From time to time movies can genuinely inspire you (who didn’t want to be a boxer after watching Rocky?) Other times you’ll laugh and sometimes you’ll cry. But its rare that a movie can resonate with an audience, so powerfully, that you feel ashamed. Not ashamed of your colour, but ashamed and embarrassed about the human condition and how in, no unreserved terms, that humans could treat other humans with no regard for anything, be it life, dignity and basic freedom.
12 Years A Slave is based on Solomon Northup’s true story of how he, a free African American in an antebellum United States, was abducted and sold back into slavery. The life of a slave he had long left behind, after becoming a freeman, successful and wealthy alongside his family. What follows is his story of being sold on from one plantation owner to the next, primarily played by Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Fassbender. Its a harrowing and horrific tale, as Northup is abused violently from one day to the next. The only respite is under the watchful eye of plantation owner, Ford (Cumberbatch). A man who seems to have, as ironic as it seems, a solid sense of morality, treating his slaves with dignity and respect. Edwin Epps on the other hand (Fassbender) is another story altogether. Cruel and brutal, its when Northup ends up on his plantation that 12 Years A Slave really turns things up way past 11.
Steve McQueen is a director that certainly doesn’t shy away from his subject matter. Its all or nothing with McQueen, in all of his films. And while this style is potentially the most accurate recreation of what happened, its also the most difficult to watch. The beatings and lashings that are brought to the big screen are certainly not for the squeamish. Every whip crack you feel and when the whip connects and the blood sprays in a red mist, you’ll wince every single time. The brutality though, is not necessarily in the physical violence, but in the camera itself. McQueen and his camera seems to linger on every single shot a little bit too long. It doesn’t nothing to the flow and pacing of the movie, which is solid and fast moving, but these lingering shots will leave a mark on the mind for days and months to come. And while the ending is quite positive in tone as well as being quite poignant and significant, it can’t undo what you’ve witnessed. No matter how positive or joyous or touching, the brutality and contempt for other human beings here, will leave you incredibly sombre.
Cast Wise, it’s really hard to fault anybody. Bendict Cumberbatch has a great deal of humility in his portrayal of his character. This is on show from his first moments on screen where he attempts to buy a woman as well as her children so they won’t be separated. While audiences should be disgusted at what he does, he is actually quite likeable and conveys great depth to the role. Michael Fassbender better get his tux to the drycleaner for awards seasons. His brutality, violence and insanity is a powerful and raw as the wounds he inflicts on his slaves. This is genuinely his greatest performance to date (and he was phenomenal in Shame) and it is a performance that shows bravery on his behalf as an actor as well as complete and utter conviction for the role. He is completely unreserved and unrelenting here.And he really should start writing some award speeches right about now. Chiwetel Ejiofor is breath taking. He exudes an innocence that is rarely seen on screen these days and the pain he endures is projected in a way that most actors can only aspire to. Words can’t really describe how good Ejiofor is, they really cant. A solid supporting cast (including a relatively brief appearance by Brad Pitt) add to the excellence, especially Lupita Nyong'o who’s performance is altogether heartbreakingly brilliant!
12 Years A Slave is a movie that will have your jaw on the ground time and time again. Its a tough watch at times, but its a movie that will evoke emotions and after thought that you may never have though possible. This is a credit to its cast, director, writers and everybody involved. It’s unrelenting, brutal and absolutely brilliant!
