THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
There are stories that are impossible to believe until witnessing onscreen and it's no exception with this.
PLOT
12 Years a Slave follows Solomon Northup, a free African American from New York in 1841, who is abducted and sold into slavery. Shipped to New Orleans, Louisiana, he is given the slave name 'Platt' and is sold by plantation owner William Ford. Ford takes a liking to him during his time. The now named Platt is eventually sold to Edwin Epps when disputing with one of the carpenters. Unlike Ford, Epps is downright sadistic. He favors one of his slaves Patsey and rapes her constantly. Jealous, his wife Mary would humiliate/abuse her whenever. One season, Edwin leaves his slaves to a neighboring plantation, due to his crops being destroyed by cotton worms. When returning, Platt offers his money to a white overseer, Armsby (Garret Dillahunt), to send a letter to his friends in New York. He agrees to do so, but betrays him instantly to Epps. He is able to keep his cover by lying to Epps of the letter, as he also burns the letter to avoid it from being found. Some time later, Patsey is punished for acquiring soap from another neighboring plantation owner. Edwin forces Platt to whip her, until he steps in and he does so to her to the point of near death. Platt tells his story to Canadian laborer Samuel Bass, who is openly disgusted of how Edwin is to his slaves. He agrees to take an embarking risk by sending the letter. One day, a Sheriff asks him questions that match up he is indeed Solomon. Northup recognizes his friend Mr. Parker (Rob Steinberg), and he hugs Patsey goodbye before he goes. The film ends with the free man as he reunites with his family, and being introduced to his grandson named after him. The epilogue reveals that his abductors avoided prosecution and that there are no details of his death and burial.
THOUGHTS
When it comes to a movie about slavery, it is bound to be uncomfortable to get through, so this movie is again no exception. My fear of being uncomfortable temporarily delayed my decision to check this out. I changed my mind in the end because I needed to be reminded that this was the worst period in our history. Director Steve McQueen and Writer John Ridley present the most shocking journey that had actually happened all those years ago. This is tragic because these things happened long ago and it's infuriating because it can't be undone. Every moment that we see Northup go through is downright disturbing and it is incredible knowing that he survived. From being whipped with a wooden paddle until it broke, to being hung as other slaves go about their day, are moments that are difficult to get through. I also think that Hans Zimmer’s score is able to accurately set the tone of how unsettling this era was. In his Oscar nominated performance, Chiwetel Ejiofor is able to reflect every moment of trial and tribulation that Northup went through and that he never gave up on hope of coming home. I was relieved that the debuting Lupita N'yongo would win for her supporting role of Patsey, because her journey filled of nothing but pain is more difficult to witness since she doesn't have a chance to escape like Northup. So, when he hugs her it is heartbreaking because she has to continue to live on as a slave. When to comes to William Ford, I am not sure how to feel about him. We see that he is uncomfortable of buying slaves when he purchases Solomon/Platt, but you don't know if he had felt like this with every slave he had purchased in his lifetime. However, you feel relief that he is kind to Northup before he goes through hell with the Epps plantation. Benedict Cumberbacth basically portrays him as a neutral figure, where he chooses to make the most of the surroundings he's not comfortable with. I honestly enjoy seeing Brad Pitt in any movie, and it is a relief that his character Bass takes the letter, but the fact that he is white can be arguably be a 'white savior' moment. However, this moment feels justified because what matters is that Northup goes home. In this period, carpenters can be worse than the owners and whenever Paul Dano appeared as the cunning Tibeats, you're reminded just that. Besides Django Unchained, it honestly felt good seeing a slave beat up a carpenter, as Solomon did to him. I am not sure if it was really worth it, but at least once he got to defend himself. Last but not least, Sarah Paulson and Michael Fassbender, the latter who received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination, were on par playing the Epps couple as two of the most frightening plantation owners you'll ever see onscreen. You never know where it will go when they're in the room, which makes them unpredictable, and being unpredictable in their era . Overall, 12 Years a Slave has grown to be an important film because it shows an incredible journey no one would believe until witnessing, a deserving Best Picture Winner in the process. If you were able to get through history films like Schindler's List and The Pianist, than good luck with this one as well.
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