12 Years A Slave (2013):
One of 20 Best Picture Winners, 1929-present
Directed by Steve McQueen and based on the 1853 memoir by Solomon Northup, 12 Years a Slave tells the story of Northrup, a free black man from New York who, in 1841, is captured and sold into slavery in the south.
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Theatrical release poster
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The movie puts to shame American movies about slavery, such as the 1939 Best Picture winner (and blockbuster), Gone With the Wind, which glamorized the South, White plantations, and disgraceful phenomenon of slavery, by assigning black actors to stereotypical roles of subservient servants, loyal to their white masters (male and female) to a fault.
12 Years A Slave: Score
Our Grade: A- (**** out of *****)
IMDB Score: 8.1/10
Metacritic Score: 96/100
Separated from his family, and forced to endure intense brutality at the hands of his new masters, Northrup works tirelessly to stay alive and regain his freedom.
The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Northrup, with a cast that includes Lupita Nyong’0, Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano, and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Credits:
Directed by Steve McQueen
Screenplay by John Ridley, based on “Twelve Years a Slave,”
by Solomon Northup
Produced by Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Bill Pohlad, Steve McQueen; Arnon Milchan; Anthony Katagas
Cinematography Sean Bobbitt
Edited by Joe Walker
Music by Hans Zimmer
Production companies: Plan B Entertainment; Film4; and others
Distributed by: Fox Searchlight Pictures (US)
Release dates :Aug 30, 2013 (Telluride Fest); Nov 8, 2013 (US)
Running time: 134 minutes
Budget $22 million
Box office $187.7 million
Ratio (input/output): 1/8
