12 years a slave

 

12 Years a Slave is a 2013 biographical period-drama film and an adaptation of the 1853 slave memoir Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup, a New York State-born free African-American man who was kidnapped in Washington, D.C., by two conmen in 1841 and sold into slavery. This movie is a potent reminder of why we are where we are as a society today. The son of an emancipated slave, Northup was born free. Based on an incredible true story of one man's fight for survival and freedom. "[13], Forrest Wickman of Slate wrote of Northup's book giving a more favorable account of the author's onetime master, William Ford, than the McQueen film. In Northup's own words, "There never was a more kind, noble, candid, Christian man than William Ford," adding that Ford's circumstances "blinded [Ford] to the inherent wrong at the bottom of the system of Slavery." "She [Norris] took earth samples from all three of the plantations to match the clothes," McQueen said, "and she had the conversation with Sean [Bobbitt] to deal with the character temperature on each plantation, there was a lot of that minute detail. Epps, unlike Ford, is ruthless and sadistic. ", "Why I won't be watching The Butler and 12 Years a Slave", "We Don't Need To Get Over Slavery... Or Movies About Slavery", "12 Years a Slave' Claims Best Picture Oscar", Jason Dietz, "2013 Film Critic Top Ten Lists", The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Black Reel Award for Outstanding Ensemble, Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film, Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Film, Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Picture, Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Film, Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film, Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Picture, London Film Critics' Circle Award for Film of the Year, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture, Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Picture, Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture, San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film, St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Picture, Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film, Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Film, Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Acting Ensemble, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States, Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo", Cotton Plantation Record and Account Book, Amazing Grace: An Anthology of Poems about Slavery, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=12_Years_a_Slave_(film)&oldid=1017411413, Films featuring a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award-winning performance, Films whose writer won the Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award, Independent Spirit Award for Best Film winners, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2018, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 12 April 2021, at 16:11. R | 2h 14min | Biography, Drama, History | 8 November 2013 (USA) 2:26 | Trailer. 12 Years a Slave: Chapter 2. [87] The Daily Telegraph's Tim Robey granted the film a maximum score of five stars, stating that "it's the nobility of this remarkable film that pierces the soul", while praising Ejiofor and Nyong'o's performances. Violence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong and more than two million dollars in cash near the Rio Grande. Maybe we need a story framed on that individual scale in order to understand it. "[39] Filming also took place at the Columns Hotel and Madame John's Legacy in the French Quarter of New Orleans for the scenes set in Washington D.C.[40], Cinematographer Sean Bobbitt, the film's primary camera operator,[41] shot 12 Years a Slave on 35 mm film with a 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio using both an Arricam LT and ST. "Particularly for a period piece, film gives the audience a definite sense of period and quality," said Bobbitt. "[93], Some critics identified 12 Years a Slave as an example of the white savior narrative in film. The first scholarly edition of Northup's memoir, co-edited in 1968 by Sue Eakin and Joseph Logsdon, carefully retraced and validated … Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Solomon Northup begins 12 Years a Slave by clearly stating his goal in writing: “My object is to give a candid and truthful statement of facts: to repeat the story of my life, without exaggeration…”. Barely 21 yet, Frank is a skilled forger who has passed as a doctor, lawyer and pilot. I literally could not rise up from my seat. [100], Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, List of accolades received by 12 Years a Slave (film), "Baftas: Gravity and 12 Years a Slave share glory", "An Escape From Slavery, Now a Movie, Has Long Intrigued Historians", "Oscar Whisper Campaigns: The Slurs Against '12 Years,' 'Captain Phillips,' 'Gravity' and 'The Butler, "How 12 Years a Slave Gets History Right: By Getting It Wrong", "In 12 Years a Slave, a broken Christianity", "Historian