12 Years A Slave Movie Review Examples

12 Years a Slave
Steve McQueen’s film, 12 Years a Slave, is an adaptation of the autobiographic novel, Twelve Years a Slave, penned by Solomon Northup. The film documents the life of the protagonist, a free black individual, who is tricked by a duo and sold off as a slave. How Northup bears with the brunt of life and copes up with the drudgeries and torments of slavery evokes the emotion of the audience and quintessentially portrays the evil of slavery which has left a lasting mark in the lives of the community. Chiwetel Ejiofor acts well in the role of the protagonist.
The film is an aesthetic expression of the persistence of the protagonist as he works day in and day out for his new master, William Ford, played by Benedict Cumberbatch. The daily struggles, the love for violin, the life of slavery stir the audience to the core. The story meanders and Northup is sent to another master who treats the slaves brutally. Thus, the film portrays how the white masters would unleash their cruelty on these hapless individuals who were too ill-fated not to have had the freedom. Northup is only freed from this long run of living as a slave after his profile is matched by the local sheriff, much to the dismay of his cruel master.
The protagonist’s moving act keeps the audience glued to the screen and one can only introspect about the sheer cruelty and inhumanity which was meted out to the blacks by the social evil of slavery. The film is a perfect demonstration and critique of the social menace which left the land of America scarred by the omen of racism and hegemony.
The sheer impetus of the cinematic medium which is perfect utilized to influence the gazillion hearts of the audience works at its best in this film. The film makes one think, feel and be in a realm of perceived reality where the individual can only sink in the emotions and aesthetics, oblivious of everything else.