12 Years a Slave
Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: October 18, 2013
8.0
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Generally favorable reviews based on 1650 Ratings
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1,414
Mixed:
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Negative:
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User Reviews

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8
DarkwingSchmuckJul 27, 2023
12 Years a Slave is a tragic look at the true story of one man's life being stolen from him for over a decade. Chiwetel Ejiofor gives a marvelous performance, and Lupita Nyang'o is a revelation in her Oscar-winning role, though the film's way12 Years a Slave is a tragic look at the true story of one man's life being stolen from him for over a decade. Chiwetel Ejiofor gives a marvelous performance, and Lupita Nyang'o is a revelation in her Oscar-winning role, though the film's way of conveying time is its greatest flaw. While the movie takes place over the span of 12 years, it's executed in a way where it could just as easily be over a year or two if the title hadn't stated otherwise.… Expand
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7
AgentLviJun 27, 2023
Decent movie. The story is so --so, scoring is great, visual is decent, and the voice is also great
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8
AlanoSilvaPBFeb 25, 2023
Rapaz que filme triste!!!
Até que ponto o homem mal pode chegar?
São filmes assim que me fazem perguntar a mim mesmo se ainda existe esperança para a própria humanidade?
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8
royalguy07Jan 3, 2023
Crazily star studded and exceptionally performed. The plot and execution is still fairly typical of this kind of story. It is a very miserable tale. Brad Pitt comes in very hot in just 2 scenes and at least a dozen recognizable whiteCrazily star studded and exceptionally performed. The plot and execution is still fairly typical of this kind of story. It is a very miserable tale. Brad Pitt comes in very hot in just 2 scenes and at least a dozen recognizable white character actors show up to play vile racists.… Expand
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9
gracjanskiNov 1, 2022
The movie is touching of course and well made. The actors are great, especially Michael Fassbender.
The only problem of the movie is, that it is one-sided and the characters are not very detailed. So sometimes I didnt like the movie, becauseThe movie is touching of course and well made. The actors are great, especially Michael Fassbender.
The only problem of the movie is, that it is one-sided and the characters are not very detailed. So sometimes I didnt like the movie, because it was like a propaganda against Whites.… Expand
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6
Onlyclassicvg1Sep 17, 2022
This film noir portrait of corruption and morally-compromised obsessions stars Welles as Hank Quinlan, a crooked police chief who frames a Mexican youth as part of an intricate criminal plot. Charlton Heston plays an honorable MexicanThis film noir portrait of corruption and morally-compromised obsessions stars Welles as Hank Quinlan, a crooked police chief who frames a Mexican youth as part of an intricate criminal plot. Charlton Heston plays an honorable Mexican narcotics investigator who clashes with the bigoted Quinlan after probing into his dark past. A memorable… Expand
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10
Drizzt-Do-UrdenJun 4, 2022
This movie is incredible disturbing and thought provoking. I think every white person should watch this movie for some context of American Slavery.
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6
ptheodosie18May 13, 2022
Very gut wrenching at times, unfortunately the character development is lack luster and the movie is totally boring and too slowly paced.
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9
a_leitaoApr 19, 2022
long film but worthy of its lenght. A drama that still has a lot of heart as it forces out all the humanity and compassion in the audience
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10
All_ButTrU4Jan 3, 2022
Chiwetel Ejiofor is so impressive in this incredibly intense, visceral film. (When it ended, nobody in my theater moved for a period of time, and there was no round of applause mostly, it seemed, because of the shock of it all. ClappingChiwetel Ejiofor is so impressive in this incredibly intense, visceral film. (When it ended, nobody in my theater moved for a period of time, and there was no round of applause mostly, it seemed, because of the shock of it all. Clapping didn’t seem like the right thing to do.) The fact that we experience the story from the perspective of a kidnapped free man makes the film instantly relatable. I was so happy to have watched all of Tom Fontana’s excellent “Copper” which features an African American civil war veteran doctor living in New York, and all of his family’s struggles in Five Points. Solomon, a New Yorker kidnapped from Washington DC, could be any of us. The Southern landscape as it likely existed in those days provides such a beautiful-yet- eerie backdrop to this movie. What I particularly appreciate the fact that all the shots are confined you never see very far into the distance. There’s never any perspective on things. When the boat transporting the kidnapped south moves, you see the paddlewheels. On the plantations, you see the three or four acres where the slaves live. You never get any aerial shots, which is so effective in giving you a disoriented, lost feel. Even if Solomon wants to escape, he has no idea where the hell he is, and neither do we. The acting in general is uniformly excellent. Fassbender? Wow. Not since Ralph Fiennes in Schindler’s List has an actor put out so completely for the detestable guy role and to such great effect I cried...
Several times.

I think it is very appropriate to start my review by saying those words. In an age where showing our emotion in public is apparently a taboo. Needless to say, apart from a few heartless sods, I was not the only one who left the local theatre wiping tears from my cheeks.

Putting it simply, 12 Years A Slave is superb. The way I see it, this should become the staple period-piece film. It is a film that shows us a dark, visceral story of a point in time that the American government would much rather sweep under the rug.

It is a triumphant story of loss and despair, but also of remarkable perseverance and resolve.
The simplicity of the plot leaves the weight of its success on the individual scenes and phenomenal writing. The great cast and setting meld together perfectly.

In a year of phenomenal films, 12 Years A Slave comes out on par with many others, if not slightly above.
I hope that in a few years, this might be the film that is shown in history classes. It is not something that should be watched for the sake of the film, it is something that has to be watched because of the horrific times which its characters live in.… Expand
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9
JJ2FAS4UDec 31, 2021
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7
DawdlingPoetNov 23, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 12 Years A Slave is a historical drama based on a biography/memoir by the main character of the film, Solomon Northup. It covers themes of freedom, property and ownership, plus dignity in the face of adversity, survival and endurance.

It is, understandably, quite a grim watch - there are scenes which are likely to make most people flinch, in which the various slaves are attacked or, alternatively (but effectively the same thing), tortured for daring to step out of line. Its a very sad fact that such activity was ever considered acceptable by people, people of any colour, ethnicity et al. I was aware of the subject matter before watching the film, so I wasn't especially shocked by the heavy content it contained. I feel its important for films covering such dark periods in societies past to be as realistic as possible and not to sugar coat things. I can't claim to be any kind of specific expert in this area historically but I can say that I believe the film to be certainly closely based on the biography of said Mr. Northup published in the 1800s.

I felt it was a pretty emotive watch as well, for obvious reasons. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Mr. Northup and he does a very good job at portraying his character, seeming quite strong willed, yet also visually seeming upset, angry and frustrated at the relevant points in the plot, as you'd expect. I felt he really helped bring his character to life and it was little surprise to me to discover that he was nominated for an Oscar in the best performance by an actor in a leading role category in 2013. I feel it would be difficult not to feel sorry for Solomon and not to admire his determination to fight for his freedom, to believe he'll be able to regain it again.

Also cast is Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Ford - one of the less violent slave owners. He is slightly more compassionate than others and comes across as a quite thoughtful character. Paul Giamatti plays Freeman, Adepero Oduye plays Eliza, another slave who lives alongside Solomon, Bill Camp plays Radburn and Michael Kenneth Williams plays Robert. As well as this, Michael Fassbender plays Edwin Epps, one of the biggest villains. I found his role to be really quite chilling at times. Oh and then there's a little known (ahem) actor called Brad Pitt, who plays a Canadian who comes to help out at Mr. Northup's slave owners residency and who plays an important part in the plot. He comes across as quite understated in this role.

The music used is quite good at intensifying what are clearly quite traumatic scenes, in heightening the sense of potential impending doom. The music is at times operatic in style, although not always.

Content wise, this film contains some offensive language, including, obviously, some racially offensive language (such as the 'N' word which many African Americans were referred to as at the time, in a perjorative sense). There is also, of course, some moderate violence, including bloody violence and torture scenes, which are quite frightening. As well as this, there are sex references, an implied rape scene (although no explicit nudity is shown) and moments of partial nudity present. Due to this, the film carries a 15 rating. According to what I've read online, the content pretty accurately reflects what we believe to have been carried out at the time (no doubt via the memoirs the film is based on), as sad as this is and as such it isn't regarded as being unnecessarily over-the-top, in a Hollywood/exploitation sort of a sense.

