A Brutally Realistic Piece

Rating: 7/10 (16 March 2014)

McQueen has, in my opinion, done a great service to the world in delivering '12 Years a Slave' to the big screen. It offers a quality which other films shy away from or never truly live up to; the harshness and brutality of the real world.
Where genre classics 'Roots' or 'Amistad' fell, '12 Years a Slave' picks up the pieces, forcing audiences to watch a disgustingly harsh and horrifyingly true two hours of rape, kidnapping and merciless punishment - a very real depiction of the slave trade.
The emotion McQueen is able to capture through uncomfortably extended shots is unmatched and, although a little too awkward for more passive viewers, highly appealing to the veteran movie guru.
If you're searching for the film to watch that will show you to the extreme the true conditions of the slave trade, without much hand- holding, '12 Years a Slave' will blow you away. However, I would not recommend this for the average passive viewer as some scenes may disturb you, beyond the point of appreciation.