A Necessary Film That'll Test You

Rating: 10/10 (1 December 2013)

As an self-professed cinephile, I followed this film in it's pre-production days and at the least, knew it was going to have potential. The story itself is pretty self explanatory. A man living the perfect life (or as much as a black man can in the 1840's) gets screwed over in the worst way possible and gets sold into slavery. Of course, with a story like that, you need the right director to properly tell it. Enter Steve McQueen, a soon to be known director who before this film, was really known by film critics and fanatics for his some could argue Oscar snubbed work with Michael Fassbender (Shame and Hunger). Also, these groups of people knew exactly what was coming of it if they saw his films as well. With his history of showing the dark realities of the taboo, you knew this was going to be a Tour De Force. Then you watch the movie and everything changes.
When you get into the movie, everything changes. What was once a man living the dream (so to speak) turns into what can best be described as 1800's hell. In that hell comes the story of survival that is 12 Years A Slave and with it comes to the actors and incredible story telling that takes us on a ride that quite simply makes the work of Django Unchained soft and yes I use the word soft.
In this hell, are the participants in the world and each one makes an incredible impression. Chiwetel Ejiofor, who before this was more known for his brief performances in Inside Man and Children of Men, pulled the performance of a lifetime and through the directing, put yourself into the journey of Solomon Northup. Through each lashing, each tear, each moment of survival, you wanted him to live and for that Ejiofor will be marked down for a performance that should be in the ranks of the greats in the past. Then comes the supporting crew around him that wasn't Brad Pitt (who coincidentally was the only good white man in the movie). The brief performances by Paul Giamatti, Paul Dano and even Benedict "Khan" "Julian Assange" "Sherlock Holmes" Cumberbatch were all incredible and with the highlight performance from Michael Fassbender (we'll get to his character later), they helped provide a perfect picture of how white's treated slaves without really pulling any punches (like anyone could anyway since quite simply, the treatments were all accurate). As for the slaves, each one played their part but the highlights come from the actress who played Patsey. As a hardworking slave who had the biggest interactions with Fassbender's character, she knocks it right out of the park. You have no choice but to sympathize for her character and what makes it worse is the ultimate knowledge that she'll never get out unless death follows. Then comes Fassbender and his role of Epps. His character was at the very least complicated and one that despite all the screwed up stuff he does, you somewhat sympathize with him. How is that? Watch his interactions with his wife, Patsey and his facial expressions throughout the film. It really goes beyond the Calvin Candie slave owner and the fact you could possibly sympathize with him (I did and I hated myself for it) shows the incredible job that was done by both McQueen and Fassbemder into making it happen. Then there's the work behind the scenes.
The work behind the scenes in this movie was the most remarkable part of this film. The way Steve McQueen tells the story with the assistance of his film editor and cameraman was nothing short but extraordinary. Each scene had you by the heart and was willing and able to pull it out at anytime and it's all because of them. With the noose scenes, the whippings, and the words spoken, all had an impact and because of it, lead to the amazing film that put every white man into a purgatory of sorts to reflect on this dark period in history. This was all credit to the people behind the scenes and if justice is truly just. They'll all win Oscars in the months ahead.
Overall, no more needs to be explained about the film and it was incredible work done by everyone involved. Saying that, the film is a lot bigger than just an incredible film and in a way, was more necessary than any movie regarding slavery ever. As a white man watching this film, I knew what was coming of it and even though I was prepared, I was tested. It dared me to watch the hell that was presented on screen and take it as a history lesson and because of it, I'm a better person before I entered the movie which comes to the Jerry Springer-esque rant that's coming (Giving you the heads up if you want to turn back now).
One universal truth that is accepted along with gravity and death is that we can never take the past back. What has happened happened and whether we want to change it or not, it's not going to change what was dealt. As for slavery, not until much recently, was a very taboo subject in American History other than just a section admitting that it happened. No one wanted to touch, no one felt entitled touch it, no one respectively had the guts to touch it.A modern take was not only needed, but required in a time of much change in this nation's history. With the death of Trayvon Martin and films released such as Django Unchained and the very liberally biased The Butler, a film really needed to bring the subject matter in the Mel Gibson style light that it deserved. In order to educate, you need an objective, realistic and in this case, a non-American (McQueen is British) look at the material so only the truth is shown. That's exactly what happened.