The plot pace felt a bit slow at times but then I suppose its important to convey how difficult it was for people like Mr. Northup, to attempt to abandon his slavery status. It isn't what may be called an enjoyable watch, for pretty obvious reasons but it didn't seem to shy away from things and, as I say, I felt that was somehow admirable. The film has a total running time of two hours and a quarter, so it isn't a short but sweet type of film but then neither should it be, I suppose. I do feel like this is a pretty memorable film. It did feel a little long winded but then scenes which maybe didn't specifically add a lot of context to the plot as such, did help towards building a better sense of character development, so I wouldn't really say that it unnecessarily dragged on. I also noticed (and appreciated) some nice, if but brief, shots of pretty sunsets shown at the end of scenes involving Mr. Northup laboring hard at work all day. You could argue that its showing the beauty in a place of such hard work and physical pain, so its a case of highlighting one extreme and then the other in the same area.

Yes I'd recommend this film as being an emotive watch about one mans struggles being caught up in a dark time in society's past. Chiwetel Ejiofor gives a great performance and while I found it to be an understandably hard watch, I felt it was a good film well made.… Expand
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10
gabacJul 22, 2021
um dos melhores filmes que ja assisti, um classico do cinema, excelente em todos os aspectos
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9
MovieloverNikMay 20, 2021
12 Years a Slave sure isn't an easy watch but it's totally worth it. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender are fantastic as well as Lupita Nyong'o. Steve McQueen's Direction and the Visuals are really great too.
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10
geewahJan 23, 2021
A classic.
Steve McQueen shows why he is one of the most influential film makers of his generation.
Confronting, gripping and powerful.
Is to slavery, as "Schindler's List" is to the holocaust, as "Requiem For A Dream" is to drug use.
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0
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
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10
bradens584Dec 20, 2020
12 Years a Slave is hard to watch. It’s by no means bad, with amazing acting, beautiful directing, fleshed out characters and a brilliant script, but it is so incredibly brutal. The film does not hold back in recreating the horrors of12 Years a Slave is hard to watch. It’s by no means bad, with amazing acting, beautiful directing, fleshed out characters and a brilliant script, but it is so incredibly brutal. The film does not hold back in recreating the horrors of slavery, and that’s why I believe it’s a very important film to see. I’ve been seeing Lupita Nyong’o in a lot of films recently and she’s quickly developing to one of my favourite actresses, and she does not disappoint in this film.… Expand
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8
ThejodjeremieOct 23, 2020
The movie is very violent but it's supposed to because of the story its telling. The movie is great and I recommend it.
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9
DogeGamer2015Aug 14, 2020
Es dura de ver, pero consigue cautivar y hasta conmover, está bien dirigida y tiene unos excelentes actores.
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9
gamingmachineryJul 14, 2020
No review present. No review present. No review present. No review present.
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7
AndrewHordMay 29, 2020
It is great film.Yes ,it is not a masterpiece,but it is obviously important film about very cruel period of America.
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10
ChahatApr 10, 2020
One of the best movies. This film made us to rethink about how lightly we take our freedom
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4
MglovesfunMar 31, 2020
While there's no disputing the power of the movie, I find it questionable as a piece of entertainment. I watch movies to be entertained, and this really didn't do the job.
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9
loremMar 30, 2020
A true masterpiece that reveals, once again, the cruelty and falsity of human nature.
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10
MiguelAngel78Mar 7, 2020
Me encanto en todos los aspectos. Un mensaje sin lo politicamente correcto. Solo interacciones naturales con personajes muy humanos
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9
bfoore90Oct 25, 2019
An incredible look at the story of a free black man's fight to return to his family after being abducted and sold into slavery.
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10
MovieMagnetNov 16, 2019
Perhaps the greatest and most significant film ever made about American slavery. The ending of this film was both profoundly devastating and cathartic. A truely Oscar winning performance by Ejiofor, who exuberates integrity and honour in thePerhaps the greatest and most significant film ever made about American slavery. The ending of this film was both profoundly devastating and cathartic. A truely Oscar winning performance by Ejiofor, who exuberates integrity and honour in the role of Solomon Northup. This is film at its most necessary. Watch this masterpiece.… Expand
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10
LucasTSSep 23, 2019
In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man living in upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.
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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
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10
TootsieWootsyAug 29, 2019
"12 years A Slave" is beautifully written with well crafted performances from the actors and actresses bringing the script to life. The film is brilliant and powerful, reminding audiences what this nation was built upon and how it shaped the"12 years A Slave" is beautifully written with well crafted performances from the actors and actresses bringing the script to life. The film is brilliant and powerful, reminding audiences what this nation was built upon and how it shaped the course of history. Some scenes in the film was so painful to watch, it was hard to look at the screen. The performances of each actors from Chiwetel Ejiofor, Paul Giamatti, Michael Fassbender and Lupita Nyong'o was so moving and believable that audiences can feel every bit of the suffering, loss and despair the characters they portrayed.… Expand
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8
vusal_iskandarJun 22, 2019
Early minutes into the movie seem really boring, and as if talk to us the end of story, everything I already knew about slavery. But after moments and moments, it takes point and direction. Especially great story, superbly acted andEarly minutes into the movie seem really boring, and as if talk to us the end of story, everything I already knew about slavery. But after moments and moments, it takes point and direction. Especially great story, superbly acted and beautifully shot can be noted.… Expand
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9
Wavy_YeezyMay 5, 2019
Maybe it's because I'm a teenager but I think this movie drags along too much. It didn't have to be as long as it was but despite that this is still an incredible film.
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9
M1N5KMar 17, 2019
This film was beautiful. The colour grading was amazing, the writers did a really good job, and the actors were amazing.
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10
MrsDrStrangeAug 11, 2018
Incredible movie, such a great film. And Benedict Cumberbatch was in the film so.. Good point.
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10
AndremaxJul 10, 2018
One the most beautiful movies stories of all time. Perhaps the best movie that you won't want to watch more than once, 'cause it's a very very suffered and shocking movie. Epic, intense and emotional. Don't blame yourself if you drop a tear.
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8
FilipeNetoMay 20, 2018
This movie is one of the most remarkable I have seen in recent times. Slavery is a theme that has been approached in cinema, giving rise to such grandiose films as, for example, "Amistad", a film with which we can make comparisons, since bothThis movie is one of the most remarkable I have seen in recent times. Slavery is a theme that has been approached in cinema, giving rise to such grandiose films as, for example, "Amistad", a film with which we can make comparisons, since both are close: they approach the same theme from a similar perspective, situate Its history roughly the same time and both start from true stories. However, this film has the added beauty of showing us the cruelty to which a slave was subjected by its owners. And I say the word beauty because we sometimes need to see in order to understand. From this point of view, this film, based on the memoirs of Solomon himself, is an interesting document that allows us to understand the history, the past, the cruelty of those acts. Needless to say, I loved the story and I think the script is great. I do not know to what extent he is faithful to the book, but it seems quite true to reality, to what really happened then. The sets and costumes were also well made and reliable. Chiwetel Ejiofor gave life to the main character and filled the screen with feelings, nostalgia, anguish and pungent pain, in an excellent interpretation. Dickie Gravois is the name, I think, of the actor who plays the foreman of the last plantation where Solomon worked, and I must congratulate this actor as he has made his character truly worthy of our hatred.