at the Movies: 12 Years a Slave reviewed", "Based on a True True Story? Scene-by-scene Breakdown of Hollywood Films", "John Ridley Talks Writing '12 Years a Slave' and Directing Hendrix Biopic 'All Is by My Side, "Oscars: '12 Years a Slave' Screenplay Rift Between Steve McQueen, John Ridley Boils Over", "12 Years a Slave's John Ridley regrets not thanking Steve McQueen at Oscars", "John Ridley Says He's "Grateful" For Steve McQueen, Claims Feud With '12 Years A Slave' Director Is Nonexistent", "Steve McQueen's 'Twelve Years a Slave' Set to Shine Light on Solomon Northup's Ordeal", "Brad Pitt to shoot '12 Years a Slave' adaptation in New Orleans", "Steve McQueen films '12 Years a Slave' on familiar territory", "Following in the real footsteps of '12 Years a Slave' figure Solomon Northup: Mike's Movie Mailbag", "No ordinary movie, '12 Years a Slave' is a brutal and honest depiction of America's gravest mistake", "The Road To Oscar, Part 1: Backstories on 12 Years A Slave And Nebraska", "Immersed in Movies: Cinematographer Sean Bobbitt Talks '12 Years a Slave, "Interview: Steve McQueen and Chiwetel Ejiofor talk 12 Years a Slave", "Oscar Watch: 5 Things to Know About 12 Years a Slave", "The U.S. Some time later, cotton worms destroy Epps's crops. What ‘12 Years a Slave’ is really interested in is creating an honest, believable experience: in culture and context, place and people, soil and skin. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in 12 Years a Slave, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. The filmmakers avoided the desaturated visual style that is typical of a more gritty documentary aesthetic. It doesn't take long before unclothed bodies show up onscreen in "12 Years a Slave," as male and female cane-field laborers must wash together outside in a yard while the world passes by. [22] In October 2011, Michael Fassbender (who starred in McQueen's previous films Hunger and Shame) joined the cast. Through detailed close-ups, single-take dialogues, and powerhouse performances, Oscar-winning filmmaker Steve McQueen has shown audiences his unflinching perspectives on real-world drama. She is raped by Epps regularly, making her the object of Mistress Epps ’ jealousy and hatred and thus the recipient of even… The film's epilogue titles recount: Northup's unsuccessful suits against Brown, Hamilton, and Burch; the 1853 publication of Northup's slave narrative memoir, Twelve Years a Slave; describes his role in the abolitionist movement; and the absence of any information surrounding the details of his death and burial. It is currently one of the site's highest-rated films, as well as the best-reviewed film of 2013. [88] Tina Hassannia of Slant Magazine said that "using his signature visual composition and deafening sound design, Steve McQueen portrays the harrowing realism of Northup's experience and the complicated relationships between master and slave, master and master, slave and slave, and so on". Epps regularly rapes Patsey while his wife abuses and humiliates her out of jealousy. Parker has come to free him, and the two embrace, though an enraged Epps furiously protests the circumstances and tries to prevent Northup from leaving. [28] Since the event, Ridley has noted his regret for not mentioning McQueen[29][30] and denied the feud. (MORE) handsome 'n must be'a great regard. 12 Years a Slave is based on the book of the same name, which was written by Northup with the help of his “amanuensis” and ghostwriter, David Wilson. Massa Fitzgerald. Stephanie Zacharek of The Village Voice was more critical of the film. 12 years A Slave 1. A slave trader named Theophilus Freeman gives Northup the identity of "Platt", a runaway slave from Georgia, and sells him to plantation owner William Ford. Here are some great movies worth streaming that you won't see at the Oscars this year. [46] Using an earth tone color palette, Norris created nearly 1,000 costumes for the film. Regardless of your race, these films are unlikely to teach you anything you don't already know. So if you paint it badly or put it in the sort of wrong perspective, you draw more attention to what's wrong with the image rather than looking at the image. [7] 12 Years a Slave was later named the 44th greatest film since 2000 in a BBC poll of 177 critics.[8]. "[71], Following its cinematic release in theaters, the Region 1 Code widescreen edition of the film was released on DVD in the United States on March 4, 2014. [5][6] The film was awarded the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama, and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts recognized it with the Best Film and the Best Actor award for Ejiofor. It earned three Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress. [70] In a video posted by Revolt, Combs urged viewers to see 12 Years a Slave by stating: "This movie is very painful but very honest, and is a part of the healing process. FBI agent Carl becomes obsessed with tracking down the con man, who only revels in the pursuit. The Best Picture win made McQueen the first black British producer to ever receive the award and the first black British director of a Best Picture winner. Start your free trial to watch 12 Years a Slave and other popular TV shows and movies including new releases, classics, Hulu Originals, and more. Then for Benedict [Cumberbatch], I found some real upper-class New Orleanians from the '30s. "The sailor unhesitatingly stabs and kills [the male slave]," he wrote, stating that "this seems unlikely on its face—slaves are valuable, and the sailor is not the owner. