The lead is technically English-Nigerian so Spike shouldn't have crap to say. People from the lead's fatherland were slaves in that time period so meh to Spike.
I loved McQueen's Hunger, but I didn't like Shame as much. 12 Years was a very well made movie though. The cinematography was gorgeous in a Terrence Malick style. Also, Chiwetel Ejiofor gave a stunning performance. I felt so much despair and anger at times, and outright happiness too. This was a very intense experience similar to Requiem for a Dream, Irreversible, and Oslo, 31. august.
movie of the year to me... it really puts you in the shoes of Solomon Northup and is one hell of an emotional roller-coaster...... this is a must see, and don't be surprised if it takes home an oscar for best movie Michael Fassbender will take home best supporting actor as well
Just saw it. Disappointed. I was expecting a ton but it's just a good movie, not a great movie. McQueen has done better work in the past. It could have been a bit longer, I just didn't really connect with any one character other than maybe fassbender who was great. I never felt like he was enslaved for 12 years, felt like a couple years to me. I think it missed in a lot of places with potential
And Spike spent the first ten years of his career making exclusively black films, so meh to this whole crappy tangent.
Just saw it, disappointing. I don't get the hype, it was a good movie with good acting but nothing special. Actually found myself bored at times, thought the ending was so anti-climatic considering Spoiler the 1st failed letter attempt and denial. Then at the end this brad pitt yankee shows up and makes the 2nd attempt. Oh okay.
I haven't seen it yet. Think I'll wait until it's on cable. And I'll never get used to the director's name. Mr. Cool, the Steve McQueen, was one of my favorite actors back in the day.
Finally ended up watching this. I really enjoyed it. It didn't feel overly dramatic which added to the power of the story to me. I think it was really well made and definitely worth watching. It gets quite emotional at some parts.
Since this was the thread with the most recent posts... I'm posting here. Saw this recently and thought it was a brilliant film. Definitely deserving if best picture honors and truly one of the better films I've ever seen. Yes, Fassbender was great... But he was outshine by the main actor and Lupita IMO, if just a bit. I do get the criticism that perhaps the movie failed to fully portray how much time had passed... But then you kind of know from, well, the title. My only really criticism was Pitt... His performance just wasn't believable for me. I know he was executive producer on the film. Probably should have stayed there.
I recently saw this online. I think that for the audience to not really realize the passage of time makes the subject matter worse: that Solomon's condition became the 'normal' for him, day after day. After the first shock of 'holy **** I am in chains', we see him adapt to surviving, and the drudgery and monotony of enslavement cut him off from outside markers. It's kind of like if you're dropped down a well and there you are, in the dark, you lose all sense of time after a while. And one day, you get your freedom and 12 years have passed, and you wonder where your real life has gone.
Such a great movie. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/92AmGY8P2po" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> That's such an incredible scene. I totally get that the rest of the movie didn't make it seem like twelve years and I have a feeling that has more to do with producers than McQueen's directing. But that scene right there, to me, tells the story of 12 years. Not a word. Not a particular action. Really awesome work.
Saw this recently as well. Loved it. Fassbender is incredible. It also produced one of my favorite snl sketches: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yyUNOtRTVuc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
