12 Years a Slave

Name: 12 Years a Slave
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Released: October 18, 2013
Duration: 134 min
Rating: 96
Cast: Alfre Woodard, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Garret Dillahunt

2013

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Universal acclaim based on 57 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 1643 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 1643 Ratings

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12 Years A Slave

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Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: October 18, 2013 | R

Starring: Alfre Woodard, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Garret Dillahunt, Michael Fassbender, Michael K. Williams, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Sarah Paulson

Summary: In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man living in upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.

Director: Steve McQueen

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, History

Rating: R

Runtime: 134 min

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Critic Reviews

100

The Telegraph Tim Robey

Sep 14, 2013

Elicits from McQueen a directing job that's compellingly humble but also majestic, because his radical showmanship is turned to such precise, human purposes. Read full review

100

Joe Walsh

Oct 27, 2016

With 12 Years a Slave, McQueen has not only created his finest work to date, but also a potential modern masterpiece. Read full review

100

Manohla Dargis

Oct 17, 2013

The genius of 12 Years a Slave is its insistence on banal evil, and on terror, that seeped into souls, bound bodies and reaped an enduring, terrible price. Read full review

100

Ty Burr

Oct 24, 2013

12 Years a Slave is to the “peculiar institution” what “Schindler’s List” was to the Holocaust: a work that, finally, asks a mainstream audience to confront the worst of what humanity can do to itself. If there’s no Oskar Schindler here, that’s partly the point. Read full review

100

Mick LaSalle

Oct 31, 2013

12 Years a Slave has some of the awkwardness and inauthenticity of a foreign-made film about the United States. The dialogue of the Washington, D.C., slave traders sounds as if it were written for "Lord of the Rings." White plantation workers speak in standard redneck cliches. And yet the ways in which this film is true are much more important than the ways it's false. Read full review

Dana Stevens

Oct 17, 2013

It’s the unhappiest happy ending I’ve ever seen, a moment that makes you weep not just for this one man who found his way back to freedom, but for all those men and women who never knew it in the first place. Read full review

Ed Gonzalez

Sep 13, 2013

Steve McQueen's film practically treats Solomon Norhtup as passive observer to a litany of horrors that exist primarily for our own education. Read full review

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User Reviews

TheFilmDoctor

Mar 22, 2016

12 Years a Slave, sure to be a heavy hitter when the 2014 Oscar nominations are announced, is a powerful and compelling adaptation of Solomon Northup's autobiographical account of the dozen years he spent as a slave on Louisiana plantations from 1841 until 1853. When it comes to depicting12 Years a Slave, sure to be a heavy hitter when the 2014 Oscar nominations are announced, is a powerful and compelling adaptation of Solomon Northup's autobiographical account of the dozen years he spent as a slave on Louisiana plantations from 1841 until 1853. When it comes to depicting the conditions in which slaves lived and worked, 12 Years a Slave doesn't soft-sell anything. Scenes of brutality are routinely depicted in unflinching shots that skate close to an 18 rated edge.

The screenplay, credited to John Ridley, offers a condensed and slightly reworked history of Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a New York free man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. He toiled on plantations for 12 years, serving under various owners, until he found an ally in a white Canadian carpenter who was willing to take word of his plight north. After being freed, Northup's story was published and sold some 30,000 copies. After being forgotten for about a century, it was rediscovered during the 1960s. Steve McQueen's (Shame) movie isn't the first adaptation - the 1984 TV film Solomon Northup's Odyssey told the story, albeit with the violence and brutality considerably toned down from what is depicted in 12 Years a Slave.

The film offers a formidable indictment of the cruelty of which human beings are capable. Not every white man in the film is vile - Benedict Cumberbatch's Ford and Brad Pitt's Bass are counter-examples - but even the best men are hamstrung by the social and cultural mores of the time. Two people embody the most unpleasant aspects of white men in the South - Tibeats (Paul Dano), a worker on Ford's land, and Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender), a cotton plantation owner. Both perceive blacks as less than human, thereby making their treatment of them justifiable. Epps also uses Biblical verses to validate his occasionally horrific actions. It has been said that the Bible can be used to justify almost any atrocity and this is an example. Epps' view was widely shared throughout the South before, during, and even after the Civil War.

2 Years a Slave is dominated by Chiwetel Ejiofor, whose performance is sure to earn an Oscar nomination. Like Daniel Day Lewis' Lincoln in 2013, this is the one acting turn that rises to the top, emerging as heads-and-shoulders above other worthy contenders. Ejiofor's facial expressions, captured in lingering close-ups by McQueen, display a variety of emotions with such utter conviction that they cut to the quick. Ejiofor is equally good in scenes that depict Northup's comfortable home life before the abduction, his confusion during his early days of captivity, and his stolid determination while suffering under the yoke of oppression. His "Oscar moment" occurs at the very end, in a scene that will bring tears to the eyes of even the most hard-hearted audience member.

