Great, compelling, emotional movie.

Rating: 9/10 (3 February 2014)

Great, compelling, emotional movie. Quite brutal, and honestly so, in its depiction of the mid-1850s US slave trade, and the lives of slaves. Unflinchingly portrays the injustices and inhumanity involved.
Central plot is interesting. More than the story of Solomon Northup, the movie illuminates slavery and the divide in the US at the time.
Superb performances all round, particularly by Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup and Michael Fassbender as Edwin Epps, the volatile plantation owner. Good support from a cast that includes Michael K Williams, of Boardwalk Empire fame, albeit briefly.
Brad Pitt, who is one of the producers of the movie, also makes an appearance, in a role with not that much screen time, but great impact.