Monday, November 4, 2013

12 YEARS A SLAVE


Historical Drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Chiwetel Ejiofor: Solomon Northup
Paul Giamatti: slave trader Theophilus Freeman
Benedict Cumberbatch: Baptist preacher and slave owner William Ford
Paul Dano: overseer John Tibeats
Michaael Fassbender: Edwin Epps, cruel plantation owner
Lupita Nyong’o: Patsey, one of the slaves at his plantation
Sarah Paulson: Edwin’s wife Mary
Brad Pitt: Bass, a Canadian carpenter and abolitionist

REVIEW
You might be able to avert your eyes from the horrific scenes of cruelty but you will not be able to block out the sounds of agony. It is agonizing to watch as the camera lingers for what seems forever and all you want is for it to end. We all know that slaves were subjected to harsh working conditions and poor housing and they had to put up with psychological abuse as well. But this movie is the most disturbing one I’ve ever seen about the subject of slavery.

Based on a true story with strong performances from all the cast, Ejiofor in particular, it is riveting albeit it a tad too long at 2 hours and 13 minutes.

At the end as we shuffled out I overheard one woman ask her husband “Why is everyone so quiet?” to which he replied “Probably like me, they are in a state of shock”.

CLASSIFICATION

 for violence, cruelty, some nudity and brief sexuality.