Solomon Northrup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is a free black man in 1841 New
York. A trip to
Washington leads to him being
kidnapped by slavers who try to strip him of his identity as he spends several
years trying to be free and maintain his dignity. He first ends up with the
fair and kind plantation
owner Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch before he ends up with ruthless drunk
plantation owner Epps (Michael Fassbender).
Director Steve McQueen prevents a dramatic portrait
of a
true story based on the autobiography of the same name. It is one of the
most accurate depictions of
slavery in the South before the American Civil War seen through the eyes of a
free black man taken into slavery. It
is an intense portrait of a man trying to survive and maintain hope because he
wants to live for the day when he is free again.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
12 YEARS A SLAVE: A HISTORICAL PORTRAIT- an extensive
two
part documentary that explores the autobiography the movie is based on and what
the actors, director Steve McQueen, and the production brought to the movie
adaptation. Star Chiwetel Ejiofor reads
from sections of the autobiography the movie is based on. Illustrations
from that book and interviews
with the biographer of Solomon Northrup are also included.
THE TEAM- the production team, director Steve
McQueen, and
star Chiwetel Ejiofor discuss the look of the movie
THE SCORE- the director and composer Hans Zimmer
talk about
the score for 12 YEARS A SLAVE
FINAL ANALYSIS: 12
YEARS A SLAVE is one of the most true and accurate portraits of how blacks
lived as slaves in the pre-American Civil War South. It is one of the
most important movies of
the 21st century to chronicle the true tale of a free man turned
into slavery. It is deserving of the
Best Picture Oscar and it is a must see.
The best extra is the making-of documentary.
This review is ©3-7-2014
David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. Send all comments
to feedback@enterline-media.com
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