12 Years a Slave, directed by Steve McQueen and based on the memoir of the same name, relates the true and incredible story of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Eijofor). A free and successful man living in New York with his family, Solomon is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South. Enduring harsh conditions and brutal abuse at the hands of several slave masters, Solomon is constantly haunted by the memory of his family and the content life that they enjoyed; however, he refuses to submit to intellectual degradation and never allows himself to abandon the hope of reclaiming his freedom. This film demonstrates the perseverance of the human spirit, as it depicts the grueling hardships one ordinary man was willing to endure to survive.
12 Years a Slave is not only nominated for Best Picture, but it is also my choice to pull off the big win. Since the moment the credits rolled at the screening I had the pleasure of attending at the Toronto International Film Festival, I knew that I had seen a very special movie that is deserving of the highest recognition the film industry has to offer. Although McQueen was also nominated in the Directing category, I am not as assured of a win for him. Although I do believe he would be greatly deserving, I no longer believe that the director of the Best Picture needs to win for Directing every year, and Martin Scorsese or Alfonso Cuaron are strong possibilities to take this prize. Eijofor’s performance as Solomon is unforgettable, as he presents a character at once impenetrably strong and highly emotional. In a year full of outstanding male performances, however, he is not ensured the award for Actor in a Lead Role, nor is Michael Fassbender really on the radar for Actor in a Supporting Role. Lupita Nyong’o’s stunning debut performance as the tragic Patsy, however, is almost guaranteed to win this actress the award for Actress in a Supporting Role, an exciting development for the young newcomer. The film has also been nominated for Costume Design, Film Editing, Production Design, and Adapted Screenplay, reflecting the overall mastery of the entire production.
12 Years a Slave is an exceptionally detailed piece of film. The sets and costumes have been perfected, and the music and lighting perfectly compliment each scene throughout. The cinematographers have carefully planned that which they wish to reveal to the audience in each intricate shot, and although many are horrifyingly unpleasant, well-placed depictions of simple beauty remind viewers that there is still hope for the world. The imagery is often necessarily brutal, yet that which lingers in the mind long after the film has ended is the sense of redemption that is presented at the conclusion. 12 Years a Slave is a film that will stick with you, and is the only film to date that I have awarded a perfect ten out of ten. It is, without question, my choice to win Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards.
Thank you for keeping up with this year’s installments of Talia’s Takes! Check out the Academy Awards themselves on March 2nd and let me know what you think of the results.
