"12 Years a Slave" Review

Last year, the Quentin Tarantino film Django Unchained premiered. While the screenplay was smart,  the action was entertaining, and the acting was top notch, it teetered on the edge of absurdity. It dealt with sensitive subject matter, yet chose to instead market itself as a classic spaghetti western. Though there's nothing with that, it had potential to be so much more than what it turned out to be. 12 Years a Slave tackles the material head on, and for doing so, it becomes a gritty, human picture with a dark sense of realism.

In 12 Years a Slave, Solomon Northup is a free African American living in the north in the year 1841. When he takes a job playing the fiddle in touring company, he is drugged, kidnapped, and sold into slavery despite his protests. Under the new name "Platt," he spends 12 years in slavery on a handful of different plantations, witnessing unspeakable horrors, and hanging on to the hope that one day he will be reunited with his family in Saratoga.

Rather than try to water down the horrors that American slavery is known for, the film takes the road less travelled. It shows you the horrors onscreen, rather than just showing implications. While it may be hard to watch at times, it has a sense of authenticity that most films of this type don't usually have. It was filmed on actual plantations, some near where the real life Solomon Northup was kept in captivity. The costumes are painstakingly recreated to look as though they have been pulled out of a museum. The accents are beautifully constructed, so well, you would hardly be able to tell that half the cast is actually British instead of American Southern.

The narrative is pieced together masterfully, utilizing flash-forwards and splice cutting of the action leading up to big reveals. I am not familiar with the story, nor have I read Northup's autobiography, so I can't attest to how closely it adheres to the source material, nor can I verify that it has truly earned the right to say "This film is based on a true story." However, for what it presents itself as, it relates a truly harrowing tale that reels you in and makes you hope for our protagonist.

Chiwetel Ejiofor plays our hero, Solomon Northup. He has a sense of confidence combined with his lingering spirit of rebellion, and an unhindering determination that makes us identify with him, and hope that he will be reunited with his family in the end. That being said, he also conveys a sense of emotion and sensitivity that feels true to one in his situation that makes him that much more human. He endures this cruelty without giving up hope and keeps his head up high. There are rumors persisting that he is in negotiations for a role in the next Star Wars movie, and if that is true, I am excited to see where he takes the franchise.

Michael Fassbender portrays Edwin Epps, the films main antagonist. Whereas in the past, Fassbender has played charming, suave, sophisticated men (or androids), here he plays a nasty, vile, all-around despicable slave master who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. All the better for it. Because, yes, we do hate his character, but that only means that Fassbender is doing his job right. A compelling villain will make you cringe at the very sight of him, and have you wish the worst on him in the end. Fassbender goes above and beyond to create a truly evil human being.

Andrew's Standout for this film, (and I never really thought i'd say this) is Benedict Cumberbatch who portrays William Ford, the first master to Solomon Northup. Similar to Fassbender, Cumberbatch goes against his usual type. In contrast to the sly, brooding antagonists that American audiences have come to identify him as, here he plays a kinder man who treats his slaves with respect. That's what makes him interesting. For what he is, a slaver, it's rather difficult to hate him. He is as likable as anyone in his profession can possibly be. He is genuinely caring for Solomon, even rewards him, and shields him from vengeful overseers. For that, he truly captures you attention.

I have gotten to the point where I can sometimes pick out who the composer is without knowing beforehand. When I heard the similar gentle tones that I recognized from Inception, I immediately knew that Hans Zimmer was in front of his orchestra. He composes a lovely, mood setting score that seems almost as masterful as the film itself.

I would check out this movie, its a masterful picture with brilliant acting, and a meticulous attention to detail that boosts itself to new heights. It will no doubt be a major topic around Oscar time, and seeing the film would be a great boon to you.

A