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It's far from comfortable viewing, but 12 Years a Slave's unflinchingly brutal look at American slavery is also brilliant -- and quite possibly essential -- cinema.
All Critics (351) | Top Critics (57) | Fresh (334) | Rotten (17)
It speaks to the courage and resilience of one man, the savagery of many, and the potential, for both good and for ill, in us all. Jan 13, 2015 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…
It speaks to the courage and resilience of one man, the savagery of many, and the potential, for both good and for ill, in us all.
Steven Rea
In its own saintly manner, it's as exploitative as anything critics accused Django Unchained of being, minus Tarantino's eye for idiosyncrasy and sense of humor. Jan 13, 2015 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…
In its own saintly manner, it's as exploitative as anything critics accused Django Unchained of being, minus Tarantino's eye for idiosyncrasy and sense of humor.
Scott Marks
The film tells an irresistibly powerful story, in a way that does not shirk the horror. It is unbearable to watch at times, but that is as it should be. Jan 13, 2015 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
The film tells an irresistibly powerful story, in a way that does not shirk the horror. It is unbearable to watch at times, but that is as it should be.
Paul Byrnes
A film that, despite its surface simplicity, proves to be riven with contradictions to the point of incoherence. Jan 13, 2015 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…
A film that, despite its surface simplicity, proves to be riven with contradictions to the point of incoherence.
Jake Wilson
McQueen's previous films were called Hunger and Shame; there is plenty of both in this almost unwatchably shocking and violent film. Jan 9, 2014 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…
McQueen's previous films were called Hunger and Shame; there is plenty of both in this almost unwatchably shocking and violent film.
Peter Bradshaw
The cumulative emotional effect is devastating: the final scenes are as angry, as memorable, as overwhelming as anything modern cinema has to offer. Jan 7, 2014 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…
The cumulative emotional effect is devastating: the final scenes are as angry, as memorable, as overwhelming as anything modern cinema has to offer.
Tom Huddleston
The performances are truly harrowing. Feb 19, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…
The performances are truly harrowing.
Jeff Simon
There's a tyranny in McQueen's vision as he compels hero Solomon Northup on a vile trajectory of kidnap, brutality and dehumanisation. Jan 27, 2019 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…
There's a tyranny in McQueen's vision as he compels hero Solomon Northup on a vile trajectory of kidnap, brutality and dehumanisation.
PJ Nabarro
12 Years a Slave is for those who want to see Ejiofor's brilliance, believe that this history should be told so it will never be repeated -- and can bear to witness it interpreted for the screen. Jan 24, 2019 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…
12 Years a Slave is for those who want to see Ejiofor's brilliance, believe that this history should be told so it will never be repeated -- and can bear to witness it interpreted for the screen.
Abbie Bernstein
12 Years a Slave also means that there is finally a film about slavery in America that is not told only through white people's eyes. Jan 7, 2019 | Full Review…
12 Years a Slave also means that there is finally a film about slavery in America that is not told only through white people's eyes.
Tara Judah
fd Dec 10, 2018 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
fd
David Nusair
Absorbing and comprehensively thought-provoking, 12 Years A Slave is one of the most hostile yet insightful movie-going experiences you will realize with glaring appreciation this year or any other year at the movies. Nov 11, 2018 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…
Absorbing and comprehensively thought-provoking, 12 Years A Slave is one of the most hostile yet insightful movie-going experiences you will realize with glaring appreciation this year or any other year at the movies.
Frank Ochieng
It is not very clear what McQueen wants with this unflinching but detached story of survival, as he throws together scenes of brutal realism with theatrical dialogue, cartoonish villains and a plot that seems more interested in the torture than offering any new insight into the subject.
Super Reviewer
One of the best films of 2013. Nominated for an impressive nine Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Winner of four Golden Globes including Best Picture and Best Actor and was victorious in capturing three Oscars including Best Supported Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay and winning the Best Picture Oscar of 2013.
So far, the best of the Academy Award contenders I've seen. Next would be The Wolf of Wall Street. 12 Years a Slave is a must-see.
A worthy best picture winner based on the excellent performances and the importance of the subject matter, but this is not an easy movie to watch. If you can't handle graphic torture scenes, stay far away. There's quite of few of them and they are brutal. I admire that the actors and actresses were willing to put themselves through it. The movie itself is a great redemption story and emotionally compelling (especially the ending), but it can be slow at times. It's not something I would probably want to watch again, but absolutely worth it at least once if you can stomach it. The average film-goer that grabs this for a watch based on its awards will not like it more than likely because it is not a mainstream audience movie, but that is not something that should take away its accomplishments on and off the film.
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