The subject matter made 12 years a slave a very uncomfortable film to watch, although some of the actors gave astonishing performances. Apart from that, it is a very good film, but be prepared to be shocked by some of the violence. This is the true story of solomon northup, who was born and raised as a freeman in new york. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by michael fassbender, as well as unexpected kindnesses, solomon. It will be impossible to ever look at gone with the wind the same way after 12 years a slave, a brutally powerful and emotionally devastating film that takes great pains to rip. It was released on november 1, 20 in the united states. Born a free man in new york, northup was drugged and kidnapped in washington, d. Now, he must find the strength to survive in this unflinching story of hope that earned a golden globe for best picture. Steve mcqueens 12 years a s lave stars chiwetel ejifor as solomon northup, a free black man in 1840s america. He lived the american dream, with a house and a loving family a wife and two kids. He was soon taken with other slaves by ship to new orleans and sold into further slavery.
He eventually came into contact with a canadian abolitionist, who was able to notify his family of his whereabouts. White supremacy remains central to american political life because it is one of the foundations upon which the united states. Jun 01, 2012 in outline, 12 years a slave might sound like an attempt to wring a feelgood movie out of one of historys most feelbad tragedies. Based on the autobiographical narrative 1853 of solomon northup. Oct 24, 20 the new movie 12 years a slave has been receiving high praise critic david denby recently described it in the new yorker as easily the greatest feature film ever made about american slavery. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 first edition with your subscription. In 1841, solomon northup a free black man from new york state. I thought chiwetel ejiofor as solomon northup acted with incredible intensity, as did michael fassbender, who played northups violent and sadistic master, edwin epps. Parents need to know that 12 years a s lave is a harrowing, moving drama based on a book written in the 1850s by solomon northup recounting his experiences as a slave, and it can be difficult to watch.
Twelve years a slave is based on an incredible true story of one mans fight for survival and freedom. Oct 17, 20 12 years a slave, is a harrowing, unforgettable drama that doesnt look away from the reality of slavery. Oct 18, 20 12 years a slave isnt the first movie about slavery in the united states but it may be the one that finally makes it impossible for american cinema to continue to sell the ugly lies. Steve mcqueens devastating new movie, 12 years a s lave, begins with the words based on a true story and ends with a description of what happened to solomon northup and his assailants. The movie won the bafta award and the academy award for best picture as well as the golden globe award for best drama. What happened was a national version of the personal denials shown in 12.
Its far from comfortable viewing, but 12 years a slaves unflinchingly brutal look at american slavery is also brilliant and quite possibly essential cinema. Oct 21, 20 in 12 years a slave, mcqueen offers a wise and empathetic view of the house slave, mistress shaw played by alfre woodard, who has escaped from the slave owners most brutal treatment by. The experience of black people in the uk in the 1970s is examined in guerrilla, a new drama series written by 12 years a s lave screenwriter john ridley. He is shanghaied by a pair of nefarious white men, and soon finds himself on a ship headed to new orleans where he is informed he will be called platt and is sold into. Azie ask a slave and amani united colors of amani just saw 12 years a slave starring chiwetel ejiofor, michael fassbender, benedict cumberbatch, brad pitt, lupita nyongo, and alfrie. The film offers a grimaceinducing retelling of the life of an american man who suffered nearly unspeakable horrors despite being born in the right part of the land of the free and the home of the brave. John ridley screenplay by, solomon northup based on twelve years a slave. He makes his living as a fiddle player, and his wife is a teacher. It doesnt take long before unclothed bodies show up onscreen in 12 years a slave, as male and female canefield laborers must wash together outside in a yard while the world passes by. Chiwetel ejiofor 12 years a slave part 2 from betrayal to acceptance learn how chiwetel ejiofor portrayed an emotional transformation in a pivotal scene from 12 years a slave on this episode of fandango frontrunners. The only thing that lets this film down is the rather odd beginning and the at times lessthanclear dialogue.
In the antebellum united states, solomon northup, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. From director steve mcqueen comes this powerful nominee for nine academy awards, including best picture, based on solomon northups astonishing true story. Oct 16, 20 steve mcqueen, the director of 12 years a slave, narrates a sequence from his film. Its far from comfortable viewing, but 12 years a slave s unflinchingly brutal look at american slavery is also brilliant and quite possibly essential cinema. In 12 years a slave, mcqueen offers a wise and empathetic view of the house slave, mistress shaw played by alfre woodard, who has escaped from the slave. Oct 23, 20 the new movie 12 years a slave is a quintessentially american story. Later, as they sleep en masse in tight quarters, a sexual act occurs, but it is committed more out of desperation for human contact than desire. Steve mcqueen films 12 years a slave on familiar territory.
In the precivil war united states, solomon northup, a free black man living in upstate new york, is abduc. Chiwetel ejiofor 12 years a s lave part 2 from betrayal to acceptance learn how chiwetel ejiofor portrayed an emotional transformation in a pivotal scene from 12 years a slave on this episode of fandango frontrunners. Azie ask a slave and amani united colors of amani just saw 12 years a slave starring chiwetel ejiofor, michael fassbender, benedict cumberbatch, brad pitt, lupita nyongo, and alfrie woodard. This unforgettable memoir was the basis for the academy awardwinning film 12 years a s lave. Aside from the captivating story and tremendous acting, the historical accuracy of slavery during this time is gut retching. In 1841, northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free citizen, is kidnapped, stripped of his identity and sold into slavery. The new york times 1853 coverage of solomon northup, the.
