12 Years A Slave (2013)

12 Years a Slave

Director:  Steve McQueen
IMDB Rating:  8.7 (1/1/14)
PuRock's Rating (10):  10
If this film had a crazy uncle:  Django Unchained

Pros:  Powerful Story, Reflective, Amazing Performances, Beautiful Visual Art
Cons:  Rregurgitated Sound Track

There isn't much I can say that hasn't already been said about 12 Years a Slave.  This film IS POWERFUL. Even if you put the commanding story to the side, what you have is a beautiful display of visual art.  The two attributes combine to create one of the best films of 2013.  This is director Steve McQueen's third feature film and it comes with a bang. It follows his 2011 underrated film, Shame, which also starred Michael Fassbender.  In each of his prior films, the art was more of the centerpiece to the films, in 12 Years he has the narrative to excel.

This film is based on Solomon Northup's memoir of the same name.  Now there are some horrors that only one can imagine, and slavery is one of them.  But it speaks to the power of film that McQueen can place us as close as possible to an American travesty in today's world.  The emotional toll this film takes on the viewer is intense, and rightly so.  The story is about slavery, but its also about one man's struggles.  The way this film moves along with Solomon gives you a great narrative and someone to care and pull for while providing the commentary on the bigger picture .

There have been many films about slavery before, but none that really shed the slanted truths as honestly as this film does.  The common criticism of the film is that it can be considered as torture porn or on the same level as a modern horror film.  Yes!  That's the point, the big difference being that this is non-fiction.  This really happened.  The ugly images are meant to provide a realistic portrayal not sugar coat it like Hollywood normally does.

On to the performances, they were incredible.  Ejiofor, Fassbender, Dano, and Nyong'o all deserve the accolades that they are going to receive come award season.  Each performance was able to project a strong emotional response onto the viewer.  Ejiofor had to act much more with his eyes in this role as the character is required to show emotion without action.  (On a side note:  it's an interesting trend that Paul Dano gets beaten up in nearly every film he plays, twice this year alone!).  

While watching this film I couldn't help but to reflect upon the 2012 film about slavery, Django Unchained. 12 Years a Slave stands strong on its own.  But I have a feeling that if 12 Years a Slave was released before Django Unchained, Tarrantino's film wouldn't have been as highly received/  Django Unchained had creativity but it lacked the heart of 12 Years a Slave.  I realize its sort of comparing apples to oranges as the films sought separate responses, but I could not help it in this instance.

Between the brilliant acting, powerful story, and beautiful visual art, this film hits on all cylinders.  A film experience that should be seen by all.