From acclaimed director steve mcqueen comes this moving film based on a true story thats filled with powerful performances. The film is based on the true story of solomon northup, a free black man who was kidnapped in washington, d. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner, as well as unexpected kindnesses, solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. Overall, 12 years a slave is a brave piece of filmmaking and one to last through the ages in terms of acting and storytelling. I always enjoy watching movies that have truth to them. Rarely, its true, have the cruelties of the antebellum south been so thoroughly catalogued. Chiwetel ejiofor stars as solomon northup, the new york state citizen who was kidnapped and made to work on a plantation in new orleans in the 1800s.
The only thing that lets this film down is the rather odd beginning and the at times lessthanclear dialogue. He was in bondage for 12 years in louisiana before he was able to secretly get information to. Twelve years a slave is an 1853 memoir and slave narrative by american solomon northup as told to and edited by david wilson. Twelve years a slave is an oscar winning movie about the main character solomon northup, a free black man lives in new york in 1841. The film is directed by famous hollywood personality steve mcqueen and was released in november of 20. In the precivil war united states, solomon northup, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery.
Northup, a black man who was born free in new york state, details his being tricked to go to washington, d. There are so many movies that has had a huge impact on our world as we know it, and unfortunately, not so many people watch these movies. The movie 12 years a slave depicted a brutal time in the countrys history. Twelve years a slave the original book from which the 20 movie 12 years a slave is based illustrated. No prettified classroom study for director steve mcqueen, a visual artist and visceral provocateur. Documentary covering the onset of slavery, its subsequent colonialism, and how africans are still struggling for basic freedom abe lincoln in illinois. Best performance by an actress in a supporting role. Directed by steve mcqueen hunger, shame and scripted by john ridley red tails, 12 years a slave is a wellcrafted film that uses the topic of slavery in the precivil war u. The film is based on the memoir written by solomon northup, which reveals what happened after solomon played by chiwetel ejiofor a free black man living in new york in precivil war america was kidnapped and sold into slavery, before he was able to. Another one of the top 250 movies on imdb, 12 years a slave is based on a true story of a free black man, solomon northup played by chiwetel ejiofor, from new york who is abducted and sold into slavery in the south.
In retelling the harrowing true story of solomon northup. Steve mcqueen hunger directs from a script he cowrote with john ridley, based in part by northups memoir. Watch 12 years a slave trailers and video, including teasers, extended looks, exclusive clips, footage, sneak peeks, interviews, and more on moviefone. A freeborn black man is abducted from new york and sold into slavery in this historical. The new movie 12 years a slave has been receiving high praise critic david denby recently described it in the new yorker as easily the greatest. As steve mcqueens oscar favourite 12 years a slave opens at cinemas, sarah churchwell returns to the 1853 memoir that inspired it one of many narratives that exposed the brutal truth about. Going into 12 years a slave, talk about the boldness of mcqueens long takes had dominated discussion of his films so thoroughly that it seemed. This powerful film based on a true story won three oscars. Steve mcqueens film fudges several details of solomon northups autobiographyboth intentionally and notto more completely portray the. A slave ship crosses the atlantic, and the slaves rebel. Apart from that, it is a very good film, but be prepared to be shocked by some of the violence.
Watch 12 years a slave online full movie from 20 yidio. Twelve years a slave has twice been adapted for film. Hes owned by masters relatively kind benedict cumberbatch and harrowingly brutal michael fassbender, but even under the best conditions, the movie never loses. List of accolades received by 12 years a slave film. Chiwetel ejiofor stars in his oscarnominated role as a free new york man sold into slavery in the year 1841. In the precivil war united states, solomon northup, a free black man living in upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. Steve mcqueen, the british video artist who made hunger and shame, spares his audience little. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. I am not a film critic nor a movie hobbyist, although. From one owner to another, solomon endures cruelty and hardships until he meets a canadian abolitionist bass, a role taken by brad pitt, who is ready to help him. There are scenes that show extreme brutality beatings, hangings and rough language the use of the n word, and extreme emotional cruelty. Solomon northrop was a free african american living in upstate new york when he was kidnapped against his will into slavery. This piece was originally published in december 20, before the release of the film 12 years a slave. A film by hollywood blacklisted director john berry starring dorothy dandridge and curd jurgens.
The source is a rare firsthand account based on the bestselling 19thcentury memoir written by solomon northup, a free black man from upstate new york who suddenly had his liberty torn away after being kidnapped and sold for slave labor in louisiana. The 10 best movies of the past 10 years simplemost. But with the exception of a somewhat distracting thirdact cameo by coproducer brad. Based on an incredible true story of one mans fight for survival and freedom. To hear some tell it, perhaps hyperbolically but with real conviction, 12 years a slave may be the definitive cinematic treatment of american slavery. With chiwetel ejiofor, michael kenneth williams, michael fassbender, brad pitt. Based on an amazing true story, 12 years a slave follows the life story of solomon northup, a free black man who is abducted into slavery during.
The film stars chiwetel ejiofor as the protagonist, northup. It is an adaptation of the 1853 autobiographical slave narrative memoir of the same name by solomon northup, a new york stateborn free negro who was kidnapped in washington, d. In 1984, pbs produced a television movie called solomon northups odyssey, and in 20, an oscarwinning film titled 12 years a slave was released. Narrative of solomon northup, a citizen of newyork, kidnapped in washington city in 1841, and rescued in 1853, from a cotton plantation near the red river. Music from and inspired by 12 years a slave is the soundtrack album to 12 years a slave. It contains two tracks from the film score composed by hans zimmer, three tracks coarranged by violinist tim fain and nicholas britell, and original spiritual songs written and arranged for the film by nicholas britell, as well as performances by alabama shakes, cody chesnutt, gary clark, jr. In 1999, a historical marker was installed in saratoga springs to commemorate northups life. In 12 years a slave, solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, kinky boots, dirty pretty things is a free man living in new york until hes kidnapped and sold in louisiana as a slave. Is the movie twelve years a slave a good movie of its. Twelve years a slave by solomon northup full audiobook. Its far from comfortable viewing, but 12 years a slaves unflinchingly brutal look at american slavery is also brilliant and quite possibly essential cinema. Parents need to know that 12 years a slave is a harrowing, moving drama based on a book written in the 1850s by solomon northup recounting his experiences as a slave, and it can be difficult to watch. It will be impossible to ever look at gone with the wind the same way after 12 years a slave, a brutally powerful and emotionally devastating film that takes great pains to rip. It also depicted beautiful places the louisiana plantations where 12 years a slave was shot and neighboring ones.
Rent 12 years a slave 20 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. Chiwetel ejiofor plays the role of solomon northrup, who was a. However, it fails to make a clearcut statement about the slavery issue or provide new insight on that dark chapter in american history. Biblical story of the life of moses, an adopted egyptian prince who becomes the deliverer of his real brethren, the enslaved hebrews.
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