This is a precious film that hardly makes anyone indifferent. It is not for everyone. Children should not watch. It has some nudity and especially violence, which is needed in such a film. It's worth watching.… Expand
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10
Angel1711Mar 16, 2018
This movie is a must watch for everyone. No one should forget what the world was like only not that long ago. This, completely unjustified, sense of superiority, is so inherently evil. "What is true and right is true and right for all. WhiteThis movie is a must watch for everyone. No one should forget what the world was like only not that long ago. This, completely unjustified, sense of superiority, is so inherently evil. "What is true and right is true and right for all. White and black alike." (c) Bass. I am white, and I can't believe white committed such atrocious crimes. When you watch it, pease try and swap skins, and imagine what it'd be like if it was the other way around...… Expand
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9
leon_hardosMar 16, 2018
This film clearly showed those bloody times. Great story and great acting. 9/10
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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
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8
drlowdonDec 25, 2016
12 Years a Slave is an adaptation of the 1853 slave narrative memoir Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup, a New York State-born free African-American man who was kidnapped in Washington, D.C., in 1841 and sold into slavery. This really is12 Years a Slave is an adaptation of the 1853 slave narrative memoir Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup, a New York State-born free African-American man who was kidnapped in Washington, D.C., in 1841 and sold into slavery. This really is a powerful movie, one that is made all the more affecting by being a very accurate portrayal of a true story. The cast are excellent and it never shy's away from showing the true horrors of slavery without, without resorting to any cheap shock tactics.

A must see movie.… Expand
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10
AdamCrostonJan 10, 2014
Oscar-worthy film that is a must see! All actors played their part to perfection, with Fassbender and Ejiofor being the pick of the bunch. Captured the brutality and severity of slavery in 19th Century USA, telling the story of SolomonOscar-worthy film that is a must see! All actors played their part to perfection, with Fassbender and Ejiofor being the pick of the bunch. Captured the brutality and severity of slavery in 19th Century USA, telling the story of Solomon Northup; a free black man captured and sold onto a plantation. For me the powerful performances and direction makes this an outright masterpiece...… Expand
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8
WizGullofaJan 9, 2017
"12 Years A Slave" is a good film that confronts the horrors of slavery in a manner which no film will ever likely match. The performances are intense and shockingly real. In my opinion the films best performance is by Michael Fassbender. His"12 Years A Slave" is a good film that confronts the horrors of slavery in a manner which no film will ever likely match. The performances are intense and shockingly real. In my opinion the films best performance is by Michael Fassbender. His awful, rapist slave owner is such a horrible character it makes my blood boil just to see him on the screen. Efijior and Nyong'o also have fairly good performances but they don't compare to Fassbender. I think my only qualm with the film is that it is not exceptional as its reception made it out to be. However this is not any fault of the film. In conclusion, "12 Years a Slave" is a good, important film, not a great one.… Expand
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10
MasterRileyDec 20, 2016
12 Years a Slave is an emotional movie based on the brutal true story. With great direction, writing, casting, and performances this is a movie experience you do not want to miss.
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9
pdw123Sep 19, 2016
One of the finest films of the year along with "The Butler", or Americans need to consider them companion pieces and view both for sure! Even though this is NOT a film to watch for entertainment but for an education about what slavery reallyOne of the finest films of the year along with "The Butler", or Americans need to consider them companion pieces and view both for sure! Even though this is NOT a film to watch for entertainment but for an education about what slavery really was, the "Great Debaters" and the Quentin Tarantino film from last year ARE ones which are going in the proper direction, instead of the direction you usually think of Hollywood as going. The Henry Louis Gates series on PBS now is also quite good, and I think he must've been an adviser on this film. That said, Michael Fassbender and Steve McQueen should be considered to be beyond their time, or it's high time we had a film like this!… Expand
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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
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10
aadityamudharApr 19, 2016
Chiwetel Ejiofor is so impressive in this incredibly intense, visceral film. (When it ended, nobody in my theater moved for a period of time, and there was no round of applause mostly, it seemed, because of the shock of it all. ClappingChiwetel Ejiofor is so impressive in this incredibly intense, visceral film. (When it ended, nobody in my theater moved for a period of time, and there was no round of applause mostly, it seemed, because of the shock of it all. Clapping didn’t seem like the right thing to do.) The fact that we experience the story from the perspective of a kidnapped free man makes the film instantly relatable. I was so happy to have watched all of Tom Fontana’s excellent “Copper” which features an African American civil war veteran doctor living in New York, and all of his family’s struggles in Five Points. Solomon, a New Yorker kidnapped from Washington DC, could be any of us. The Southern landscape as it likely existed in those days provides such a beautiful-yet- eerie backdrop to this movie. What I particularly appreciate the fact that all the shots are confined you never see very far into the distance. There’s never any perspective on things. When the boat transporting the kidnapped south moves, you see the paddlewheels. On the plantations, you see the three or four acres where the slaves live. You never get any aerial shots, which is so effective in giving you a disoriented, lost feel. Even if Solomon wants to escape, he has no idea where the hell he is, and neither do we. The acting in general is uniformly excellent. Fassbender? Wow. Not since Ralph Fiennes in Schindler’s List has an actor put out so completely for the detestable guy role and to such great effect.… Expand
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10
MovieMasterEddyApr 6, 2016
‘12 Years a Slave’ Holds Nothing Back in Show of Suffering.

“12 Years a Slave” isn’t the first movie about slavery in the United States — but it may be the one that finally makes it impossible for American cinema to continue to sell the‘12 Years a Slave’ Holds Nothing Back in Show of Suffering.

“12 Years a Slave” isn’t the first movie about slavery in the United States — but it may be the one that finally makes it impossible for American cinema to continue to sell the ugly lies it’s been hawking for more than a century. Written by John Ridley and directed by Steve McQueen, it tells the true story of Solomon Northup, an African-American freeman who, in 1841, was snatched off the streets of Washington, and sold. It’s at once a familiar, utterly strange and deeply American story in which the period trappings long beloved by Hollywood — the paternalistic gentry with their pretty plantations, their genteel manners and all the fiddle-dee-dee rest — are the backdrop for an outrage.

The story opens with Solomon (Chiwetel Ejiofor) already enslaved and cutting sugar cane on a plantation. A series of flashbacks shifts the story to an earlier time, when Solomon, living in New York with his wife and children, accepts a job from a pair of white men to play violin in a circus. Soon the three are enjoying a civilized night out in Washington, sealing their camaraderie with heaping plates of food, flowing wine and the unstated conviction — if only on Solomon’s part — of a shared humanity, a fiction that evaporates when he wakes the next morning shackled and discovers that he’s been sold. Thereafter, he is passed from master to master.

It’s a desperate path and a story that seizes you almost immediately with a visceral force. But Mr. McQueen keeps everything moving so fluidly and efficiently that you’re too busy worrying about Solomon, following him as he travels from auction house to plantation, to linger long in the emotions and ideas that the movie churns up. Part of this is pragmatic — Mr. McQueen wants to keep you in your seat, not force you out of the theater, sobbing — but there’s something else at work here. This is, he insists, a story about Solomon, who may represent an entire subjugated people and, by extension, the peculiar institution, as well as the American past and present. Yet this is also, emphatically, the story of one individual.

Unlike most of the enslaved people whose fate he shared for a dozen years, the real Northup was born into freedom. (His memoir’s telegraphing subtitle is “Narrative of Solomon Northup, a Citizen of New-York, Kidnapped in Washington City in 1841, and Rescued in 1853, From a Cotton Plantation Near the Red River, in Louisiana.”) That made him an exceptional historical witness, because even while he was inside slavery — physically, psychologically, emotionally — part of him remained intellectually and culturally at a remove, which gives his book a powerful double perspective. In the North, he experienced some of the privileges of whiteness, and while he couldn’t vote, he could enjoy an outing with his family. Even so, he was still a black man in antebellum America.

Mr. McQueen is a British visual artist who made a rough transition to movie directing with his first two features, “Hunger” and “Shame,” both of which were embalmed in self-promoting visuals. “Hunger” is the sort of art film that makes a show of just how perfectly its protagonist, the Irish dissident Bobby Sands (Michael Fassbender), smears his excrement on a prison wall. “Shame,” about a sex addict (Mr. Fassbender again), was little more than glossy surfaces, canned misery and preening directorial virtuosity. For “12 Years a Slave,” by contrast, Mr. McQueen has largely dispensed with the conventions of art cinema to make something close to a classical narrative; in this movie, the emphasis isn’t on visual style but on Solomon and his unmistakable desire for freedom.

There’s nothing ambivalent about Solomon. Mr. Ejiofor has a round, softly inviting face, and he initially plays the character with the stunned bewilderment of a man who, even chained, can’t believe what is happening to him. Not long after he’s kidnapped, Solomon sits huddled with two other prisoners on a slaver’s boat headed south. One man insists that they should fight their crew. A second disagrees, saying, “Survival’s not about certain death, it’s about keeping your head down.” Seated between them, Solomon shakes his head no. Days earlier he was home. “Now,” he says, “you tell me all is lost?” For him, mere survival cannot be enough. “I want to live.”

The genius of “12 Years a Slave” is its insistence on banal evil, and on terror, that seeped into souls, bound bodies and reaped an enduring, terrible price.… Expand
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10
DoctorFilmMar 30, 2016
This epic account of an unbreakable soul makes even Scarlett O’Hara’s struggles seem petty by comparison.

The first thing fans of McQueen’s “Hunger” and “Shame” will notice here is the degree to which the helmer’s austere formal techniqueThis epic account of an unbreakable soul makes even Scarlett O’Hara’s struggles seem petty by comparison.

The first thing fans of McQueen’s “Hunger” and “Shame” will notice here is the degree to which the helmer’s austere formal technique has evolved — to the extent that one would almost swear he’d snuck off and made three or four films in the interim. Composition, sound design and story all cut together beautifully, and yet, there’s no question that “12 Years a Slave” remains an art film, especially as the provocative director forces audiences to confront concepts and scenes that could conceivably transform their worldview.

If “Django Unchained” opened the door, then “12 Years a Slave” goes barreling through it, tackling its subject with utmost seriousness. The film opens in a world where slavery is a fact of life and Northup has no recourse to challenge his captivity. Duped and drugged on a bogus job interview, he awakens in shackles and is beaten ferociously when he dares to assert his status as a free man. Some may wonder why he doesn’t continue to protest, forgetting that the word of a black man in pre-Civil War America had almost no legal currency, especially if said individual was unable to produce his free papers.

Assuming Northup wants to survive, a fellow hostage advises, he must do and say as little as possible, in addition to hiding his ability to read and write. “I don’t want to survive,” Northup bellows. “I want to live!” Separated from his wife and children, he faces a situation where the entire society is stacked against him. While not every white person in the film is evil, they willingly participate in a system that demeans their fellow man, and the injustice is too great simply to forget and move on (as Hollywood and society would evidently prefer).

Alarmingly, the few films of the past century to engage directly with the institution of slavery have nearly all come from the exploitation sphere, **** aspects of violence and sexual abuse that McQueen endeavors to cast in a different light. An early scene in which slave trader Theophilus Freeman (Paul Giamatti) prods naked slaves for the benefit of prospective buyers offers an alarming yet in-no-way-arousing corrective to an equivalent sequence in the tasteless 1971 mock-doc “Goodbye Uncle Tom,” which lingers on the nudity and degradation of such a market. There’s little ambiguity in these unflattering depictions, though neither is there opportunity for audiences to misconstrue them as erotic.

To simplify Northup’s memoir, John Ridley’s script lets the character — stripped even of his identity as he is redubbed Platt Hamilton en route to market — change hands just three times over the course of the film. Two of those owners, played by Benedict Cumberbatch and Bryan Batt, are as decent as the circumstances permit, even going so far as to encourage the fiddle playing with which he previously earned his living in upstate New York. The third, Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender), becomes the bane of Northup’s existence — a man who justifies his actions according to scripture and prides himself in “breaking” disobedient slaves.

Such cruelty is commonplace in the film’s first two hours, and though audiences might not pick up on the technique, McQueen applies the same unflinching approach to these moments that he used in “Hunger” and “Shame”: long uninterrupted takes that force us to absorb the full impact of human mistreatment, as when Northup survives a lynching attempt, only to dangle from a noose for several minutes while his fellow slaves move about in the background, too nervous to cut him down. This scene also perfectly illustrates McQueen’s knack for letting the characters’ behavior inform the sociology of the situation, rather than explaining things overtly through dialogue.

Though arguably too harsh for young eyes, “12 Years a Slave” will serve as an important teaching tool, giving audiences who’ve never witnessed the dynamics of slavery an impression of how the system worked. As in Northup’s near-hanging, we see that even though slaves far outnumbered their white masters, harsh discipline could serve to discourage organization by playing upon their survival instincts. Few scenes this year could be more depressing than Patsey begging Northup to end her suffering, unless you count the one in which Epps forces him to beat her nearly to death — an exchange heightened by the way McQueen constructs the sequence within a single 10-minute shot, as the agitated camera circles her abuse.

In many respects, “12 Years a Slave” works like a horror movie, beginning with a “Saw”-style abduction and proceeding through subsequent circles of hell, the tension amplified by a score that blends chain-gang clanging with those same foghorn blasts Hans Zimmer used in “Inception.” As captured by cinematographer Sean Bobbitt, however, a rare beauty suffuses even the most infernal situations.… Expand
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10
TheFilmDoctorMar 22, 2016
12 Years a Slave, sure to be a heavy hitter when the 2014 Oscar nominations are announced, is a powerful and compelling adaptation of Solomon Northup's autobiographical account of the dozen years he spent as a slave on Louisiana plantations12 Years a Slave, sure to be a heavy hitter when the 2014 Oscar nominations are announced, is a powerful and compelling adaptation of Solomon Northup's autobiographical account of the dozen years he spent as a slave on Louisiana plantations from 1841 until 1853. When it comes to depicting the conditions in which slaves lived and worked, 12 Years a Slave doesn't soft-sell anything. Scenes of brutality are routinely depicted in unflinching shots that skate close to an 18 rated edge.

The screenplay, credited to John Ridley, offers a condensed and slightly reworked history of Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a New York free man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. He toiled on plantations for 12 years, serving under various owners, until he found an ally in a white Canadian carpenter who was willing to take word of his plight north. After being freed, Northup's story was published and sold some 30,000 copies. After being forgotten for about a century, it was rediscovered during the 1960s. Steve McQueen's (Shame) movie isn't the first adaptation - the 1984 TV film Solomon Northup's Odyssey told the story, albeit with the violence and brutality considerably toned down from what is depicted in 12 Years a Slave.

The film offers a formidable indictment of the cruelty of which human beings are capable. Not every white man in the film is vile - Benedict Cumberbatch's Ford and Brad Pitt's Bass are counter-examples - but even the best men are hamstrung by the social and cultural mores of the time. Two people embody the most unpleasant aspects of white men in the South - Tibeats (Paul Dano), a worker on Ford's land, and Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender), a cotton plantation owner. Both perceive blacks as less than human, thereby making their treatment of them justifiable. Epps also uses Biblical verses to validate his occasionally horrific actions. It has been said that the Bible can be used to justify almost any atrocity and this is an example. Epps' view was widely shared throughout the South before, during, and even after the Civil War.

2 Years a Slave is dominated by Chiwetel Ejiofor, whose performance is sure to earn an Oscar nomination. Like Daniel Day Lewis' Lincoln in 2013, this is the one acting turn that rises to the top, emerging as heads-and-shoulders above other worthy contenders. Ejiofor's facial expressions, captured in lingering close-ups by McQueen, display a variety of emotions with such utter conviction that they cut to the quick. Ejiofor is equally good in scenes that depict Northup's comfortable home life before the abduction, his confusion during his early days of captivity, and his stolid determination while suffering under the yoke of oppression. His "Oscar moment" occurs at the very end, in a scene that will bring tears to the eyes of even the most hard-hearted audience member.

As the movie's villain, Michael Fassbender provides an Epps who is not only rotten to the core but unhinged (either by drink, religious fervor, or some kind of mental illness). The character is more frightening than Paul Dano's Tibeats because of his unpredictability and his position of power. The scene in which he commands Northup to whip Patsey (Lupita Nyong'o) is as close to unwatchable as anything represented on film this year. The performances of the principals elevate 12 Years a Slave's already absorbing narrative to a higher level.

However i do have to nit-pick one thing and it has to do with the acting, it relates to some of the smaller roles. Using Paul Giamatti, Alfre Woodard, and Brad Pitt in secondary parts (bordering on extended cameos), it creates "spot the star" moments that are more of a distraction than an asset. While there's nothing wrong with Pitt's portrayal, his larger-than-life presence overwhelms an underdeveloped character. It's not a fatal mistake but it's a questionable choice. The movie is powerful enough to overcome such minor missteps but it shouldn't have to.

Hans Zimmer is often criticized for bombastic scores but his work here hits all the right notes. It's ominous and understated and enhances the tension and grimness of many situations. McQueen also took pains to recreate Civil War-era plantations by using detail from the source material as well as other historical documents to inform period aspects of the film.

12 Years a Slave is unsettling and upsetting as only a story of this sort can be. There are elements of courage and redemption but the lingering impression reminds us of how ugly the dark side of human nature can be. Like movies about Nazi Germany, this film illustrates the horrors that can take root beneath the foundations of economic prosperity and civilization. 12 Years a Slave is by no means light entertainment but it provides a more worthwhile cinematic experience than about 90% of what's out there and the impressions it leaves aren't easily dismissed or dispelled.… Expand
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YorkManMar 10, 2016
12 Years a Slave is a powerful, emotive, haunting and, ultimately revealing tale about a free black man, who is tricked and then kidnapped, being forced into bondage, and sold into slavery.
As the title suggests, this lasts for 12 years,12 Years a Slave is a powerful, emotive, haunting and, ultimately revealing tale about a free black man, who is tricked and then kidnapped, being forced into bondage, and sold into slavery.
As the title suggests, this lasts for 12 years, before he's able to get a conscientious white man to pass on a message, which brings one of his former friends and associates to come and rescue him
So far, so good.
The film pulls no punches in its portrayal of life for a slave on a plantation. Long hours, repetitive work, threat of beatings (and death), not much food, risk of disease etc. As well as highlighting the inherent hypocrisy of the racist, white land/business owners, who seemingly justify their attitudes through judicious twisting of the tenets of the Bible.
It's a film you can't ignore, and has created debate around the world. Well written, well directed and brilliantly acted.

However, it just falls a little short of being a modern masterpiece and morality tale.
The main reason is that you can always sense it's based on a work of non-fiction, and is trying to be true to the author's observations and points of view.
As such, the director has to rein in the narrative, and therefore struggles to fill the run-time of the movie. There's not enough actual plot to sustain 132 minutes, and so many scenes just drag on with unnecessarily long tracking shots, or dialogue that adds nothing to either the plot or the characters.
Another issue I personally had was that the slaves in the film all spoke with good diction and pronunciation. It bugs me when historical films (especially one such as this which was praised for its' accuracy) don't apply proper accents/vocal inflections, during a time when we actually know how people spoke.
The other issue is that the ending is a good ol', US of A, 'feel good' ending.

They could have, and should have, concluded the film with a lingering, panning shot of the dozens of other slaves toiling away and who didn't manage to get 'rescued', those who were slaughtered by the thousand after the South surrendered at the end of the Civil War.....… Expand
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9
EpicLadySpongeFeb 4, 2016
Enjoyable and lovable from both critics and users! 12 Years a Slave could win like a whole load of awards due to the fact of how excellent and how interesting it is.
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10
neilhodgkinsonOct 10, 2015
The best movie I have seen in a while and it is based on a true story. I cannot believe how cruel people can be. Riveting. Another movie that I would buy for my collection.
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10
ChaeoteAug 20, 2015
GOD DAMN!!!!

The only move I can begin to compare this to is Schindler's List. But, possibly worse. It shows the brutality and inhumanities throw upon the slave, but where as Schindler's list was a broad view of a deeply disturbingGOD DAMN!!!!

The only move I can begin to compare this to is Schindler's List. But, possibly worse.

It shows the brutality and inhumanities throw upon the slave, but where as Schindler's list was a broad view of a deeply disturbing subject, this movie throws it right in your face, and makes you feel EVERY personal moment.

It's more character driven, and at pints can me it feel that much worse.… Expand
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8
43in2014Aug 1, 2015
Prior to watching this: I have not read the book.

Premise: Set before the Civil War, a black, free man was tricked and sold into slavery, from where he tries to escape to get back to his family Pros: 1) it has a powerful story. 2)Prior to watching this: I have not read the book.

Premise: Set before the Civil War, a black, free man was tricked and sold into slavery, from where he tries to escape to get back to his family

Pros:
1) it has a powerful story.
2) Great acting all around.

Cons:
1) It is a drama and drama may not be to everyone's taste.

Score: 4/5. Worth watching it in the cinema.

Who would be satisfied with this? The elder you are, the more you would like this.… Expand
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10
VinceRocks123Jun 26, 2015
A powerful film about the true level of brutality of Slavery in America its a powerfully dynamic film of hope and courage.

a triumph against the atrocities of man, its the greatest true story since Schindler's List and still a spectacularA powerful film about the true level of brutality of Slavery in America its a powerfully dynamic film of hope and courage.

a triumph against the atrocities of man, its the greatest true story since Schindler's List and still a spectacular masterpiece, yet a film not for the faint of heart… Expand
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10
JoshLuck1995Jun 2, 2015
This film is a true eye opener to the very wicked past of the human race. I am delighted that we no longer live in this type of society. This film is fantastic, great acting and full of emotions. Buy it!!
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10
ahnehnoisMay 15, 2015
This is an incredible movie. Much as I'm inclined to take a skeptical eye to everything, this film is about as genuine and nuanced as a two hour runtime could possibly allow. You get a sense of free life, and the horrors of slavery areThis is an incredible movie. Much as I'm inclined to take a skeptical eye to everything, this film is about as genuine and nuanced as a two hour runtime could possibly allow. You get a sense of free life, and the horrors of slavery are thoroughly depicted, but you also see enough to show it isn't as simple as it looks. The film's many white slaveholders are diverse. All complicit, but some more sympathetic and rational than others. Tellingly, the women are just as bigoted and sadistic as the men, if not more so, and it's very rare to see gender equality of that sort portrayed. And of course, at the end of the twelve years, some whites are on the side of righteousness. The slaves are likewise diverse in their personalities, and compelling to watch.

The film is beautiful, and showcases the pastoral rural scenery, contrasting it with the sickening violence. Its historical accuracy isn't perfect (certainly, the real Solomon Northrup wouldn't have had such white teeth), but altogether seems to be close to the historical record, and the real story is of course remarkable as told by the man who lived it. It definitely deserved to see the screen.

The one sour note for me was the score, which is distracting when it comes in. Hans Zimmer has done great Hollywood scores, but I would have preferred they stuck with incidental music in the form of Negro Spirituals, or at least had gotten a less mainstream composer. That being said, the many great actors, dazzling craftsmanship of film, and compelling narrative are every bit deserving of the high praise this film has already received. Even if you're not normally interested in a downer, this would be the time to make an exception.… Expand
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6
ozymandias79Apr 18, 2015
I get it. Slavery was/is bad. But this movie lays it on too thick. Maybe all the high scores are from masochists. For the most part, good performances. Good cinematography also. Downside, long scenes of nothing (filler). The ending was alsoI get it. Slavery was/is bad. But this movie lays it on too thick. Maybe all the high scores are from masochists. For the most part, good performances. Good cinematography also. Downside, long scenes of nothing (filler). The ending was also very unsatisfying. They should have extended the movie instead of listing captions at the end. Not a gratifying ending with all things considered but still a better one than we were given.… Expand
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10
wolfehightApr 10, 2015
This was a great watch. I highly recommend this movie as a good Friday/Saturday night flick. It is well produced and directed, very believable. I would definitely watch again.
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9
homer4presidentMar 29, 2015
"12 Years a Slave" is arresting, a film that needs to be watched and is easily the best movie that touches on the topic of slavery. Even more so, it is a film that is both informative, extraordinarily emotional, and an incredible eye-opener"12 Years a Slave" is arresting, a film that needs to be watched and is easily the best movie that touches on the topic of slavery. Even more so, it is a film that is both informative, extraordinarily emotional, and an incredible eye-opener to slavery's mental destruction to man.… Expand
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9
johnniMar 24, 2015
به تصویر کشیدن تبعیض نژادی با بهره گیری از موسیقی متن خوب و بازی های احساسی که ممکنه اشک شما رو هم در بیاره..
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8
davyfioreFeb 27, 2015
So I finally got around to seeing 12 Years a Slave, and now that I've wiped the tears from my face, I can tell you I was a little disappointed!

