Black Comedy

Rating: 6/10 (14 January 2014)

I don't know whether someone planned it that way or whether it's pure coincidence but on Friday last, two high-profile new releases opened in London simultaneously and both share a single theme, the oppression of one race by another, and today I watched both of them one after the other. I saw first 12 Years A Slave, in which the oppressor is the White race (specifically 'Southern' White) and the oppressed the Black race. Perhpaps it has been over-hyped as is, of course, often the way, but once again I had difficulty in seeing what all the fuss was about. Yes, the lead actor gives a fine performance - as I have seen him do on the London stage several times - but how difficult is it to look noble and stoic? I had the same problem - as I have said on this site in the past - with Raging Bull; okay, so deNiro put on several pounds, big deal; a real actor could ACT being heavy. Nevertheless the film does tell a harrowing story and by and large the cast do well but the only time I found myself weeping was at the end, when the victim was reunited with his family. I accept that mine is a lone voice but not to worry, actor and director will probably cry all the way to the Oscars.