Director steve mcqueens powerful film based on the true story of a man kidnapped and sold into slavery features an allstar cast including chiwetel ejiofor and michael fassbender. Overall, 12 years a s lave is a brave piece of filmmaking and one to last through the ages in terms of acting and storytelling. In 12 years a s lave, solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, kinky boots, dirty pretty things is a free man living in new york until hes kidnapped and sold in louisiana as a slave. Director steve mcqueens acclaimed new film, 12 years a slave, is a hollywood watershed. Leah lewis, star of new netflix movie the half of it, shares which legendary.
Oct 17, 20 steve mcqueens devastating new movie, 12 years a slave, begins with the words based on a true story and ends with a description of what happened to solomon northup and his assailants. Jan 06, 2014 12 years a slave is easily the most impressive movie that steve mcqueen has made yet, but that doesnt necessarily mean i like or admire it any more than i did his first two features. The best movies and tv shows, plus weekly new releases. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by michael fassbender, as well as unexpected kindnesses, solomon struggles not only to. It continued because people got used to it and compartmentalized it. Rent 12 years a slave 20 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix.
Anatomy of a scene 12 years a slave the new york times. This is part of a new series called vintage headlines, an examination of notable news from years past. With chiwetel ejiofor, michael kenneth williams, michael fassbender, brad pitt. The true story of solomon northup, shanghaied from his family. In the precivil war united states, solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. Having said all of that, 12 years a s lave was a far, far better movie than the passion at least it touched upon the main plot points of the memoirs of solomon northrup. Director steve mcqueen and actor chiwetel ejiofor on 12 years a slave solomon northup was born a free man and lived the life of a respected musician until 1841, when he was kidnapped. It shows up the plantation scenes of gone with the wind for the sentimental kitsch that they are. Rentals include 30 days to start watching this video and 48 hours to finish once started. Based on a true story, 12 years a slave depicts the journey of a free black man in the 1840s that is kidnapped and sold into southern slavery. The film follows the experience of solomon northup ejiofor, an african american living with a wife and two children in saratoga, new york, who is kidnapped and. It is an excellent example of the best type of cinematic naturalism, delivering characters to care about in an intricate and layered plot that offers much more to think about than whatever superficial slop oprahs. Part of this movies achievement is its subtlety in dramatizing slaverys insidiousness. For 12 years, violinist solomon northup toiled as a slave.
Oct 18, 20 azie ask a slave and amani united colors of amani just saw 12 years a slave starring chiwetel ejiofor, michael fassbender, benedict cumberbatch, brad pitt, lupita nyongo, and alfrie woodard. Oct 07, 20 12 years a slave shows us a man as he comes to slavery in its most brutal form, how he struggles, chokes and breaks, and, facing a bearded, biblethumping monster similar to frollo in the hunchback of notre dame, flinches in pain and does not submit. It stars chiwetel ejiofor, michael fassbender, benedict cumberbatch, paul giamatti, and brad pitt. In outline, 12 years a slave might sound like an attempt to wring a feelgood movie out of one of historys most feelbad tragedies.
In the precivil war united states, solomon northup, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. Then one day he was drugged, kidnapped, and sold into slavery in the deep. Kenyan actress lupita nyong o made her feature film debut in 12 years a slave, and she won the oscar for best supporting actress for her portrayal of patsey. Steve mcqueen, the british video artist who made hunger and shame, spares his audience little. The new movie 12 years a slave has been receiving high praise critic david denby recently described it in the new yorker as easily the greatest. The movie offers an unflinching portrayal of slavery in the united s. Teacher 12 years a slave 12 years a slave is a narrative of solomon northups life story who was a free black man turned into slave after he was kidnapped in the south.
Slavery didnt persist for decades because every living free man and woman in the united states was an irredeemably evil person. Oct 18, 20 a year ago in this precise spot a small clearing with a giant live oak at its center was where mcqueen filmed a critical scene in 12 years a slave. It will be impossible to ever look at gone with the wind the same way after 12 years a s lave, a brutally powerful and emotionally devastating film that takes great pains to rip. Dec 07, 2017 having said all of that, 12 years a slave was a far, far better movie than the passion at least it touched upon the main plot points of the memoirs of solomon northrup. As a profession, solomon northup was a violin player who was asked by con men to play fiddle in a circus with a lucrative offer. The film was first shown at the telluride film festival on. Oct 17, 20 12 years a slave starts its true story in 1841 when solomon northup british actor chiwetel ejiofor, a violin player living free in new york with his wife and children, gets tricked into a job in. Northup was put to work on plantations in the state of louisiana for 12.
White plantation workers speak in standard redneck cliches. Hes owned by masters relatively kind benedict cumberbatch and harrowingly brutal michael fassbender, but even under the best conditions, the movie never loses. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by michael fassbender, as well as unexpected kindnesses, solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. Subjected to the cruelty of one malevolent owner michael fassbender, he also finds unexpected kindness from another, as he struggles continually to survive. Oct 29, 20 12 years a slave is the most important movie of the year. I also have to say that the acting in 12 years was first rate as were the set designs, costuming, etc.
It is one of the most important of the slave narratives because it was published shortly after harriet beecher stowes immensely popular and influential. Chiwetel ejiofor stars as solomon northup, the new york state. In large part, 12 years a slave is an argument about american slavery that, in image after image, both reveals it as a system signified in one scene by the sights and ominous, mechanical. Written by john ridley and directed by steve mcqueen, 12 years a s lave, based on the book by solomon northrup, deposits us into slavery in the 19th centurys american south. The morning after a night of fine dining and wining with the pair. To hear some tell it, perhaps hyperbolically but with real conviction, 12 years a slave may be the definitive cinematic treatment of american slavery. Its far from comfortable viewing, but 12 years a s laves unflinchingly brutal look at american slavery is also brilliant and quite possibly essential cinema.
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