As the movie's villain, Michael Fassbender provides an Epps who is not only rotten to the core but unhinged (either by drink, religious fervor, or some kind of mental illness). The character is more frightening than Paul Dano's Tibeats because of his unpredictability and his position of power. The scene in which he commands Northup to whip Patsey (Lupita Nyong'o) is as close to unwatchable as anything represented on film this year. The performances of the principals elevate 12 Years a Slave's already absorbing narrative to a higher level.

However i do have to nit-pick one thing and it has to do with the acting, it relates to some of the smaller roles. Using Paul Giamatti, Alfre Woodard, and Brad Pitt in secondary parts (bordering on extended cameos), it creates "spot the star" moments that are more of a distraction than an asset. While there's nothing wrong with Pitt's portrayal, his larger-than-life presence overwhelms an underdeveloped character. It's not a fatal mistake but it's a questionable choice. The movie is powerful enough to overcome such minor missteps but it shouldn't have to.

Hans Zimmer is often criticized for bombastic scores but his work here hits all the right notes. It's ominous and understated and enhances the tension and grimness of many situations. McQueen also took pains to recreate Civil War-era plantations by using detail from the source material as well as other historical documents to inform period aspects of the film.

12 Years a Slave is unsettling and upsetting as only a story of this sort can be. There are elements of courage and redemption but the lingering impression reminds us of how ugly the dark side of human nature can be. Like movies about Nazi Germany, this film illustrates the horrors that can take root beneath the foundations of economic prosperity and civilization. 12 Years a Slave is by no means light entertainment but it provides a more worthwhile cinematic experience than about 90% of what's out there and the impressions it leaves aren't easily dismissed or dispelled.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

neilhodgkinson

Oct 10, 2015

The best movie I have seen in a while and it is based on a true story. I cannot believe how cruel people can be. Riveting. Another movie that I would buy for my collection.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

LamontRaymond

Oct 18, 2013

Chiwetel Ejiofor is so impressive in this incredibly intense, visceral film. (When it ended, nobody in my theater moved for a period of time, and there was no round of applause mostly, it seemed, because of the shock of it all. Clapping didn’t seem like the right thing to do.) The factChiwetel Ejiofor is so impressive in this incredibly intense, visceral film. (When it ended, nobody in my theater moved for a period of time, and there was no round of applause mostly, it seemed, because of the shock of it all. Clapping didn’t seem like the right thing to do.) The fact that we experience the story from the perspective of a kidnapped free man makes the film instantly relatable. I was so happy to have watched all of Tom Fontana’s excellent “Copper” which features an African American civil war veteran doctor living in New York, and all of his family’s struggles in Five Points. Solomon, a New Yorker kidnapped from Washington DC, could be any of us. The Southern landscape as it likely existed in those days provides such a beautiful-yet- eerie backdrop to this movie. What I particularly appreciate the fact that all the shots are confined you never see very far into the distance. There’s never any perspective on things. When the boat transporting the kidnapped south moves, you see the paddlewheels. On the plantations, you see the three or four acres where the slaves live. You never get any aerial shots, which is so effective in giving you a disoriented, lost feel. Even if Solomon wants to escape, he has no idea where the hell he is, and neither do we. The acting in general is uniformly excellent. Fassbender? Wow. Not since Ralph Fiennes in Schindler’s List has an actor put out so completely for the detestable guy role and to such great effect.… Expand

33 of 48 users found this helpful3315

gamingmachinery

Jul 14, 2020

No review present. No review present. No review present. No review present.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

davyfiore

Feb 27, 2015

So I finally got around to seeing 12 Years a Slave, and now that I've wiped the tears from my face, I can tell you I was a little disappointed!

Don't get me wrong. I'm glad I watched it. I liked certain things about the directing (like the fact that McQueen didn't plaster the movie withSo I finally got around to seeing 12 Years a Slave, and now that I've wiped the tears from my face, I can tell you I was a little disappointed!

Don't get me wrong. I'm glad I watched it. I liked certain things about the directing (like the fact that McQueen didn't plaster the movie with music) but the whole thing, the whole production, struck me as somewhat empty. There weren't those little details that bring a story, and especially a time period, to life. Life in the slave quarters, in particular, was lifeless. You can argue that that's because all the slaves were reduced to zombies, but I think it might be more a lack of imagination on the writer's part. In general I felt that where the source material didn't give any information, the movie-makers failed to fill in the gaps without resorting to cliche. I definitely want to read the autobiography now, though.