Don't get me wrong. I'm glad I watched it. I liked certain things about the directing (like theSo I finally got around to seeing 12 Years a Slave, and now that I've wiped the tears from my face, I can tell you I was a little disappointed!

Don't get me wrong. I'm glad I watched it. I liked certain things about the directing (like the fact that McQueen didn't plaster the movie with music) but the whole thing, the whole production, struck me as somewhat empty. There weren't those little details that bring a story, and especially a time period, to life. Life in the slave quarters, in particular, was lifeless. You can argue that that's because all the slaves were reduced to zombies, but I think it might be more a lack of imagination on the writer's part. In general I felt that where the source material didn't give any information, the movie-makers failed to fill in the gaps without resorting to cliche. I definitely want to read the autobiography now, though.

In a weird way it was like a melding of Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto (or however you spell it). 12 Years had the lingering sadomasochism of the Passion (Polansky proved you don't need to dwell on torture to make an audience feel it), at the same time it was a rousing survival story like Apocalypto. How can you not root for Platt! Every time he got his hands on some sneering racist villain I cheered! But I was disappointed in the end, because say what you will about Mel Gibson, he knows how to conjure up the weirdness of a different world.

Also, you gotta love how Brad Pitt, who produced the movie, gave himself the best white role.… Expand
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9
horizonbtsFeb 21, 2015
Impressive film and a true story, which for me always adds to the experience! The acting is very good and the story intensive!! The film is actually hard to watch at times as some of the scenes are quite graphic. Still very true to theImpressive film and a true story, which for me always adds to the experience! The acting is very good and the story intensive!! The film is actually hard to watch at times as some of the scenes are quite graphic. Still very true to the atrocities that took place in slavery before the civil war! This has you coming away with a distaste and a displeasure that we as humans could stoop so low in actions. Again I repeat at times for me this was hard to watch, but you wanted to finish to see how Solomon the main character persevered! I was hesitant to take on the task of watching this movie, but in the end glad I decided to purchase it in DVD. If you haven't seen this movie I would suggest in doing so, but be warned again the film can be very graphic at times.… Expand
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10
UltimateBubFeb 7, 2015
This is truly a fantastic film. It all comes down to the quality of the story, the narrative. "12 Years a Slave" is a beautiful film, not because of its theme but because of how that theme is handled. Other than that, everything else is nearThis is truly a fantastic film. It all comes down to the quality of the story, the narrative. "12 Years a Slave" is a beautiful film, not because of its theme but because of how that theme is handled. Other than that, everything else is near perfect. The cast is as solid as possible, the score is one piece of art... Even though it may be a little graphic for some people, I truly believe this is how a slavery movie should be told. It doesn't get better than this.… Expand
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7
borderlinefilmsFeb 5, 2015
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Objective Subjection

The scarcity of film stock in 1920s Russia spawned innovations in editing. When a Film Professor intercut a poker-faced head-shot with highly-charged discarded footage, his students marvelled at the acting. Soviet montage pioneers also discovered they could lurk considerably longer on a distant shot than on a close up.

Steve McQueen, a black Brit, does a splendid job retelling the cruelest, and perhaps the most troubling period in American history. The contentious subject alone makes it a necessary Oscar contender. A lot of slack available here. Regardless of the style, if the issue is treated with respect it will get respect. Anytime the movie lulls, the audience will inevitably meditate on history's horrible transgressions. Still, people don't go to the cinema to be shamed or reminded of past horrors. So stylizing the movie with foreign objectivity prevents it from getting weepy or sentimental. The complexion and complexness of the story is elevated by plantation owner Edwin Apps' (Michael Fassbender's) justifications. Slavery was legal. Period. Morality is not an issue. Don't blame him, blame the law. Just the way it's still apparently legal to kill Blacks in Florida with its disturbingly primitive Stand Your Ground law. The complexity in 12YAS is supplemented by Fassbender's overall bizarre, eccentric and exceptional behaviour. He even works the fields himself. His transgressions are further justified by deflecting much of the blame on his jealous wife, another marginalized figure. Subjugation is relative and hierarchal. The issue of slavery is even further complicated by abolitionist Bass (Brad Pitt) who, intentionally or not, comes off as a liberal putz.

It's a bold and powerful film all right, due largely to the subject at hand, if not McQueen's aloof presentation. The film gives us a formal study of callous persecution. It's framed with a stoic examination of impartiality intercut with readymade emotional content. McQueen at once immerses and detaches us from the human suffering constituted by American slavery. Notice how long he manages to linger on the hanging scene by shooting it at a distance. Lupita Nyong'o is nominated for an Oscar because her character suffers deeply. Her acting was heightened by basic editing techniques. Leave out the whipping scene or simply remove the shot of the deep, bloodied tracks lashed on her back, and she probably wouldn't be in the running. Similarly, the subject of slavery is so vexing and all-consuming that Chiwetel Ejiofor can play Solomon Northup entirely with detached resignation.… Expand
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9
JohnMasterLJan 4, 2015
Steve McQueen a creado una obra de arte, a pesar de la intensa violencia, racismo, y varias brutalidades gráficas que acontecen en esta película, 12 Años de Esclavo es un logro cinematográfico, su crudo realismo te dejara sin aliento.Steve McQueen a creado una obra de arte, a pesar de la intensa violencia, racismo, y varias brutalidades gráficas que acontecen en esta película, 12 Años de Esclavo es un logro cinematográfico, su crudo realismo te dejara sin aliento.
AUNQUE..... No me parece que se merecía el Oscar a mejor película, eso era para Gravedad de Alfonso Cuaron… Expand
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10
j1trainJan 2, 2015
A powerful (at times overwhelming) drama of perseverance and redemption. Chiwetel Ejiofor is stunning. Steve McQueen's best, most feeling work. His focus on suffering (present in all his films) is likely too difficult for many, but 12 Years aA powerful (at times overwhelming) drama of perseverance and redemption. Chiwetel Ejiofor is stunning. Steve McQueen's best, most feeling work. His focus on suffering (present in all his films) is likely too difficult for many, but 12 Years a Slave goes farther than some of his past films.… Expand
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7
ryanneevmanDec 23, 2014
Good, but 12 years a slave is just another slave movie that seems extremely real, and well made, which is a good thing, but it is done too mamy times, and seen too many times as well.
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9
diogomendesDec 9, 2014
A beautiful look at American slavery, "12 Years a Slave" is undoubtedly the best movie of 2013 (along with Captain Philips and Gravity) thanks to its phenomenal cast and expertly written story.
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8
CherryxldNov 23, 2014
12 Years Slave es una película de drama convincente y con un guión atractivo, y que aunque la película le falto un poco de chispa, no dejo de ser un buen drama.
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8
ydnar4Nov 22, 2014
12 Years a Slave couldn't be more real. It really captures what the world was like at that time. Solomon Northup was portray beautifully and I'm glad that this film managed to capture the Oscar for Best Picture, its a very worthy film. The12 Years a Slave couldn't be more real. It really captures what the world was like at that time. Solomon Northup was portray beautifully and I'm glad that this film managed to capture the Oscar for Best Picture, its a very worthy film. The ending has one of the most intense scenes that I've seen in any movie, I won't spoil it, because its amazing. It must have took a lot of studying in order to create this film. I may have to go out and read Northup's book now.… Expand
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10
PanapaokNov 11, 2014
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Solomon Northup was a free-born man living in Saratoga, New York married with two children. In 1841 he was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Viewers should not take Northup's story as something individual. Situations like this happened several times over the course of this horrific period, a clear type of holocaust of the African-American human people.

