TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE (Theatrical Release USA 2013)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

Twelve Years A Slave—high overkill on brutality scenes, not for the faint of heart or teen audience—tells a straight forward story based on the real life experiences of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man living in the Northern United States until he is sold wrongfully into Southern United States slavery. The film contains sex and nudity scenes.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Solomon Northup, a free black man living in New York, works as a musician and farmer. He meets a friend who introduces him to Brown (Scoot McNairy) and Hamilton (Taran Killam). These two men offer him a musician’s job in Washington, D.C.; but, on the way, they drug Solomon Northup and send him to a slave pen where he awakes to a completely new way of life.

Additional Thanks

Great Work for Director Steve McQueen. Thank you to Executive Producers John Ridley and Tessa Ross for making the film possible.  Additional characters/cast include: Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender), Patsey (Lupita Nyong’o), Uncle Abram (Dwight Henry), Overseer (Dickie Gravois), Judge Turner (Bryan Batt), Anna (Ashley Dyke), Anne Northup (Kelsey Scott), Margaret Northup (Quvenzhané Wallis), Alonzo Northup (Cameron Ziegler), Mr. Moon (Tony Bentley), and Burch (Christopher Berry).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. There is historical value in this film; but, for your money there are better films such as: Amistad or The Butler.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers