A disturbing Masterpiece.

Rating: 10/10 (11 November 2015)

Once in a while, a film comes along, which is so intense and dramatic in its content, that watching it once is enough in your lifetime. ' 12 years of Slave' directed by Steve Mccqueen, is one such very rare film, it is movies at its disturbing and brutal best. It is that kind of a movie which is brilliant in all aspects, but however it may never make it your list of personal favourite films,just because of the fact that you may never want to see it again,go through that emotionally draining experience again,but as i mentioned at the start, therein lies the film's success, given it is about slavery, which is not meant to be enjoyed at all. '12 years a Slave' is based on the biography of Solomon Northup,who was abducted and sold as a slave, despite being a freeman. The movie illustrates his journey from one plantation to another, his experiences, the characters he meets, his longing to get back to his family. Ejiofor plays Solomon, in what can definitely be the role of his lifetime,and he is excellent throughout.His eyes which truly reflect the horror all around him,gives the movie its emotional weight.He is particularly excellent in scenes in which he does not speak, and there are a whole lot scattered throughout. The plantation owners are Ford (Cumberbatch),who is good at heart, but cannot gift his freedom to Solomon, and Epps (Fassbender),a sadistic and alcholic, a 'nig*** breaker'. Cumberbatch is good as always, but it Fassbender who is extremely menacing throughout, which makes the movie all the more disturbing and terrifying, the movie would never been the same without Fassbender. Lupita Nyong'o as 'Patsy' is good too, Brad Pitt,one of the producers plays a heroic cameo too. Hans Zimmer's musical score and picturesque locations which contrasts with the disturbing scenes, only elevate the film. Do watch ' 12 years a Slave', as Pitt's Bass puts it to Solomon in the film after hearing his story " It is amazing....not in a good way". I double that. Rating:10/10