Gripping Tale Told For The nth Time. ♦ 61%

Rating: 6/10 (1 March 2014)

And this is why I did not like Oldboy's remake in the first place. Not that 12 Years A Slave is anyway applicable as a remake, but I do not understand why a simple predictable story comes as a brilliant epitome of cinematic masterpiece to everyone.
Chiwetel Ejiofor is marvelous as the main protagonist and chances are he may sweep the Oscar. So he is kidnapped and sold as a slave is a heart- wrenching story. His antebellum days of slavery reminded me of Django Unchained's & The Help's setup, which in turn oozed out the newness from it. I have read, watched all about the blacks-whites discrimination, but setting your story (which is a true story, for Chrissakes) and retelling it is quite mainstream.
Maybe the fuss is about the score, which is mind you, amazing by Hans Zimmer. Michael Fassbender is charming, as well. Steve McQueen's direction is terrific, all right. But cinematography like zooming into people's noses just won;t catch my fancy. The 2 hours was never boring and thus, a humble 6.1/10. And it was quite emotional to feel the characters' pain. A fine work, anyway.
BOTTOM LINE: Term it a masterpiece? No. That won't come from me. It may sweep few Oscars for the costume, the setup, the performances, but as a film, it does not ring a bell in my critical point of view. Because I am tired of this setup and retelling of them antebellum/slavery days.
Can be watched with a typical Indian family? NO
Nudity: Critical | Violence: Infinity | Gore: Mediocre