12 Years a Slave

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Fer S I do not understand the point of this movie. It does not do a good job at teaching history. I feel it is just 2 hours of trying to to make the audience uncomfortable and it does not do a good job at that either. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/25 Full Review Kevin P This movie left me speechless. It’s the kind of movie that is amazing in every way, but you never want to watch again. It’s that effective with its emotional brutality. It doesn’t shy away from the sheer horrors of American slavery. It shows you how slavery can strip away even the tiniest perks of everyday life that we take for granted. How nearly each and every moment in this inhumane lifestyle is teetering on the edge of brutality. Your livelihood in the hands of someone else. Someone who is delusional and drunk with power. Solomon Northup is such a compelling protagonist that goes through such turmoil as he is stripped of his freeman status and essentially kidnapped into slavery. It really puts things into perspective with the stark contrast between his normal residential family life and the psychotic abusive unnatural state of slavery. It really hammers home how psychotic the concept of slavery really is. Scenes of businessmen displaying and selling human beings like they’re nothing but sentient farm equipment. It’s massively disturbing, especially with just how damn casual and normalized the white people are about the situation all while you have people screaming and begging for mercy right behind their ears. Not to hear even a wince of regret. The actors are all amazing and are doing their absolute best to bring this true story to life. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, and Lupita Nyong’o are the standout performances and really sell the emotional core of the movie. The sweeping score by Hans Zimmer and the hauntingly gorgeous cinematography elevate an already amazing movie even further into greatness. Despite all its vicious brutality, there is still an undercurrent of humanity and hope that flows throughout the narrative and eventually culminates in the satisfyingly heart wrenching resolution of the movie when Solomon is finally freed. His rescue is so bittersweet as he has to leave Patsy behind, only to finally reunite with his long-lost family that welcome him home in open arms back to the home he was taken from for 12 excruciating years. It’s a heart wrenching ending where Solomon can finally brush off the heavy emotional burdens of his enslavement and relish in the freedom and comfort of his old family. It’s tragic that he missed 12 years of his children’s childhood. They look so different by the end of the movie. Yet they still remember him and welcome him home in open arms. The movie sticks with you like a molten wad of gum caught in your hair. 12 Years a Slave opens a window wide open to the harsh reality of slavery and forces you into their shoes for over 2 hours. It drags out with little levity, and it really solidifies your perspective and lingers in your mind well after the movie is over. It’s the kind of important historical movie that I believe every white person in America should see at least once in their lifetime. One that will stand the test of time and will continue to remind us of the ugly side of our nation’s history and how we once operated, whether we like it or not. An amazing piece of cinema that has so much to say and yet it will leave you speechless. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/23/25 Full Review Tyler H 12 Years a Slave is an absolute masterpiece. It’s a powerful and unflinching portrayal of the brutal reality of slavery, delivering its message with raw, confronting intensity. The performances by the entire cast are outstanding, making this film both compelling and impactful. Although difficult to watch at times, it’s a vital and unforgettable cinematic experience. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/01/24 Full Review Breno G Special Effects: 1,0/Sound Effects: 1,0/Acting: 1,0/Story: 2,0 Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/13/24 Full Review Audience Member Unbelievable film amazing acting! Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/25 Full Review Jeremi L One the best script ive seen, this movie really gives you emotion (from hate, laugh, joy, sadness)... really deep story and the actors were 10/10 Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/14/24 Full Review Read all reviews

12 Years a Slave

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