In a weird way it was like a melding of Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto (or however you spell it). 12 Years had the lingering sadomasochism of the Passion (Polansky proved you don't need to dwell on torture to make an audience feel it), at the same time it was a rousing survival story like Apocalypto. How can you not root for Platt! Every time he got his hands on some sneering racist villain I cheered! But I was disappointed in the end, because say what you will about Mel Gibson, he knows how to conjure up the weirdness of a different world.

Also, you gotta love how Brad Pitt, who produced the movie, gave himself the best white role.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

DawdlingPoet

Nov 23, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 12 Years A Slave is a historical drama based on a biography/memoir by the main character of the film, Solomon Northup. It covers themes of freedom, property and ownership, plus dignity in the face of adversity, survival and endurance.

It is, understandably, quite a grim watch - there are scenes which are likely to make most people flinch, in which the various slaves are attacked or, alternatively (but effectively the same thing), tortured for daring to step out of line. Its a very sad fact that such activity was ever considered acceptable by people, people of any colour, ethnicity et al. I was aware of the subject matter before watching the film, so I wasn't especially shocked by the heavy content it contained. I feel its important for films covering such dark periods in societies past to be as realistic as possible and not to sugar coat things. I can't claim to be any kind of specific expert in this area historically but I can say that I believe the film to be certainly closely based on the biography of said Mr. Northup published in the 1800s.

I felt it was a pretty emotive watch as well, for obvious reasons. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Mr. Northup and he does a very good job at portraying his character, seeming quite strong willed, yet also visually seeming upset, angry and frustrated at the relevant points in the plot, as you'd expect. I felt he really helped bring his character to life and it was little surprise to me to discover that he was nominated for an Oscar in the best performance by an actor in a leading role category in 2013. I feel it would be difficult not to feel sorry for Solomon and not to admire his determination to fight for his freedom, to believe he'll be able to regain it again.

Also cast is Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Ford - one of the less violent slave owners. He is slightly more compassionate than others and comes across as a quite thoughtful character. Paul Giamatti plays Freeman, Adepero Oduye plays Eliza, another slave who lives alongside Solomon, Bill Camp plays Radburn and Michael Kenneth Williams plays Robert. As well as this, Michael Fassbender plays Edwin Epps, one of the biggest villains. I found his role to be really quite chilling at times. Oh and then there's a little known (ahem) actor called Brad Pitt, who plays a Canadian who comes to help out at Mr. Northup's slave owners residency and who plays an important part in the plot. He comes across as quite understated in this role.

The music used is quite good at intensifying what are clearly quite traumatic scenes, in heightening the sense of potential impending doom. The music is at times operatic in style, although not always.

Content wise, this film contains some offensive language, including, obviously, some racially offensive language (such as the 'N' word which many African Americans were referred to as at the time, in a perjorative sense). There is also, of course, some moderate violence, including bloody violence and torture scenes, which are quite frightening. As well as this, there are sex references, an implied rape scene (although no explicit nudity is shown) and moments of partial nudity present. Due to this, the film carries a 15 rating. According to what I've read online, the content pretty accurately reflects what we believe to have been carried out at the time (no doubt via the memoirs the film is based on), as sad as this is and as such it isn't regarded as being unnecessarily over-the-top, in a Hollywood/exploitation sort of a sense.

The plot pace felt a bit slow at times but then I suppose its important to convey how difficult it was for people like Mr. Northup, to attempt to abandon his slavery status. It isn't what may be called an enjoyable watch, for pretty obvious reasons but it didn't seem to shy away from things and, as I say, I felt that was somehow admirable. The film has a total running time of two hours and a quarter, so it isn't a short but sweet type of film but then neither should it be, I suppose. I do feel like this is a pretty memorable film. It did feel a little long winded but then scenes which maybe didn't specifically add a lot of context to the plot as such, did help towards building a better sense of character development, so I wouldn't really say that it unnecessarily dragged on. I also noticed (and appreciated) some nice, if but brief, shots of pretty sunsets shown at the end of scenes involving Mr. Northup laboring hard at work all day. You could argue that its showing the beauty in a place of such hard work and physical pain, so its a case of highlighting one extreme and then the other in the same area.

Yes I'd recommend this film as being an emotive watch about one mans struggles being caught up in a dark time in society's past. Chiwetel Ejiofor gives a great performance and while I found it to be an understandably hard watch, I felt it was a good film well made.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Reviewer0815

Dec 27, 2020

Very boring movie. It's been given an oscar for the sake of political correctness. I was like: Hey darling, this movie won an oscar, let's watch it. But it was so boring, it has become our new measure of boringness. Also: If you want to force your political doctrine down my throat, at leastVery boring movie. It's been given an oscar for the sake of political correctness. I was like: Hey darling, this movie won an oscar, let's watch it. But it was so boring, it has become our new measure of boringness. Also: If you want to force your political doctrine down my throat, at least make a good movie and bnothis crap.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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