An emotionally draining and important historical film

Rating: 10/10 (17 January 2014)

2014's Oscar nominations are in and 12 Years a Slave is one of the leading contenders for awards, for deserved reasons. Steve McQueen's stock as a director continues to rise as he delivers a powerful piece of cinema, unflinching and historically detailed film about the brutality of slavery as people are beaten and families are broken up in heart wrenching ways. McQueen's style of wide shot and long takes are perfectly suited for screen, particularly a brutal whipping sequence and showing when Solomon is left hanging and people around him go about their normal lives. There is a natural look in the setting and the cinematography uses natural lighting to great effect. The acting for the story if of a top level, being bold, emotional and theatrical throughout. The excellent Chiwetel Ejiofor centres this film, giving a great performance as an educated man whose spirit slowly breaks due to his years of captivity and being treated as nothing more than property. He is surrounded by a top cast, all giving excellent and complex characters showing the different parts of the society of the Deep South before the Civil War. Lupita Nyong'o and Adepero Oduye were both excellent two women who suffer greatly due to Slavery, and we get different perspectives, from Bendict Cumberbatch's William Ford who is one of the kinder slave owner, but overall a coward to the more brutal Michael Fassbender, playing one of the most vile characters in cinema in recent years whilst still giving the occasional moment of be human.
12 Years a Slave tells an important story and done in a brutal, realist way. It is the most deserving of all the Oscar contenders.