You are not ready for this movie. I went into this movie being prepared for it's subject matter and I still was not ready. I left the theater stunned. I remember walking home from the train station (a solid two miles from my house) just to be alone with my thoughts. Even when I got home I shuffled off to bed, short with my roommates.
12 Years A Slave is a movie based on the memoir of Solomon Northup. Solomon is a black man who is kidnapped in 1841 America and is sold into slavery. For 12 years he sees the ugly side of America. A place for freedom for everyone but those with darker skin. He witnesses the hypocrisy of god fearing people who use the bible to justify owning and brutalizing slaves. This is where the movie shows why it is Rated R. Humans are stripped of clothing and inspected like cattle. One particular scene I will never forget until the day I die will be a particularly brutal whipping scene. I remember the whipping scene in Passion of the Christ where Jesus is whipped with the metal hook thing and ribbons of his flesh are ripped off of his body. The whipping scene in this movie is 100% more brutal than that. During the scene the mixed crowd I saw this with were gasping. I am not going to spoil the movie but the actual book that the movie is based on is public domain and can be downloaded from various websites.
As of right now this is my Best Picture movie. This movie has a lot of Oscar buzz and it is definitely earned. As of right now he should get Best Actor. This movie premiered at Telluride and received universal acclaim from critics and audiences. Chiwetel Ejiofor turned in a perfect performance as Soloman Northup. Michael Fassbender is monstrous as Edwin Epps, a cruel plantation owner. The other stand out role belongs to Lupita Nyong'o, a Kenyan actress making her first North American film debut. These three should earn gold statues this March. This movie is directed by Steve McQueen and there aren't words for his work. If there is any justice in the world McQueen will also get some gold in March. The movie was written by John Ridley who also wrote Red Tails, U Turn, Three Kings and Undercover Brother. He also has written comic books for Wildstorm, an imprint of DC Comics. His TV work is equally impressive writing for Fresh Prince, Martin, Static Shock (the cartoon), Justice League (the cartoon) and Barbershop the TV series. I mention all this because it seems that Ridley has tastes equal to my own and might be what we call a black nerd.
I believe everyone should see this movie or everyone that can get into a R Rated movie. This movie will evoke some strong feelings in you regardless of race.
