Lupita Nyong’o is exceptional as the tortured Patsey
12 Years A Slave
Directed by Steve McQueen
Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o
Review by Jordan (read Eddie’s review here)
There are two types of Award winning films; those made and marketed seemingly with the sole intention of being bestowed such honours, and those being the work of important artists who simply wish to ply their craft without thought of industry recognition. 12 Years A Slave, Steve McQueen’s third feature film after the confronting Hunger (2008) and perhaps more-so Shame (2011), is certainly the latter – an exceptionally mounted, moving drama with stunningly captured scenery and performances of unwavering power.
From the moment in which our tragic hero Solomon Northup (played by an outstanding Chiwetel Ejiofor) is kidnapped and sold into slavery, no amount of kindness from redeemable characters such as respectable “slaver” Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch) or Canadian carpenter Bass (Brad Pitt) can lighten the mood, as even when tears of happiness flow towards the film’s ending, despicable, true to life villains including slave trader Freeman (a chameleon-like Paul Giamatti), juvenile racist Tibeats (Paul Dano) and of course the formidable, atrocious drunkard Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender in his best-yet performance) have already ensured that no amount of good can compensate for the sheer volume of evil committed in this film and of course period of history.
The moments of restraint and careful framing are when McQueen best displays his articulated talents, but he juxtaposes them superbly here with the occasional shot of graphic violence, abuse and humiliation, meaning that as an audience you are never certain how long a scene may play out and must prepare yourself for the worst. This constant tension lasts the entire running time, and when punctured by shots of the flesh being torn off a fragile, malnourished young woman’s back in a still understated (not dramatized) fashion the feeling of helplessness becomes immense. Needless to say, Django Unchained (2012, Quentin Tarantino) took the easy exploitative route by having the slave protagonist revolt in a bevy of glorified bloodshed; in 12 Years a Slave we are allowed no such relief, and it is all the better for it.
Will this win Best Picture at the Academy Awards? And does it deserve to when in competition with other outstanding titles such as Alfonso Cuarón’s game-changing Gravity, Spike Jonze’s dark horse Her and the Matthew McConaughey showcase Dallas Buyers Club? Absolutely it should, and absolutely it does. Too many Best Picture winners of late have been lost to obscurity, forgotten about while other more deserving films have continued to gain momentum and notoriety (Argo winning in place of Les Miserables a clear example of this, as well as The Artist over The Tree of Life, Slumdog Millionaire over The Reader, Crash over Capote and Chicago over The Pianist… how Shakespeare in Love beat Life is Beautiful, Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line is also still beyond me, but that’s another article), and it’s as clear that this fate could never befall this third string in McQueen’s striking bow.
12 Years A Slave is at times a gruelling experience, but ultimately, for fans of cinema and literature itself, it’s an immensely rewarding one also.
4.5 pounds of cotton out of 5
Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys) 
I’ve seen every Best Film nominee except for Philomena (ehh), Dallas Buyers Club (seeing this weekend hopefully) and Nebraska (maybe I’ll see).
Without a doubt, it is the best of the bunch that I have seen, and its only close competition is Her, which is as you described, a dark horse so not much of a shot for it. Both stellar movies though.
What’s the bet the Academy completely shames itself and picks something totally undeserving such as Wolf of Wall Street. Nice work seeing so many of the nominees so far, it’s speaks volumes for 12 Years that it stands out so clearly among 8 other films.
Jordan
Could totally see it. TWOWS was entertaining but a tad too long and a little too gratuitous imo.
It is a unique film indeed! Really powerful and intense! Amongst all the other nominations, I think it’s by far superior!
If only The Conjuring or Only God Forgives were nominated… then it might have some competition. But as it stands, I of course completely agree!
Jordan
Oh it’s been such a long time since a horror film was nominated – with the last one being The Sixth Sense!! That would be fantastic!
And Shakespeare in Love… Gwyneth Paltrow’s moustache in that movie still haunts me.
Jordan
And by the way, I just read an article about a newly-found species of giant jellyfish which was washed ashore in Hobart last month. Perhaps the idea of a horror movie featuring a giant jellyfish is not far from becoming a dreadful reality!
Haha, only the best and biggest here in Hobart. I’m going camping this weekend on the southern coastline so will keep my eye out! Maybe I should take a video camera and try to make a movie of it myself ha.
Jordan
Argg…the best and biggest?!?! Be extra careful! 🙂
Haha!! I’m sure it’d turn out to be a great movie! It all starts like this…with a weekend trip! So, hey, you’re half way there! 😉
I actually preferred Wolf of Wall Street, both deserve the nominations though.
I think I’ve just got a problem with comedies being so renowned, and really that’s what Wolf of Wall Street is… there’s no real drama in it for mine. It really is an interesting year though, there are a handful that would be neck and neck most likely.
Jordan
I absolutely love this film. It remains my favorite film of 2013 and I really hope it wins an Oscar for Best Picture.
I think it’d be good if this wins Best Picture, but then the only other nominated film I’ve seen was Gravity. I loved Gravity but I think this was more powerful, and it was real to Solomon Northup.
I’ve seen each of the nominated films this year except for Philomena. I need to see 12 Years a Slave again, because I didn’t have the best seat at the TIFF premiere, however, it didn’t even make my Top 25 of the year. I found Chiwetel’s performance very annoying…and the film as a whole was repetitive. Every year there is one film that I DON’T want to win, and although I won’t be mad if this wins, I hope something more fun and original wins.
Pingback: 2014 Oscars – J and E’s Overview & Final Predictions | Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys)·