidnapped, enslaved, and the audience is cringing under a close up of his contorted face during a twenty minute whipping scene; the first of many to come.

The film continues in this vein, as we follow Solomon’s journey through an array of increasingly evil slave-owners. There is a segregation of personality in the film, with most of the black characters being good and moral and the white ones evil. Surely it is as patronizing and insulting to assume personality is dependent on colour as it is politically correct. At least the same cannot be said of gender, the white women are as evil as their male counterparts. However no film about slavery is complete without our token good white guy, and Brad Pitts rises to the occasion, strolling in bearded and ready to play, once again, the hero.

One does wonder why Solomon doesn´t send a letter under his ´mistress´name on one of his frequent forays to the shop. (Of course, his one attempt to run away is thwarted when after two steps he stumbles on a lynching scene). Perhaps the point the director is trying to make is that Solomon is too broken and scared to do this. He is too proud, however, to pick the cotton quota demanded by the sadistic slave-owner. A necessary contradiction perhaps, as this allows more whipping scenes as he is punished daily.

Or why, instead of trying and failing to write a letter with a blunt bamboo stick and watery juice, he doesn´t simply use the candle end and stain the paper instead. But it is not a film for the details. Nor the historical overview.

It is two hours of increasing brutality, culminating with a horrendous scene where one girl is whipped until her flesh is exposed. Instead of taking one of the many examples of modern day slavery however, which could leave people feeling guilty at inaction, it is set far enough in the past that it allows the audience to do their cinema time, and leave feeling as worthy and sanctimonious as the director.… Expand

4 of 16 users found this helpful412

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2

BigWaveDaveFeb 27, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Boy was I dissapointed with this movie! Plain and simple, boring, 45 minutes too long, character buildup was non-existant, I could care less about these robotic, non emational slaves, did they speak English?Nothing new, been said before with roots, Color Purple wallups this turd in every way!
Save yourself the money, would not watch this one again,, and no,, it's not because of the hanging or whipping scenes, just does't even come close to living up to the hype.....… Expand

2 of 8 users found this helpful26

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3

ShamanIsHereApr 6, 2014

From all the good movies of 2013 that I have seen, I have a trouble to find a worse one.
I understand how important this subject is, especially in the US, but there are other ways to popularize the abolitionism than giving the best pictureFrom all the good movies of 2013 that I have seen, I have a trouble to find a worse one.
I understand how important this subject is, especially in the US, but there are other ways to popularize the abolitionism than giving the best picture prize to a mediocre movie. But maybe it's a best mean to bring an idea to the popcorn-fed audience.

The story starts good, but later the potential is wasted. The movie is surprisingly shallow and predictable. Almost all tense moments are brutal scenes. And an overdose of scenes when the camera shows nothing but people starring somewhere(which I guess were meant to provoke some reflections) is just annoying.

If there was a category "the most politically important subject", maybe this movie could take a prize, but the best picture? This is wrong, and the academy has lost once and for all its credibility. Not to mention the prize for the best actress in the supporting role.… Expand

2 of 9 users found this helpful27

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0

EnaidMar 3, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Boring movie. (YAWN) I don't know how the one chick won an oscar when she was barely on screen for not even a full 20 minutes. This movie made me wanna punch everyone and where in hell did Brad Pitt come from??? 1/2 before the movie is over he just shows up. Too many scenes where we see dude, staring at who knows what, for way to long. There are better movies about slavery out there. This is not one of them. I don't understand what all the hype is all about. All I know is that I want my minutes back that I wasted on watching this boring film.… Expand

5 of 23 users found this helpful518

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3

David_HApr 6, 2014

Well I expected it to be depressing but how many movies about slavery do we need? Plus there are so many moments where the main character is shown in deep thought and anguish... Yes we get the point he's traumatized but those moments drag onWell I expected it to be depressing but how many movies about slavery do we need? Plus there are so many moments where the main character is shown in deep thought and anguish... Yes we get the point he's traumatized but those moments drag on and on. It was tedious, a downer, and way too long.… Expand

2 of 10 users found this helpful28

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1

RainmakerJun 24, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Isn't it ridiculous that our society went so far to be politically correct that it crossed the line of common sense? If you don't give an Oscar to a film that is about slavery - you are a racist, if you say something positive about Palestine or Iran - you are anti-Semite, if you give a preference to a Caucasian over African American in the U.S. (based on the skills!) - you are a racist again. if you smile to a woman - you are sexually harassing her (wait, gay harassment is coming, so you won't be allows to smile or make jokes to anyone!).

Look at all the Critic reviews - nearly EVERYONE gave 100%! This just makes them look ridiculous, as they are afraid to even slightly critisize and not to LOVE a movie about slavery.

The story plot is quite simple: a free black man is sold to slavery and is later saved. But instead of making the movie multi-dimensional, deep and engaging, the story-tellers "communicate" the story through brutality and violence, as if someone on the face of the earth needs a proof that slavery was bad, and as if slaves were used nearly only as punching bags by sadistic white people.

Seriously, ask yourself: how many times can you re-watch this film? Will you be enjoying it after re-watching? How many times will you be re-watching it? There were several worthy movies nominated for Oscar this year (e.g. The Wolf of Wall Street or even Captain Phillips), but, no, lets be politically correct and to avoid being labeled racist, lets give the Best Picture to a mediocre film about slavery.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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Reviewer0815Dec 27, 2020

Very boring movie. It's been given an oscar for the sake of political correctness. I was like: Hey darling, this movie won an oscar, let's watch it. But it was so boring, it has become our new measure of boringness. Also: If you want to forceVery boring movie. It's been given an oscar for the sake of political correctness. I was like: Hey darling, this movie won an oscar, let's watch it. But it was so boring, it has become our new measure of boringness. Also: If you want to force your political doctrine down my throat, at least make a good movie and bnothis crap.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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3

peoplescriticSep 1, 2019

About 15 minutes into the movie, I knew what to expect. Bad acting was very apparent. McQueen (who is british btw) made this movie to provoke a cheap emotional response which is unlined by his own political/social opinions. Just a panderingAbout 15 minutes into the movie, I knew what to expect. Bad acting was very apparent. McQueen (who is british btw) made this movie to provoke a cheap emotional response which is unlined by his own political/social opinions. Just a pandering movie to liberal minded audiences who just love to put racism against blacks in the highlight.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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