MOVIE MONDAYS: 12 YEARS A SLAVE
I think for the most part, I was just in utter shock when I watched this movie. The images were so vivid-moving from well lit scenes that were contrasted by the horror that was happening within them to poorly light scenes that only seemed to intensify the emotions of the characters. It is such a great movie! At one point I just couldn't handle it any more and let the tears flow but I could not unsee what I had seen or unhear what I had heard or stop myself imagining what I'd do if I was in the shoes of Solomon or Patsey. And oh, did I mention I saw this film at 11.30 pm? Talk about ways to ruin your chances of having a good night's sleep. But I did not expect anything less as it is after all a Steve McQueen film.
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"Your children will soon be forgotten"
This quote from the film stunned me silly.
12 Years A Slave is based on a true story about a man whose standard of living took a nasty turn one dark night causing his eyes to be pulled wide open to witness the horror that his fellow human being were being subjected to at the time. This hauntingly powerful film that immediately draws you into a world and time so far from ours yet sadly still prevalent in some parts of the world was directed by Steve McQueen (Hunger; Shame) and its screenplay was written by John Ridley (Barbershop (TV series); The Wanda Sykes Show) based on the memoir 'Twelve Years A Slave' penned by Solomon Northup.
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Well, I don't think I have to tell you that the cast and crew for this movie did an amazing job. The amount of nominations and awards won this film got should be a testament to the great work that both cast and crew did to make this film as compelling and powerful as it is. Chiwetel Ejiofor (Love Actually; American Gangsta; Half of A Yellow Sun), in my ever-so-humble opinion, gave such a praiseworthy performance in this film as Solomon Northup- the man whose world changed in the blink of an eye. As did Lupita Nyong'o (Shuga), who portrayed the role of Patsey, and Adepero Oduye (Half Nelson; Pariah), who portrayed the role of Eliza. Solomon, Patsey and Eliza were a few of the many slaves that had been through so much pain that you can do nothing but be affected by their pain and be in awe of their... resilience... strength. Their emotions translated so well on screen that sometimes I felt the echoes of the...pain the characters were experiencing. And boy, does Michael Fassbender (Jane Eyre; Shame; Prometheus) sure know how to pick his roles! He has this ability to completely shrug off any other character he has played and portray another with such ease and skill that you forget it is him altogether. Benedict Cumberbatch(Fifth Estate; War Horse; Star Trek Into The Darkness) takes on the role of a man whose compassion for people sliiiiiiightly shines through the dark world of this movie. I was just glad that I didn't want to throttle Benedict like I did when he was in the Star Trek Into The Darkness or Fifth Estate (I am still yet to blog about this smh). These are just a few characters that seeped into my subconscious as I went to bed that night. Let's just say that that dream was one of the weirdest I've had in a while.
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It seems Steve McQueen has a knack for pushing the boundaries when it comes film-making. Sugar-coating and spelling-out-things does not appear to be his style and I like it. Me thinks he is just bloody brilliant. So, I am hereby classing this film as a must-see by all who are old enough to watch it. It is tough to watch but it is also one of those films that has the... "x-factor" - Ha! Ok, in all seriousness it is a exceptionally well-made film that does sucker punch you with emotional fists repeatedly but is worth sitting through.
What are your thoughts on the film?
Mo
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