Sunday, March 29, 2015

12 Years a Slave

12 Years a SlaveThe Gist: Before the Civil War, a free black man from upstate New York is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South.  Will he succeed in regaining his lost freedom?

12 Years a Slave was the 2014 recipient of the Best Picture Academy Award and well worth the title.  It also took home Best Writing and Best Supporting Actress for Lupita Nyong’o.

Nyong’o gives us a very powerful performance and is joined by the equally excellent Chiwetel Ejiofor.  His portrayal of a man who suddenly loses the freedom he was taking for granted and is thrown into the hellish inferno of slavery is heart wrenching and unforgettable.

Also of note are Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti, Paul Dano, and Sarah Paulson.  In their roles as slave owners you can see all the moral turpitude and lack of rectitude that helped the slave owners of the time justify their foul deeds.

I just found out that “12 Years a Slave became the first film directed and produced by a black filmmaker (Steve McQueen) and also the first to be written by an African-American (John Ridley) to win the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture of the Year.” (from IMDb)

The Bottom Line: 12 Years a Slave is an instant classic that doesn’t shy away from showing us the ugliness of “civilization.”  An excellent cast and direction make this a must-see.

Grade: 9

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