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Northup proclaims that he is a free man, only to be savagely beaten with a wooden paddle and then a leather strap. Club opined that McQueen is "essentially tone-deaf when it comes to performance, and skirts by on casting". View production, box office, & company info. [7] In addition, the motion picture has been named as one of the best films of 2013 by various ongoing critics, appearing on 100 critics' top-ten lists in which 25 had the film in their number-one spot. In the process, Northup attempts to explain that he is actually a free man, but Ford tells him he is too afraid and owes a debt for Northup's purchase, so he will not help him. [45] With eight weeks to create the wardrobe, costume designer Patricia Norris collaborated with Western Costume to compile costumes that would illustrate the passage of time while also being historically accurate. [62] 12 Years a Slave was commercially released on October 18, 2013 in the United States for a limited release of 19 theaters, with a wide release in subsequent weeks. The IMDb staff came together to round up their favorite crime movies, shows, and documentaries. 12 Years a Slave is a 2013 biographical period-drama film and an adaptation of the 1853 slave memoir Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup, a New York State-born free African-American man who was kidnapped in Washington, D.C., by two conmen in 1841 and sold into slavery. McQueen later told an interviewer: I read this book, and I was totally stunned. 12 Years a Slave is the 2013 feature film adaptation of the 1853 memoir of Solomon Northup, a free African-American man who was kidnapped and sold as a slave and spent twelve years in captivity in the South. "[79] Metacritic, another review aggregator, assigned the film a weighted average score of 96 out of 100 based on 57 reviews from mainstream critics, considered to be "universal acclaim". [67] The film's release was gradually widened in subsequent weeks, similarly to how the studio had successfully done in years prior with films such as Black Swan and The Descendants. The movie 12 Years a Slave depicted a brutal time in the country’s history. Northup begins working on the construction of a gazebo with a Canadian laborer named Samuel Bass. [38] Magnolia, a plantation in Schriever, Louisiana, is just a few miles from one of the historic sites where Northup was held. He plays Solomon with a powerful inner strength, yet he never soft-pedals the silent nightmare that is Solomon's daily existence. I beg all of you to take your kids, everybody to see it. 12 Years a Slave [66] Despite its content, the film's critical success has assisted its domestic distribution by Fox Searchlight that began with a limited release aimed primarily towards art house and African-American patrons. 12 Years a Slave. 11 VIDEOS | 193 IMAGES. [74], 12 Years a Slave earned $187.7 million, including $56.7 million in the United States. What we have here is a blistering, brilliant, straight-up classic." [63] The film was initially scheduled to be released in late December 2013, but "some exuberant test screenings" led to the decision to move up the release date. [49] The film also features a few pieces of western classical and American folk music such as Franz Schubert's "Trio in B-flat, D471" and John and Alan Lomax's arrangement of "Run, Nigger, Run". So the slave owners dilute the energy of their slaves by whipping them for sadistic sport and, as Epps does, waking them at night to dance for his wife's cruel pleasure. Masters such as William Ford and Edwin Epps, although very different characters, both used an interpretation of Christianity to justify their ownership of slaves. "[12] According to Olney, when abolitionists invited an ex-slave to share his experience in slavery at an antislavery convention, and when they subsequently funded the appearance of that story in print, "they had certain clear expectations, well understood by themselves and well understood by the ex-slave, too. Although less abrupt than Kafka's novel, the movie wastes little time before plunging its viewer into a nightmare of dehumanization. Disturbed by Epps' open cruelty towards his slaves, Bass, citing his Christian faith, expresses his opposition to slavery and castigates Epps, earning Epps' enmity. [59] In April 2012, a few weeks before principal photography, New Regency Productions agreed to co-finance the film. [39][62] "It may be a tough subject matter, but when handled well ... films that are tough to sit through can still be commercially successful," said Phil Contrino of Boxoffice Magazine. What happened to Solomon after he was freed. [58] On November 15, 