With an amazing cast and brutally accurate scenes, 12 Years a Slave is impeccable

Rating: 10/10 (13 August 2018)

12 Years a Slave completely blew me away. Every element of the film is very well done, and I was deeply immersed in Solomon's perspective. The first thing that jumps out is the cast - one of the great all-time casts, with each giving a great performance, particularly Ejiofor, Nyongo, and Fassbender. Ejiofor really connects emotionally with the viewer and his changes as slavery wears on him were visible and devastating. What elevates this movie to another level is McQueen's direction - he clearly shows how slavery is a complex, ingrained structure and the he keeps you immersed in Solomon's life nonstop. While some were bothered by the lack of mention of time passing, I think it reinforces the idea that it feels like it will never end and keeps the viewer dialed in. The brutality of slavery was very evident. Zimmer's score, as always, added to the scene progressions. Between the excellent technical elements and the searing depiction of slavery, this is an all-time great.