mzshauna 12 Years A Slave is an remarkable true story that tells the life of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) a free African American who lived in Saratoga, New York with his wife and two children. After he was convinced to travel to Washington for two weeks to work with two musicians who promised him work, he was drugged, chained, beaten, and stripped of his identity. He was then given the name Platt and sold into slavery in the deep south. Throughout his twelve years as a slave, he was owned by two men, Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender) who treated him in diverse ways. Ford was a civil master who treated Solomon with kindness but was forced to sell him to Edwin Apps due to a violent situation that occurred between Solomon and one of the plantation managers who was jealous of his intelligence. This violent situation caused Solomon to live through fair during the remainder of his time as a slave. Considering that this occurred during the pre-civil times in the United States, it is obvious to see that the film is based on slavery along with self-entitlement and self-gain. Justice was wrongly served to Solomon and even though his first master (Ford) was aware of this, he only cared to cover his debts and the investment that he had put into purchasing Solomon as a slave. The film easily maintained a repetitive theme of individuals who understood that what they were doing was wrong, but they did not care to correct it due to society and the current circumstances. A key example of this is shown when Solomon was bribed to travel with two men who promised to pay him for his performance, but instead, they drugged and sold him as a slave. Another film that represents the key elements of this theme is Selma as it also covers the roles of whites, whether it be as slave-owners or segregationist. Selma also focuses on the cruelty and violence against African Americans. Overall, 12 Years A Slave is a great film and the director used great techniques to capture the horror that Solomon Northup encountered as a slave. Two great techniques that were used included the quality of images along with the angles and lighting. An example of this included the candlelight that was illuminating in the dark which resembled a time when Solomon was struggling with his sanity. Great angles were used to capture his emotions and the fear that he felt as he lived his life as a slave. Though Solomon struggled to survive due to the cruelty and hardships that he faced, through faith, and the willpower to survive, he managed to endure his twelve years as a slave.

tgarofal I just re-watched this film, having first seen it when it was originally released. Feeling moved by it, I came to the review page to read other opinions. I feel disappointed to see that many reviews claim that the film depicts the history of slavery and racism inaccurately. The film is based upon the memoir of a free African-American who lived in NY in the 1840s. He was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the deep south. I read the memoir, and the film is true to it, As someone with a degree in US history, I understand that a primary source such as a memoir can be a valuable reflection of a period in time, particularly if it is measured against other primary sources for accuracy. The memoir is legitimate. This film is true to the memoir, and it is also directed with heartfelt, soulful vision. The acting and score make a heartbreaking collaboration.

TheLittleSongbird With many fine actors, a remarkable subject matter and the number of accolades it received, '12 Years a Slave' was watched by me with high expectations.For me, '12 Years a Slave' is not quite as good as the hype and isn't one of my favourite Best Picture winners. It could have been truly extraordinary, but it wasn't quite despite having individual elements that were that adjective. Can see though why it has been so well received, while also seeing where those who didn't like it are coming from in their reservations (though not sharing the vitriolic way they've been expressed by some). It may not be perfect, but from personal opinion, and quite a big number of others, it was tremendously powerful and very brave,'12 Years A Slave' may have some one-sided and conveniently black and white characterisation. It may not say anything new about the subject. Some of the cast, like Paul Giamatti and Benedict Cumberbatch (though they are excellent still), are underused. And Brad Pitt and his dialogue did feel out of place and the dialogue additionally coming over as heavy-handed. On the other hand, to tell the story from the viewpoint of the enslaved was a brave decision in an industry where few films have done it, and it comes over very well on the whole. The treatment of the slaves is not for the faint-hearted, they are shockingly harrowing and not comfortable to watch but they don't feel that gratuitous. There are some emotionally devastating moments, such as the ending and the long shot of Northup singing.Steve McQueen was the right director for the film, a film that needed to be told in a brutal and honest way and being a director with that directing style McQueen brings that out perfectly in a bravura directing job. '12 Years a Slave' is very impressive visually and technically, and Hans Zimmer's score is suitably stirring.John Ridley's script adapts Northup's memoir with tautness, honesty and sincerity, not subtly mind you but it's not a subtle subject. It only falters with Pitt's dialogue. The acting is superb, with Chiwetel Ejiofor's powerfully restrained and sincere performance wholly deserving of its acclaim. Lupita N'Yong'o, very moving, and Michael Fassbender, at his most frightening, are more than up to his level, as are Sarah Paulson and Paul Dano. Overall, extraordinary it isn't but an emotionally impactful film it certainly is. 8/10 Bethany Cox

kiaragilbertcc I believe this movie was done exceptionally well. This movie directed by Steve McQueen was almost perfect at depicting the true story of Solomon Northup acted by Chiwetel Ejiofor. It included vivid and real events such as when Solomon a free man of Upstate New York was recruited by two men who claimed to be circus performers and convinced Northup to travel with them to Washington D.C. where they would earn lots of money. Upon arriving to Washington D.C. the men treat Northup to drinks and dinner where he is drugged, and wakes from his unconscious state to find himself in shackles and chains in a cell. He was delivered by ship to New Orleans. In June he is sold in a slave market where he is known by alias name, Platt Hamilton. He is first sold to a man named Ford. Northup ends up running into trouble with a man named Tibeats who works on Ford's land who envies how strategic and smart Northup. Tibeats ends up getting Northup hung where the look out for the land spots Tibeats and tells him to scram before he shoots him and his friends. Ford ends up finding Northup and cuts him down. The next day he tells Northup that he has created a reputation for himself and was returned to the slave market. He then is sold to a man named Mr. Epps where he serves the rest of his years working on the plantation. This is where my favorite part occurs in which a Canadian man named Mr. Bass tells the Epps that Mr. Solomon is a free man by law and helps him to prove that he is free and returns him back to his family in Saratoga. This movie included great actors to portray as characters from the book 12 Years a Slave.