12 Years a Slave review
By Alexandra Heilbron on March 4, 2014 | 46 Comments
The Academy Award-winning Best Picture 12 Years a Slave is based on the true story of Solomon Northrup, a free black man who was kidnapped in 1841 during a trip to Washington. He was sold to people who used him for hard labor. During that time, he had to hide the fact that he could read and write, because slaves who were thought to be “uppity” or who considered themselves “better” than their masters, were killed. As it was, Solomon endured many indignities, including torture and beatings during the time he was a slave. He also had to stand by helplessly as female slaves were raped and beaten bloody.
Chiwetel Ejiofor portrays Solomon as an educated and kind gentleman who unfortunately, trusts the wrong people and is sold wrongly into slavery. Despite this, Solomon retains his dignity and humanity, and Ejiofor portrays Solomon in a way that gives great detail to the emotional turmoil he endured. We read Solomon’s pain and suffering clearly on Ejiofor’s face. His work in the film makes it the quality piece of work that audiences have raved about – though the story is horrifying and shocking, it’s Ejiofor who carries us through with strength and courage.
This is not a film that is easy to watch. At the beginning, Solomon is a middle class man with a beautiful home, a wife he’s deeply in love with and well-dressed, well-behaved children. He’s a talented violinist who earns money playing. To watch his confusion as he’s thrown into a slave pen, chained and tortured is shocking. Although we know, because this is based on a true story, that his time as a slave will eventually come to an end, it doesn’t lessen the horror of watching what he has to endure and witness.
The travails of the much-abused slave Patsey, played by Lupita Nyong’o, who won an Academy Award for her work in the film, will haunt you long after the movie is over. Still, this is a movie not to be missed. The beautiful countryside of the American South is gorgeously filmed in stark contrast to the cruelty and suffering that went on there. There are still many people who live as slaves in the world, and this film shows us why, in case anyone was in doubt, this is an evil that all people should speak out against.
The Blu-ray offers a featurette called A Historical Portrait. As well as going behind the scenes of the making of the movie, we are treated to Ejiofor reading from Solomon Northrup’s autobiography, Twelve Years a Slave. It’s somehow chilling to hear Solomon’s own words describing what we’ve just seen on the screen in the movie and it makes what we’ve just witnessed all the more real. In a strange twist, relating to last year’s Best Picture Academy Award nominee, Lincoln, it made me thankful all over again for the U.S. President who managed to put through the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing 3.1 million slaves. Read more about Solomon Northrup by clicking here.
Other movies coming out for home release today include: The Grandmaster, Philomena and Oldboy. ~Alexandra Heilbron
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Haven’t seen this movie but the reviews are amazing and now after seeing the Oscars I really would like to.
I love 12 years a Slave. Such a powerful movie! My favorite part of the Oscars was when Lupita won best supporting actress for her extremely powerful and endearing performance, and well as 12 years beat the seemingly shoe-in “Gravity” for best film!
My daughter told me about this movie 2 weeks or so ago and I wanted to go and see it then. Her advice was to bring tissue. After reading the review I want to see it more than ever!
I really enjoyed this movie! All the actors and actress’s did an excellent job! I deserved the Best Picture! I would love to own the DVD!
very intense! Awesome movie!
It deserved the Best Picture!
An informative and great review.. Have yet to see it but is on my list of movies to watch. I was rotting for “Wolf of Wall Street” but this movie received Best Picture for a reason. Loved the Oscars.. Looking forward to next years.
Lupita Nyong’o’s acceptable speech at the Oscars was beautifully touching and eloquent. Stand out of the night, definitely the most deserving winner.
I was hoping this movie would win. Haven’t seen it yet, but heard so many great reviews. Can’t wait to see it!
And, Lupita’s speech was awesome!
Lupita Nyong’o did one of the best thank-you speechs ever at the Oscar’s. It brought tears to my eye’s! She is a great actress already so early in her career!
I haven’t seen this movie but want to. Lupita’s acceptance speech at the Oscar’s was lovely and heartfelt.
Haven’t seen this movie yet but the reviews make me want to.
I havent seen the movie yet but read the book, it was wonderful.
I thought parts of Lupita’s speech to be beautiful.
Very excited to see this movie.
Wonderful review as well
Haven’t seen the movie but would love to win a copy so I can.
Very powerful movie and a great review.
I just want to say the academy got it right this year 12 years of slave was the most powerful and thought provoking movie of the Congrats!
I thought this movie deserved to win. I loved this show. It took the rest of the day to get past watching it. Need to see it again!!
I love pinks performance of somewhere under the rainbow….. but they should try and trim the broadcast to under 2.5 hours
Lupita was elegant, graceful, and absolutely beautiful at the Oscars! How do I get skin as clear as hers?!
Definitely not an easy film to sit and watch, my heart broke over and over again, seeing the cruelty and abuse these slaves endured. I know for a fact I would never have made a good “master”, I would have wanted to free all the slaves!!!! Excellent movie and well deserving of the Oscars it received.
I have been waiting patiently to see this movie.It looks amazing.I enjoyed the Oscars more this year than in previous years because this time around there was such a sense of fun from all of the stars.From epic selfies to shameless flirting on the red carpet.Everyone was in great spirits and it made the whole evening a lot more enjoyable.
Haven’t seen the movie. I would love to see it though. 😀 Lupita gave an exceptional speech on winning the oscar. I thought her dress was fabulous.
People need to be reminded of the history of slavery and the terrible consequences of racism.
Any movie that strives to tell the truths in history is worth spending time watching!
Looks like a good movie, would love to see the Blu-Ray! 🙂
I have been wanting to see this and now since the oscars, so much more! Sad that slavery is still an issue today.
Powerful, moving, yet gut-wrenching movie. Superb performances from Chiwetel and Lupita.
The best part of the Oscars was seeing Steve McQueen completely ecstatic, jumping for joy after winning Best Picture.
This is a beautiful film. A Tragic story, but it needed to be told. Can’t wait for it to be released on Blu Ray so even more people can see it.
This has to be one of best movies I have ever seen about slavery in the USA.
I haven’t seen it…on my movie bucket list now for sure. My Dad said it was really good, a real tear jerker…
Love to win it. Looks fabulous.
I didn’t see this movie yet but I’ve heard so many amazing critics than couldn’t wait!
I really need to see this movie, Im actually reading the book. I enjoyed Ellen selfie thru the Oscars, how she interacted with the people. Gotta love her
After Lupita Nyong’o Dedication to Patsey, the slave she played with such lacerating empathy and skill. i must have this movie! I give it 5 stars and her speech some it up pretty good:
“When I look down at this golden statue, may it remind me and every little child that no matter where you��re from, your dreams are valid. Thank you.”
Never give up, if you have a dream you can achieve it:)
The movie is one that I loved and despised. It made me cry and want to vomit, however it made me keep watching so I could KNOW.
I would love to win a copy of
12 Years a Slave on Blu-ray.
This is a powerful movie that everyone should watch
because it’s based on a true story.
When i first saw the trailer for this movie
i knew i had to watch it and i am glad i did.
I am happy it received an oscar for Best Picture
and that Lupita Nyong’o won for Best Supporting Actress.
Best part was when Lupita won for best supporting. Also enjoyed the Selfie!! Lol
loved the movie it was awesome it should have won for best actor as well.
This movie deserved to win Best Picture.
This movie was very hard to work but no short of amazing. The review did a great job is describing the movie to it’s core. Great job for your reviewer, Alexandra Heilbron. As for the Oscars ceremony, Lupita Nyong��O speach is very real and powerful. Her speech makes you believe that dream do come true and if you work hard for it, it will happen.
My favourite part of the oscars was John Travolta once again mispronouncing a name. Plus his weird way of saying “wickedly”
Liked the selfie and pizza delivery. Would love to win a copy of this movie
First time I have watched the Oscars, and I would have to say that selfie, was pretty awesome! After reading this review, I definitely would like to check out the movie!
I would love to win this
I just finished the book and words cant explain how wonderful I thought it was.
I thought that Lupita’s speech was beautiful.
The trailer looks amazing and I can NOT wait to have a good movie night and watch this inpiring movie!!
Amazing review, I watched the movie and couldn’t agree more. It was difficult to watch. I was depressed for days afterwards, especially because of Patsey. And for anyone who says it’s about how bad white people are; well white people saved him and many blacks from slavery and it was a white man who had it abolished.
Great review, Alexandra! It was eye-opening to see the anguish that these �slaves�� went through. Before I watched this movie, I knew slavery was painful, it wasn’t right, and they weren’t treated as people, but this really caught my attention. I’m so glad I had the chance to watch this movie, and I hope everyone else does as well. I hated it, but loved it. I was very much hurt by the realization of our past, but it was beautifully done.