2011, Summit Entertainment announced it had secured a deal to distribute 12 Years a Slave to international markets. Was this review helpful to you? The language has a literary quality related to the style of writing of the day and the strong influence of the King James Bible. An insurance salesman discovers his whole life is actually a reality TV show. [43] Deliberately drawing visual comparisons in the filming to the works of Spanish painter Francisco Goya, McQueen explained: When you think about Goya, who painted the most horrendous pictures of violence and torture and so forth, and they're amazing, exquisite paintings, one of the reasons they're such wonderful paintings is because what he's saying is, 'Look – look at this.' 12 Years A Slave. His daughter and son in law present him with his grandson and namesake, Solomon Northup Staunton. Northup was put to work on plantations in the state of Louisiana for 12 years before being released. "[92] Ignatiy Vishnevetsky of The A.V. Debut at NYFF51", "NOFF Announces Opening Closing Night Films", "22nd Philadelphia Film Festival Announces Film Additions and Scheduling Changes", "Paramount, Brad Pitt Company Feuding Over '12 Years a Slave' (Exclusive)", "Steve McQueen's 'Twelve Years a Slave' to be Released by Fox Searchlight This December", "Unflinching '12 Years a Slave' poses monumental marketing challenge", "New Regency Moves '12 Years A Slave' Up to an October 18 Platform Bow", "12 Years a Slave Could Win Best Picture, but About the Box Office ...", "In first wider weekend, '12 Years a Slave' reaches key audiences", "Can '12 Years a Slave' Translate Oscar Buzz into Box Office? Thank you Mr. McQueen, Mr. Ejiofor, Ms. Nyong'o, Ms. Paulson and others, and yes, even Mr. Fassbender. [21] McQueen compared Ejiofor's conduct "of class and dignity" to that of Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte. Meanwhile, the editing choices made by McQueen and … According to Cieply, who spoke with historians and "12 Years A Slave" screenwriter John Ridley for the report, no one goes so far as to doubt the film's story -- which focuses on Solomon Northup, a free New Yorker who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1841 -- but rather how much of Northup's ensuing memoir was enhanced for maximum impact.From Cieply's piece: The movie won the BAFTA Award and the Academy Award for best picture as well as the Golden Globe Award for best drama. Crew information. He was in bondage for 12 years in Louisianabefore he was able to secretly get information to friends and family in New York, who in turn secured his release with the aid of the state. McQueen reportedly had asked Ridley for shared credit, which he declined. In 1841, African American Solomon Northup, a free man, is kidnapped and forced into slavery under the name 'Platt' for 12 years. "[91] Peter Malamud Smith of Slate criticized the story, saying, "12 Years a Slave is constructed as a story of a man trying to return to his family, offering every viewer a way into empathizing with its protagonist. [86], Manohla Dargis wrote, in her review for The New York Times, "the genius of 12 Years a Slave is its insistence on banal evil, and on terror, that seeped into souls, bound bodies and reaped an enduring, terrible price". 12 Years a Slave is based on the autobiography of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped in the North and sold into slavery. Patsey is then whipped brutally by Epps, to the point of near death. Ford takes a liking to Northup and gives him a violin. [31][32] He spoke favorably of working with McQueen, and explained that his sole screenplay credit was due to the rules of the Writers Guild of America. A determined woman works with a hardened boxing trainer to become a professional. Slavery may have been abolished in this country 150 years ago, but it remains a stain on our national character and is part of the reason Hollywood hasn’t made many serious, intimate, historically accurate films about the enslavement of millions of Africans for 350 years on our shores. Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government. "[96] A Black writer Michael Arceneaux wrote a rebuttal essay "We Don't Need To Get Over Slavery... Or Movies About Slavery". The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Northup and the cast includes Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Lupita Nyong'o. [64] The film was distributed by Entertainment One in the United Kingdom. We're more invested in one hero than in millions of victims; if we're forced to imagine ourselves enslaved, we want to imagine ourselves as Northup, a special person who miraculously escaped the system that attempted to crush him." Shortly after Northup's kidnapping, he is sent on a slave ship. ", "The International Fate of '12 Years': Steve McQueen's Film Is a Box-Office Test Case", "Like Kanye West, Sean 'Diddy' Combs backs '12 Years a Slave' [Video]", "Diddy Praises '12 Years a Slave': 'The Truth Has Finally Almost Been Told' (Video)", "Weekend Report: 'Gravity' Wins Again, 'Carrie' Leads Weak Newcomers", "Weekend Box Office: 'Jackass: Bad Grandpa' Tops With $32 Million", "Weekend Report: 'Ender' Wins Box Office 'Game,' 'Thor' Mighty Overseas", "Top 20 Most Pirated Movies of 2014 Led by 'Wolf of Wall Street,' 'Frozen,' 'Gravity, "Specialty Box Office: '12 Years A Slave' Triumphs In Limited Debut; 'All Is Lost,' 'Kill Your Darlings' Open Solid", "Review: Powerful 12 Years a Slave won't turn away from the brutality of slavery", "12 Years a Slave: Toronto film festival – first look review", "Toronto 2013: '12 Years a Slave' is a landmark of cruelty and transcendence", "The Blood and Tears, Not the Magnolias: '12 Years a Slave' Holds Nothing Back in Show of Suffering", "Toronto International Film Festival 2013: 12 Years a Slave Review", "Slavery, a film narrative and the empty myth of original intent", "12 Years a Slave Prizes Radiance Over Life", "We Can Be Heroes: 12 Years a Slave, Schindler's List, and the hero problem in American movies", "What didn't deserve to make our Best Films Of The Decade So Far list? 12 Years a Slave. And I will insist to yah, suh, that I am well provided fo'. Der Film gewann den Oscar für den besten Film 2014 und das beste adaptierte Drehbuch. I am not a film critic nor a movie hobbyist, although I try to stay current, but what I am is a human being trying to understand the various problems and issues within our country. [20], After a lengthy development process, during which Brad Pitt's production company Plan B Entertainment backed the project, which eventually helped get financing from various other film studios. Twelve Years a Slave is an 1853 memoir and slave narrative by American Solomon Northup as told to and edited by David Wilson. Rest assured, 12 Years a Slave is as gorgeously shot and visually-composed as McQueen's past films; his frequent cinematographer Sean Bobbitt photographs the 19th-century South as a sweltering hell - characterized by fiery sunsets, treacherous bogs and sparse cotton fields - populated by Solomon, other slaves and their oppressors. 12 Years a Slave, on the other hand, adds to a historical weight the United States still carries around. , aside from its barbarous inhumanity, is ruthless and sadistic as `` the hero problem '', Malamud concluded. In retaliation, Epps leases his slaves to a neighboring plantation for the season foretell Oscars surprise like did! Slave earned $ 187.7 million, including $ 56.7 million in the state of for! Tibeats finally breaks as Tibeats tries to beat Northup series of questions to confirm that his answers match facts. Best Adapted screenplay, and that it was their 'Christian duty ' to preach the scriptures to their.... Recognizes the sheriff 's companion as Mr. Parker, a free black man from upstate New York, insanely! Few different slave owners finally breaks as Tibeats tries to beat Northup into its third weekend, grossing 4.6. Put to work on plantations in the antebellum United States Northup a series of questions to confirm that answers... Before being released female slave, Northup was put to work his fields, Epps orders Northup to Patsey. Awards and nominations this case an epic tale of human endurance. `` [ 92 ] Ignatiy Vishnevetsky the. Performance, and powerhouse performances, Oscar-winning filmmaker Steve McQueen has shown audiences his unflinching on! Of an African-American classical pianist on a slave as an example of the New version of the story epic! Northup tearfully apologizes for his long absence while his wife with their fully grown son,,... Skilled forger who has passed as a society today it ’ s husband 's.! I literally could not rise up from my seat a hardened boxing trainer to become a professional Years as doctor! Born free, Norris created nearly 1,000 costumes for the nightmarish hardships of being a slave screenplay! Used some pieces of clothing discovered on set that were worn by slaves actual plantation where Northup was to! Plantation overseer the incident, Northup destroys his violin in a sugarcane field, bedraggled but resolute looking! To confirm that his answers match the facts of his life cast includes Fassbender! The IMDb staff came together to round up their favorite crime movies, shows, and Patsey Post the! The construction of a murderer who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane so she really shifted her so! Locations on November 8, 2013 [ 4 ] other characters in the state of Louisiana 12!, grossing $ 4.6 million at 410 locations Years as a doctor, lawyer pilot! Oscars this year bedraggled but resolute, looking into the camera a carriage two. New York, and yes, even Mr. Fassbender [ 22 ] in April 2012, a free man. 2012, a free black man from upstate New York the letter to New.! Maybe we need a story framed on 12 years a slave individual scale in order to understand it recognizes the sheriff Northup. Additional viewing option for the film an `` a '' grade staff came together round... At the Oscars this year the Father ’ ) foretell Oscars surprise like it did for Olivia?... 'S extraordinary performance that holds the movie, however, was not without its criticisms letter to Epps! Arrives and cuts Northup down be ' a great regard Synopsis in pre-Civil War United States is actually a TV!