12 Years A Slave (2013)

Director: Steve McQueen
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Adepero Oduye, Brad Pitt, Paul Giamatti, Liza J. Bennett, Sarah Paulson
Certificate: 15
Genre: Drama
Awards: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Nyong'o), Best adapted screenplay

12 Years A Slave is by far one of the most powerful films of 2013. It tells the tale of Solomon Northup (Ejiofor), a free black man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery during the 1840s. As he spends more and more time as a slave, the less hope he has of getting back to his family.

As a slavery film, 12 years A Slave really has no equal. The sheer brutality of the time is put first and foremost. Whippings, rape and lynching are all prominent throughout the film and go on for an uncomfortably long time. A scene where Solomon is hung on a tree while everybody else just goes about their business is excruciating to watch.

Chiwetel Ejiofor carries the film as we see through his eyes. We feel his pain and his suffering which makes the climax extremely emotional. But there are many great performances to rival our main character. Cumberbatch's "nice" slave owner, Ford, may only be in the film briefly, but his character is becoming the most talked about as people debate on whether he was a villain or not, seeing as he still kept slaves. Brad Pitt makes a small appearance as a man who despises slavery. His speech on how it is all wrong does seem quite redundant as it comes almost at the end of the film. We've already been shown how bad it was, there is no reason to preach it too.

The main villains are all portrayed well too. Dano appears as one of Ford's employees who really takes a disliking of Solomon's intellect. Both of the slave owners' wives are also nothing but dislikable. Mistress Ford (Bennett) is detested for her ignorance while Mistress Epps (Paulson) is perhaps even worse than her husband with her absolute hate of some of the slaves.

The film, however, belongs to Michael Fassbender as Epps. His violent nature can turn at any time. He is the most startling character, the one you want to go away but of course he won't because, like Solomon, you are stuck with him.

12 Years A Slave is a modern classic but also a gruelling, harrowing film. Of the Oscar contenders I have seen, this is the most deserving and I hope it does go on to win best picture and the acting awards. This is a film to watch, if you can stomach it...

*****Brilliant