It made me super uncomfortable, but in a good way.

Rating: 9/10 (3 January 2015)

While I'm not familiar with Chiwetel Ejiofor and his past projects, he knocked his role of kidnapped freeman turned slave Solomon Northup straight outta the park. Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Fassbender play their roles as Solomon's masters incredibly as well.
As for the title above, McQueen directs the film in a way that forces you to comprehend the brutality and pain that plantation slaves felt back then, even if there where times where it was hard not to look away the violence that was on-screen.
However it wasn't directed in the way to show the blood and gore just for the sake of there being blood and gore. It had purpose to all of it and it never felt like the director was ever just "throwing stuff in."
In short, the movie was great and it definitely sheds light on some of the horrible, ugly, nasty things that went on back then. 9/10