Raw, Troubling History Lesson That's Worth Seeing Once

Rating: 7/10 (7 March 2014)

A heavy, powerful watch if not in any way an enjoyable one. Similar to Schindler's List in a way, in that it's important material that's well-acted and deeply moving, but also very tough to get through in places. That comparison isn't completely fair, of course. Though Chiwetel Ejiofor serves well in the leading role and Lupita Nyong'o is memorable (if one-note) in support, there is no Liam Neeson-level central performance in this picture and the cast very quickly falls into camps of good and evil with little middle ground. Michael Fassbender fares best as the deeply troubled alcoholic slave-owner Epps, but he's present largely to be despised and as such his character lacks a thorough inspection. The other name actors, shoehorned in as bit roles, only serve to distract. We can slap an Amish beard on Brad Pitt and throw him onto a plantation, but it's still Brad Pitt in those suspenders and there's no getting around that. Well shot and expertly directed, it hammers predictably on the same point from start to finish. This is meaningful, often chilling work, but not something I'm going to feel compelled to revisit in the very near future.