I've Never Cried Like I Did When I Saw This

Rating: 10/10 (2 June 2018)

'12 Years A Salve' is a harrowing, yet brilliantly made film, that shakes it's viewers to the core. Screenwriter John Ridley adapts the real-life story of Solomon Northup in the most emotional and brutal way possible and has an effect on the audience in ways no other movie has. The story alone, movie or not, is something worth of praise and fortunately director Steven McQueen adapted it for the screen in the authentic and raw manner that it needed to be shown in. Leading actor Chiwetel Ejiofor immerses himself into the role of Solomon Northup exceptionally, and is supported by a talented cast all round, the standouts being Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o and Sarah Paulson. Nyong'o, in particular, steals every single scene she is in and is well-deserving of her Academy Award that she received for this role. Hans Zimmer's soundtrack is also a standout in the film and contributes greatly to the emotional aspect of the film, and the overall atmosphere. While I've seen a lot of emotional and heart-wrenching films in my lifetime, I have never been so emotionally affected by this film. Every aspect of this film contributes to the overall greatness of this film that portrays the atrocities of the U.S. slave industry in a way that's never been done before. I never thought I'd cry from a movie, but '12 Years A Slave' has proved me wrong.