If you have already watched Hunger (2008) and Shame (2011) you certainly know that Steve McQueen directs his films with merciless realism. His first two films were very dark and perplexing and so is 12 Years a Slave.

The main theme of McQeen's film agenda is, I believe, about complex human-beings finding themselves in difficult situations. Bobby Sands, Brandon and finally Solomon Northup. Even though their names don't really matter, because they are just characters who represent the difficulties of our everyday lives.

The film is a cruel examination of slavery in America and McQueen was probably the best director for this kind of material. His long takes and the objectivity of his camera make the movie seem realistic. The movie as an achievement represents perfection at cinematography, production, costumes and editing. Hans Zimmer score is hypnotic and controls the emotions of the audience. And of course a great screenplay by John Ridley who adapted Northup's memoir and created almost all the dialogue.

Chiwetel Ejiofor gives a powerful and riveting performance as Solomon Northup. After a good stage career and some decent film performances, Ejiofor takes full advantage of his great talent previously shown in Dirty Pretty Things. This is one of the best performances of all time.

Behind Ejiofor we see an extremely talented supporting cast full of charismatic and great actors. Michael Fassbender and Lupita Nyong'o give career best performances and stand out among Brad Pitt, Paul Giamatti, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sarah Paulson, Paul Dano and others.

What an incredible, haunting and touching film it is. Highly recommended for everyone who has the gut to watch the truth in a so tense way. Not only the best movie of the year but also one of the greatest and most important achievements in the history of movie-making.… Expand
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10
GlassIsHalfFullOct 13, 2014
Wonderful cinematography/photography, deeply visceral and a troubling story, as can be expected. I found the negative commentaries strangely sad and lacking decency. Most of the films detractors found it boring and/or especially vicious.Wonderful cinematography/photography, deeply visceral and a troubling story, as can be expected. I found the negative commentaries strangely sad and lacking decency. Most of the films detractors found it boring and/or especially vicious. It is a retelling of the Solomon Northrup's story. I'll probably not watch it again as I am not particularly a fan of violence and sadism. That being said, it's brilliantly acted, directed and produced. It is definitely not a pleasure movie, but worthy of praise and observation/viewing.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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8
TokyochuchuOct 5, 2014
12 Years a Slave is an interesting film that educates us upon just how dark a past we humans have. The movie is extremely well acted and sometimes uncomfortably emotive. Two specific annoyances , though; the director's unnecessary use of12 Years a Slave is an interesting film that educates us upon just how dark a past we humans have. The movie is extremely well acted and sometimes uncomfortably emotive. Two specific annoyances , though; the director's unnecessary use of over-long static camera shots (We get the point! We don't need to be bashed over the head!) and very famous actors cropping up and breaking immersion (Oooooh... It's Brad Pitt). These points aside, 12 Years a Slave is great.… Expand
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10
ArchonMagazineSep 20, 2014
A truly great movie is one that stays with you long after it is ended.

A truly great movie is one that stays with you long after it is ended. The emotions and story unshakable; hours, days, weeks and 12 Years A Slave is such a film. FromA truly great movie is one that stays with you long after it is ended.

A truly great movie is one that stays with you long after it is ended. The emotions and story unshakable; hours, days, weeks and 12 Years A Slave is such a film. From the moment the film opened on the first scene I was racked with anxiety. Not having read any reviews for 12 Years A Slave, I only knew it was fearlessly honest about the story of a free man from the North, kidnapped and sold into slavery in Louisiana.

Such clear purpose and vision could only produce a story of unwavering fortitude such as this. Steve McQueen, the director, is an artist and true visionary for his unflinching portrayal of Mr. Solomon Northup’s story and the unending brutalities and injustices encountered by those in slavery. The knot that persisted in my stomach from start to finish is a direct result of his firm ability to never look away. I felt compelled to honor those who had endured such unspeakable horrors that were once their life by watching and also not looking away, likely Mr. McQueen’s goal. From the moment Mr. Northup is sold, as Platt, you hopelessly seek out for some person to be a refuge as he fights to survive. The story is beautifully told, never allowing you to fully become immersed in the slave’s life, never truly forgetting the freedom that was once had – with the use of flashbacks and remarks reminiscent of a previous life. No scene is wasted, no filler, no false emotions spurred from music, just the hard truth of one man’s life. The saddest truth is Mr. Northup’s story is unremarkable in comparison to thousands of other men, women and children forced and born into slavery.

Every actor deserves not just a nomination, but an award, to honor their brave and ultimately successful choice to take on such an insurmountable task of each role. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o, Sarah Paulson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Adepero Oduye and the countless actors who I failed to list or those who played minor roles were impeccable and steadfast and a direct contributor to the movie’s achievement.

If you are emotionally mature enough to endure such a dramatic, honest and truthful story then I implore you to set apart a day and watch 12 Years A Slave. A day is necessary to allow yourself to process such a magnificent film that is truly in a class of its own surpassing all other films released this year.

I do understand if you do not, as the movie was incredibly difficult to watch.

More reviews of recent releases can be found at our website.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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9
bmaster4616Sep 6, 2014
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's a viewing only for those who have the stomach, but the emotional roller coaster ride you take along with Solomon Northup is almost perfect. The character development and other key aspects of the film, make it a must watch. The movie almost plays like a Schindler's list meets passion of the Christ. The one negative thing I can say about the film is the unnecessary brutality at some parts and also how it drawn out. Sooner or later I felt like I've been here and done this for two hours already. Though the movie closes off with a fantastic conclusion to a movie that will leave you hating yourself...especially if your white. Though my ancestress weren't in America during slavery and basically Irish people were slaves years before blacks; you still get that terrible sense you did something wrong. You can take this badly or good. I choose neither. It paints a picture of what we (as whites) did to blacks, which is basically the worst thing ever committed by Americans, and gives it to us. It's a very well down movie and does seem to be one of the best movies of 2013. Overall it has some big flaws but rights itself in the end with a extremely emotional finale. 9.1… Expand
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10
DenisManuSep 5, 2014
12 Years a Slave is brilliant and depressing at the same time.The performances in this movie are simply fabulous and definitely Oscar worthy.A true heart beating drama that leaves you speechless.
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10
beingryanjudeSep 2, 2014
Disturbing and violent--12 Years a Slave is far frome easy to view. Nevertheless, this film is something that each and every American owes themselves to see. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong'o shine bright in such a dark world.
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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9
AlexanderLuthorAug 1, 2014
This was a fantastic film, well written and tremendous performances from all the stars. Far better film than I went in expecting.....................
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10
sammurphy66Jul 21, 2014
12 Years a Slave is without a doubt,the best film of 2013 - it is emotionally captivating, brilliantly acted, and has a wonderfully heart warming story of a man who faced unfathomable adversity.
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9
elsylorenaJul 19, 2014
Una grandiosa película, realizada para hacerte llorar, con maravillosas interpretaciones por parte de sus protagonistas y que muestra una parte importante de la historia norteamericana.
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4
Apartment64Jul 4, 2014
All dramas need a conflict and a resolution (Resolution doesn't have to be final, it can be a setup for a new conflict). After "12 Years a Slave" has set up a conflict, it just is. And the worst part of it is that it actually has noAll dramas need a conflict and a resolution (Resolution doesn't have to be final, it can be a setup for a new conflict). After "12 Years a Slave" has set up a conflict, it just is. And the worst part of it is that it actually has no resolution - the ending is a lousy cheat. It feels like Steve McQueen has forgotten the differences between a drama and a documentary. Shame.… Expand
1 of 3 users found this helpful12
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5
FranzHcriticJun 29, 2014
'12 Years a Slave' has a very brutal plot of realism of our history during this time. All the same, it's unnecessarily brutal, and in the end, pointless. The acting is good, but wasted on a script that has seldom meaning to the actual'12 Years a Slave' has a very brutal plot of realism of our history during this time. All the same, it's unnecessarily brutal, and in the end, pointless. The acting is good, but wasted on a script that has seldom meaning to the actual violence of slavery. Try 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' for a movie, maybe thirty to forty years ago.… Expand
1 of 6 users found this helpful15
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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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7
AxefaceJun 22, 2014
12 years a slave is a good film that could have been a great film, it is well worth watching and the conclusion is fantastic, but they somehow felt the need to try just a little bit too hard, when the subject matter is more than powerful12 years a slave is a good film that could have been a great film, it is well worth watching and the conclusion is fantastic, but they somehow felt the need to try just a little bit too hard, when the subject matter is more than powerful enough.

Chiwetel delivers an excellent performance - as always, yet I don't believe that the movie deserves the shining critical acclaim it has received.… Expand
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6
NotRogerEbertJun 21, 2014
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This film is simply overrated. Steve McQueen is by no means a bad director, but his characters are dull and brutal. They spend much of the movie torturing slaves as a sympathy tool, but it fails and makes you feel horrible. His freeing at the end feels meaningless and stupid. I don't understand why I don't like this movie, it simply rubbed me the wrong way.… Expand
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9
WalkingDead5640Jun 8, 2014
Very powerful and it definitely deserves all the praise and awards. A truly real, well crafted, extraordinary piece of cinema, though it may be a hard watch with the racial themes. I love how director Steve Mcqueen can capture a very lengthyVery powerful and it definitely deserves all the praise and awards. A truly real, well crafted, extraordinary piece of cinema, though it may be a hard watch with the racial themes. I love how director Steve Mcqueen can capture a very lengthy shot and make it so powerful and grand in his movies. This movie is epic and well acted.… Expand
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4
Trev29May 24, 2014
There is maybe one or two scenes that showcase the real artistic strength of this movie, but for the most part, it puts me to sleep. The dialogue is outrageously unrealistic.The definition of an over hyped film.
2 of 5 users found this helpful23
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10
CiaranMcDaid12May 16, 2014
IT ONE OF THOSE FILMS THAT WHOLE WORLD HAS TO SEE!!!!! MUST SEE FILM OF 2013!!!! The performance from the entire were POWERFUL!!!!

The film that we will never forget!!!
1 of 3 users found this helpful12
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9
arunkchowMay 9, 2014
Steve Mcqueen's "Shame" didn't make much sense but "12 Years A Slave" is beautifully made, which tells a heart wrenching story during dark days of American history. Sean Bobbit's camera work is truly beautiful.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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10
SimpleReviewzMay 5, 2014
Ok, so I was a little late to the party with this film, eh? Well, better late than never, right? Correct, and I'm so glad I finally got to see this phenomenal movie. This movie touched me so differently than other movies have this year. I'mOk, so I was a little late to the party with this film, eh? Well, better late than never, right? Correct, and I'm so glad I finally got to see this phenomenal movie. This movie touched me so differently than other movies have this year. I'm not even a big fan of movies about history, so this movie is for everyone if you appreciate things like this. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, in this film does an amazing, flawless performance. They perform each scene wonderfully and the writing/script compliments it all. The whole story is truly sad and touching. A free man gets kidnapped and is sold into the cruel subject of slavery. No movie has portrayed this time period in America as accurately and greatly as this. You know how some lame movies about slavery never really show how brutal the caucasians were to the blacks? This movie has brutal scenes that are NOT easy to watch. I'm not gonna lie. The first master Solomon is sold to is actually not a huge psychopath jerk that you'd think these kind of men would be. Man, the second one though? A HUGE maniacal jerk. Michael Fassbender really shows the audience how cruel this character was. Also, one of my other favorite, best characters is Lupita. Every single character, like I said, is perfect and they're equal in terms of quality. Where it was filmed is also a great setting. I'm telling you though, 12 Years a Slave is a movie that is so sympathetic that it really will touch you and break your heart at times. The ending is something that might even make you shed a tear for this amazing man. I did. Don't you already get the gist that this movie is amazing in every aspect? You should, and if you haven't seen this film yet, I highly advise with all my mind. Like I said, it isn't an easy watch. However, that doesn't mean it isn't WORTH watching, and it is in every, single way.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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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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5
UnurautareMay 3, 2014
It only missed gas chambers and 6 million to make it a complete propaganda movie, otherwise the Hollywood concentration camps, hanging and random killings were there, however some scenes and situations are believable and the part with "QueenIt only missed gas chambers and 6 million to make it a complete propaganda movie, otherwise the Hollywood concentration camps, hanging and random killings were there, however some scenes and situations are believable and the part with "Queen of the fields" make me laugh. The characters aren't that interesting, they don't evolve in any way, the slaves are there to work and the slave owners are there to make sure they work, with added violence. I guess that's what the movie offers, sex and violence, you don't feel like you watched the tragic destiny of anybody, just some hellish joyride brought to you via the magic of Hollywood. The experience of watching this movie left me not feeling like I wasted my time but also that it's not something superb.… Expand
1 of 4 users found this helpful13
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9
RamonGuerreroMay 1, 2014
An amazing journey to a era of slavery, brutality, and a sad true story of a surviver, by the hand of stunning performances, and one of the most recognised director, Steve McQueen is at his very best, but still a bit slow at some sequences.
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9
Viper8787Apr 21, 2014
A great, great film about a free man who is abducted and sold into slavery. It is a very sad tale and shows how racist we used to be and how bad slavery really was. A great cast with many great acting performances. Michael FassbendersA great, great film about a free man who is abducted and sold into slavery. It is a very sad tale and shows how racist we used to be and how bad slavery really was. A great cast with many great acting performances. Michael Fassbenders character was crazy and he did a fantastic job with his role. A great movie deserving of the best picture Oscar this year.… Expand
3 of 4 users found this helpful31
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5
PeikkonaamaApr 20, 2014
If you are a person who watches movies w/o being critical about the content you see you are probably going to be affected about 12yaSlave. For those who tend to think about what they witness this movie is most likely going to be a let-down.If you are a person who watches movies w/o being critical about the content you see you are probably going to be affected about 12yaSlave. For those who tend to think about what they witness this movie is most likely going to be a let-down. "Well made rubbish" is a term that descripes the movie best. Visual and audio aspects are well-thought supporting the narrative. Dialogue and acting are plausible, no complaiments there. The huge problem is the script itself. This is a movie in which every white man and woman is either a coward, villain or most often a complete psychopat. Except Brad Pitt. The producer rides in as a modern Jesus to save the day in the last minutes of the movie shattering any illusion of realism. Storyline lacks twists and situations to make the flick interesting. Basicly the main characters get flogged for few hours and thats it. New York is a paradise where every1 is happy and educated regardless of their race or backround. Just like today! Ofc this is "based on true story", but as far as i know any story is fictional interpretation of actual events. Thats why they are called stories. Historically the laws allowed atrocities of many kind but I really doubt that the people who owned the slaves could really beat them to death continuously. I mean, the slaves cost thousands of dollars to buy. Feeding and shelter costs. Why beat the workforce to death? Just makes no sense. Also, there was no indication that after the slavery-laws were eradicated the position of blacks actually got even worse, since they became regular workforce who had to provide accommadation and food by themselves.

Anyways, those who wish to feel bad about things they have no responsibility in may enjoy this movie.… Expand
2 of 5 users found this helpful23
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8
DheerajApr 12, 2014
A well taken movie. Precise, and to-the-point, although it did feel a little draggy in between. Exceptional performance by Michael Fassbender. Good performances from Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Benedict Cumberbatch add to the essence of the movie.A well taken movie. Precise, and to-the-point, although it did feel a little draggy in between. Exceptional performance by Michael Fassbender. Good performances from Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Benedict Cumberbatch add to the essence of the movie. The movie did feel like it was already conveying a well known concept, and hence felt slightly boring. Impressive locations and cinematography gave the movie what it needed.… Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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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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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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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.....
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