Steve McQueen's Twelve Years A Slave

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

I just watched the film last night for the first time and boy did it hit an emotional spot in me, this film was just spectacular the settings, the performances were all top notch. This film had to be one of the best of the year for me hands down, I truly believe everyone in this country should watch this film, not only for educational purposes on our heritage but also because it's just a phenomenal film.

I give it a 9.5/10-the only small half a point I take off is for them casting Brad Pitt in that role of Bass at the end, it almost completely took me out of the film entirely.

 

[gwynplaine]

Amazing Film.

 

[chamber-music]

CNN's Zain Asher gets emotional reporting on Brother Chiwetel Ejiofor's Oscars nomination

[YT]/XFm0uU6F024[/YT]

 

[Warhammer]

It is fantastic that Chiwetel Ejiofor is finally getting the buzz he deserves. He's been in the game for a long time. I hope he wins the Oscar in this film because it's been a while since I've seen such superb non-verbal acting.

As for the film, the whipping scenes were hard to watch but powerful. This film was phenomenal. The only complaint I have are McQueen's necessarily long scenic shots between scenes. I didn't really catch on to it before my friend pointed it out to me. Other than that, superb film and superb acting. I'd be happy if it won Best Picture because it definitely deserves the nomination.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I've always loved McQueen's long takes. It just makes you absorb the feel of the setting and shot so much more. I mean when he's hanging by the tree and we just watch him hang there. There is no way we can know what he is going through or feeling, but for that take, even if it's just for a moment, that's the window that makes it the closest thing we can ever get to feeling that.

 

[Warhammer]

I loved that scene as well as the long shot of Ejiofor's face 3/4ths into the film. What I meant were those scenes of the moon or the sunset. It's like 12 seconds of time being wasted. It's a little nitpicky, but they are the only flaws of the film I saw.

 

[Dr. Evil]

Anyone see the latest trailer?

It's basically snippets of the film with the famous "I Have a Dream Speech" playing in lieu of music.

 

[antonydelfini]

Watched this a few days ago. A modern classic (along with Gravity and TWOWS). 9.5/10

 

[Dr. Evil]

Marvel needs to cast Ejiofor as Black Panther.

 

[redhawk23]

I just watched the film last night for the first time and boy did it hit an emotional spot in me, this film was just spectacular the settings, the performances were all top notch. This film had to be one of the best of the year for me hands down, I truly believe everyone in this country should watch this film, not only for educational purposes on our heritage but also because it's just a phenomenal film.

I give it a 9.5/10-the only small half a point I take off is for them casting Brad Pitt in that role of Bass at the end, it almost completely took me out of the film entirely.

He was awful in this film. Who knew Canadian expatriates sounded like Lt. Aldo Raine?

 

[hopefuldreamer]

I loved that scene as well as the long shot of Ejiofor's face 3/4ths into the film. What I meant were those scenes of the moon or the sunset. It's like 12 seconds of time being wasted. It's a little nitpicky, but they are the only flaws of the film I saw.

I actually love stuff like that, and for me, in a film in which there is so much horror, it is good to highlight something beautiful on occasion so that you don't get totally bogged down by the films intensity.

And beyond that, it literally says something to me - that the world is a beautiful place, and even in the depths of some of the worst of human cruelty, it still remains that beautiful.

I don't think the film would have had such a profound effect on me if all the focus in terms of setting was just on dark and dank places. It was the inclusion of nature in that almost delicate way, that made everything so affecting.

 

[redhawk23]

^ So many of the landscapes of this film were actually quite beautiful and lush...which made for a terrible contrast particularly during the hanging scene. You could practically feel the humidity and the pollen.

 

[Warhammer]

I actually love stuff like that, and for me, in a film in which there is so much horror, it is good to highlight something beautiful on occasion so that you don't get totally bogged down by the films intensity.

And beyond that, it literally says something to me - that the world is a beautiful place, and even in the depths of some of the worst of human cruelty, it still remains that beautiful.

I don't think the film would have had such a profound effect on me if all the focus in terms of setting was just on dark and dank places. It was the inclusion of nature in that almost delicate way, that made everything so affecting.

Hmmm, that's an interesting way of looking at it.

 

[redhawk23]

So, how about this film TYING with Gravity for the Producer Guild's equivalent to best picture. Apparently this has never happened before.

 

[Hyde]

Nope it hasn't. I'd say it's a 50/50 chance that either this or Gravity will win Best Picture, and IMO the scale is tipping in 12 Years' favour.

 

[redhawk23]

Both I could fully get behind, same with the directors for each, though I'd like to see Curon win for Gravity.

 

[Hyde]

There's a small chance McQueen could bag Best Director but I think Cuaron is locked for that. He deserves it more too

 

[Dr. Evil]

McQueen is a producer on the film, so there's a better chance of him getting Best Picture than Best Director.

 

[LordofhouseEl]

I give it a 9.5/10-the only small half a point I take off is for them casting Brad Pitt in that role of Bass at the end, it almost completely took me out of the film entirely.

Your not the first person I have heard say that about Brad Pitt, I thought his part was good. Loved the hell out if this movie it's absolutely amazing and touches me emotionally.

 

[LordofhouseEl]

He was awful in this film. Who knew Canadian expatriates sounded like Lt. Aldo Raine?

He had been travelling for 20 yrs surely his accent would have changed slightly. Not saying it was plausible but he could have picked up a change in accents from his travels.

 

[Bruce Malone]

He had been travelling for 20 yrs surely his accent would have changed slightly. Not saying it was plausible but he could have picked up a change in accents from his travels.

True but still a weird choice by Pitt especially seeing as his character was based on a real person. He would have had to start his travels pretty young for his accent to change so fully.

 

[Poni_Boy]

I don't think it's so implausible. We're talking about a timeframe where traveling from Canada to the deep south would have taken weeks or even months especially since we was working along the way. I know my accent changes after only a few weeks in one place. It helps to fit in when you don't fight it. But regardless, I liked him in the film. It was a role they had trouble casting so he said "I'll do it" more as a favor than anything else.

 

[Hyde]

Found out recently that my mum's friend's son (yeah yeah yeah I know) used to be best friends with Chiwetel back when they went to film school together and still talk a bit. The family friend even met him a few times, and apparently he's a really nice guy.

Everyone calls him Chewie

 

[ShadowBoxer]

I saw this last November it's an amazing film but I simply can't watch it again. It just drains you emotionally it makes you sad, angry, depressed and even at the end makes you slightly relived but still bummed. It hits even harder for me as I am African American. It's not as brutal or as violent as some would have you to believe, but it's brutal in the sense if seeing how slaves were treated and lived. The girl that fassbenders character was obbssed over was so heartbreaking. It's sad we got no resolution for her characters arch. But still this is a amazing film and deserves all the oscar nods it's been getting.

 

[Lencho01]

This is pretty cool...

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/12-years-a-slave-solomon-683174

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/12-years-a-slave-portraits-683439

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/12-years-a-slaves-steve-683609