12 Years a Slave (2013)

Sadly Over-hyped

Expected more

A Masterpiece!

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Everyone should read Solomon Northup's memoir. It is a powerful, moving, and culturally important tale of the injustice of slavery.This movie, however, seemed to be a poor attempt to turn that story into quick cash. Characters were not developed, scenes were stitched together in an odd way, and the ending was rushed and didn't seem to convey the intense emotions Solomon had in being rescued.I understand a movie can only do so much, but I'm not sure how a viewer who has not read the memoir would be able to get much from the movie. And those who have read it will be disappointed at lost opportunities to convey the true horror of the situation and total exclusion of some important anecdotes (particularly the continued menace of Tibeats)

12 Years A Slave is an remarkable true story that tells the life of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) a free African American who lived in Saratoga, New York with his wife and two children. After he was convinced to travel to Washington for two weeks to work with two musicians who promised him work, he was drugged, chained, beaten, and stripped of his identity. He was then given the name Platt and sold into slavery in the deep south. Throughout his twelve years as a slave, he was owned by two men, Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender) who treated him in diverse ways. Ford was a civil master who treated Solomon with kindness but was forced to sell him to Edwin Apps due to a violent situation that occurred between Solomon and one of the plantation managers who was jealous of his intelligence. This violent situation caused Solomon to live through fair during the remainder of his time as a slave. Considering that this occurred during the pre-civil times in the United States, it is obvious to see that the film is based on slavery along with self-entitlement and self-gain. Justice was wrongly served to Solomon and even though his first master (Ford) was aware of this, he only cared to cover his debts and the investment that he had put into purchasing Solomon as a slave. The film easily maintained a repetitive theme of individuals who understood that what they were doing was wrong, but they did not care to correct it due to society and the current circumstances. A key example of this is shown when Solomon was bribed to travel with two men who promised to pay him for his performance, but instead, they drugged and sold him as a slave. Another film that represents the key elements of this theme is Selma as it also covers the roles of whites, whether it be as slave-owners or segregationist. Selma also focuses on the cruelty and violence against African Americans. Overall, 12 Years A Slave is a great film and the director used great techniques to capture the horror that Solomon Northup encountered as a slave. Two great techniques that were used included the quality of images along with the angles and lighting. An example of this included the candlelight that was illuminating in the dark which resembled a time when Solomon was struggling with his sanity. Great angles were used to capture his emotions and the fear that he felt as he lived his life as a slave. Though Solomon struggled to survive due to the cruelty and hardships that he faced, through faith, and the willpower to survive, he managed to endure his twelve years as a slave.

Incredibly easy to watch movie that will take you on a roller coaster of emotions. If your looking for a movie that won't disappoint this is a great choice for you.

Film Review: "12 Years a Slave" (2013)Based on memoirs by actual real-life personality Solomon Northup, living from 1808 to 1863, enduring deception, betrayal, torture of being a slave brought from the State of New York to plantages of the South, where leading actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, here in a fulminate portrayal as slave without a cause, meeting supporting characters, ranging from a gentleman real estate owner "Ford", performed by Benedict Cumberbatch to iron-as-temper losing Edwin Epps, given face to utmost hostility-striking actor Michael Fassbender, who could look back on two hardcore NC-17 rated drama collaborations, "Hunger" (2008) and "Shame" (2011), with to excellence-ascending director Steve McQueen, who navigates "Northup" on his emotional as tragically-struck journey through the "Southern Wild".In its visual conception, as already on the scripted page by screenwriter John Ridley, a just powerhouse of wanting-to-be cinema motion picture, from the very first shot beginnings to slightly over-charged conclusion after the title-given time-span, compressed in a gripping 130-Minute-Cut, as actor Chiwetel Ejiofor is able summon up the state of an human condition in slavery with an one-minute-running close-up in silence in front of a nature green background, when actress Lupita Nyongo acts her heart out of her African roots to win justified an "Academy-Award" for Best supporting actress, when so-honored "Best Picture of 2013" had been backed up and put into motion not only by Brad Pitts production company "Plan B", but also with splendid support by Arnon Milchans "Regency Enterprises" when production value are given by high-end, full-frontal cinematography by Sean Bobbitt and an atmosphere-pitching score by fully-occupied composer Hans Zimmer under lingering Southern environmental sound mix in favor of an sky-reaching cinematic experience.Copyright 2018 Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC