A great film without a false note

Rating: 9/10 (9 September 2014)

I went into 12 Years A Slave with a lot of reluctance after immensely disliking director Steve McQueen's previous two films, especially Shame which I found reached hysterical heights of such inane drama that I shuttered at the thought of him tackling this subject matter. From the opening until the very last shot, McQueen has a masterful command of his craft and his film doesn't have a false note - he made a great picture. Chiwetel Ejiofor does fine work as an educated man from New York who gets kidnapped and sent down south to be sold into slavery. What he endures over the next 12 years is a degrading nightmare that makes your blood boil at such wretched humanity. Fassbender is a particular standout amongst a strong cast, as a grotesque slave owner who brings many layers to this villainous role that easily could have fallen into a one note archetype in a lesser actor's hands. Pitt shows up in a small role that doesn't require much from him and in what could have been a throwaway day player role, Giamatte makes the most of his slimy character. McQueen never over sells the drama and while scenes show humanity at its worst and most cruel, the film is surprisingly not grueling to sit through. One of the best films of 2013 for sure.