12 Years a Slave

*****
Release Date: January 10th 2014

In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.

Director: Steve McQueen (Shame, Hunger)

Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Lupita Nyong'o, Brad Pitt

12 Years a Slave is a very powerful and moving film, with superb acting coming from many. It's not only emotionally touching but a gripping animosity that contradicts itself by being beautifully shot with raw, gripping imagery.

After being kidnapped in Washington D.C and sold in the slave trade, Solomon Northup (Ejiofor) is passed through three different plantation owners. The first is Benedict Cumberbatch's Ford, who's somewhat calm and warming towards our lead, giving him a violin to play and a kindness that's not expected.

After a run in with Ford's lackey Tibeats (Dano), Solomon is left hanging by his neck, slipping in the mud. This is a guttural long shot that never cuts quite when you think. It's there for us to take in how unpleasant slavery was, and Ejiofor does a grand job portraying it. McQueen has the camera fixated on Solomon so we can take in just exactly how he feels. Other slaves are seen getting on with their business as Solomon struggles to keep himself alive. The depth of fear and sadness stretches far. The juxtaposition of the slaves and Northup is shocking and impossible to comprehend.

The last slave/plantation owner that Solomon works for is Edwin Epps (Fassbender). Epps has a visceral temper that switches from hot to cold from the slightest of annoyances that sees Fassbender topping all personas. Epps believes that he has a strong connection with slave favourite Patsey (Nyong'o) who makes an unbelievable debut. Her character does her best to stay unnoticed, but the actress does so fine a job that makes her the most noticeable.

12 Years a Slave mixes high-spirited moments (Solomon and the other slaves come across Native Americans and watch them dance) with great sadness. Watch as Solomon struggle to keep his emotions from tumbling out and resist singing for the death of slave in the group.

Overview: 12 Years a Slave takes the dramatic edge off Django Unchained by being bolder and having a seriousness that the latter might have played with. Ejiofer, Fassbender and Nyong'o will reap nominations and awards aplenty.