12 Years A Slave is a real masterpiece. I'm so very happy that Steve McQueen has finally won a well deserved Oscar for his ability as a filmmaker and this film is the perfect fit for his skills and the Academy's tendencies of what type of film to award best picture to.
Having said that, of the three films I've seen by Steve McQueen this is his least amazing to me. So, how can a filmmakers least amazing film be the best picture winner? Well, it would be fair to say that his other two films Hunger and Shame are a lot less accessible than 12 Years A Slave. The first is a truly harrowing, no holds barred, account of the will of the IRA to starve themselves to death when arrested for their crimes. It is one of the hardest movies I have ever watched and has stayed very clear in my minds eye even to this day. There are some of the most beautifully horrible shots comprised in that movie, and some of the most chilling actions conveyed without any thought of watering down, or covering something up. It is a hard film to watch, but its more than a masterpiece, its a film that cannot be equalled in many ways. But its no best picture winner.
Shame was my favourite movie of 2013 (it was released in 2011 but I hadn't seen it before). Once again, it is composed of the most beautiful shot making and acted to perfection. The direction given to the team making that film is nothing short of some of the best direction that has ever been given to a filmmaking team. The story is once again very confronting talking about taboo topics and showing horrible acts by deplorable people, however, you simply cannot stop watching. It sucks you into this mans world and make you feel what he is feeling, even if you do not understand it all. And as I've said many times in the past simply has the best ending to a movie ever. But, yes, it is no best picture winner.
That brings me to 12 Years A Slave. Many have said the scenes of brutal torture put on black people in slavery is too much, that the film is more interested with making you feel this pain and disgust than it is with opening up a discussion about slavery itself. They do not understand Mr McQueens filmmaking skills. You are supposed to feel the impacts of slavery to Solomon, it is supposed to make you understand slavery from one mans perspective. It is just like Hunger and Shame: an investigation into an issue from the point of view of one man. The film makes you feel everything that one man feels so you can connect to it and relate to it.
The brutality of 12 Years A Slave is non negotiable. It shows some heinous acts. But this is the toned down version of the film in comparison to what Mr McQueen has done in both his other films, and that dear readers, is exactly what amazes me the most. Astounds me. The director and the filmmaker within him has seen his need to reduce his skills, just a little, to make his film more accessible. He wanted more people to see this movie, and more people to be able to sit through and recommend it as passionately as I do his other films. And he knew, by toning it down a smidge, that it could get a best picture oscar. Guess what? It did. What an amazing human being Steve McQueen is, what an amazing filmmaker he is, what an amazing film he has made in 12 Years A Slave and what amazing things will he be able to go on to do now he has won that prestigious prize?
IMDB Info for 12 Years A Slave
SCORE: 9/10
Having said that, of the three films I've seen by Steve McQueen this is his least amazing to me. So, how can a filmmakers least amazing film be the best picture winner? Well, it would be fair to say that his other two films Hunger and Shame are a lot less accessible than 12 Years A Slave. The first is a truly harrowing, no holds barred, account of the will of the IRA to starve themselves to death when arrested for their crimes. It is one of the hardest movies I have ever watched and has stayed very clear in my minds eye even to this day. There are some of the most beautifully horrible shots comprised in that movie, and some of the most chilling actions conveyed without any thought of watering down, or covering something up. It is a hard film to watch, but its more than a masterpiece, its a film that cannot be equalled in many ways. But its no best picture winner.
Shame was my favourite movie of 2013 (it was released in 2011 but I hadn't seen it before). Once again, it is composed of the most beautiful shot making and acted to perfection. The direction given to the team making that film is nothing short of some of the best direction that has ever been given to a filmmaking team. The story is once again very confronting talking about taboo topics and showing horrible acts by deplorable people, however, you simply cannot stop watching. It sucks you into this mans world and make you feel what he is feeling, even if you do not understand it all. And as I've said many times in the past simply has the best ending to a movie ever. But, yes, it is no best picture winner.
That brings me to 12 Years A Slave. Many have said the scenes of brutal torture put on black people in slavery is too much, that the film is more interested with making you feel this pain and disgust than it is with opening up a discussion about slavery itself. They do not understand Mr McQueens filmmaking skills. You are supposed to feel the impacts of slavery to Solomon, it is supposed to make you understand slavery from one mans perspective. It is just like Hunger and Shame: an investigation into an issue from the point of view of one man. The film makes you feel everything that one man feels so you can connect to it and relate to it.
The brutality of 12 Years A Slave is non negotiable. It shows some heinous acts. But this is the toned down version of the film in comparison to what Mr McQueen has done in both his other films, and that dear readers, is exactly what amazes me the most. Astounds me. The director and the filmmaker within him has seen his need to reduce his skills, just a little, to make his film more accessible. He wanted more people to see this movie, and more people to be able to sit through and recommend it as passionately as I do his other films. And he knew, by toning it down a smidge, that it could get a best picture oscar. Guess what? It did. What an amazing human being Steve McQueen is, what an amazing filmmaker he is, what an amazing film he has made in 12 Years A Slave and what amazing things will he be able to go on to do now he has won that prestigious prize?
IMDB Info for 12 Years A Slave
SCORE: 9/10
Really is a great movie. You can see why I had it as #1 of 2013 before we decided to take it out due to the release date.
ReplyDeleteThe best scene for me is where Solomon is hung, ordered to be let down and is left just hanging there on his tip toes trying ever so hard to keep himself alive whilst life just calmly goes on around him, people gardening, sweeping etc. like random hangings like what nearly happened were just a normal part of life back then. So haunting.
Perfectly acted by everyone involved. A true masterpiece.
Agree with all of this, incredible movie. Would just like to add we cracked an 18 year old Macallan during this one as well... #1 Oscar picture witha #1 scotch :) life is good!
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