12 Years a Slave (2013)

Based on an incredible true story of one man's fight for survival and freedom. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty, as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon's chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist will forever alter his life.

Director: Steve McQueen
Writers: John Ridley, Solomon Northup
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Garret Dillahunt, Paul Giamatti
Producer: Brad Pitt

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Blu-ray reviews

Review

Review by Brian Orndorf, October 31, 2013

7 / 10

After battling convention with his uncompromising work on “Hunger” and “Shame,” director Steve McQueen travels down a familiar path with “12 Years a Slave.” Harrowing, brutal, and heartbreaking, this tale of abduction and subjugation is brimming with powerful imagery, making the audience feel every last lash that’s cracked across the back of the lead character. It’s powerful work, but it also has a fatiguing concentration on suffering, lingering on torture instead of studying it for the greater thematic good. Rich with details, “12 Years a Slave” is an accomplished effort, yet McQueen is distr ...read more...