12 Years A Slave is the highly anticipated new film from controversial director Steve McQueen (Shame, Hunger). It’s based on the incredible true story of Solomon Northrup, a free African American man who was kidnapped and sold as a slave, where he was kept for 12 years. It’s chilling just thinking about it.
The slightly underrated Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Northrup, and he looks like he gives a performance of a lifetime here. Michael Fassbender plays the intimidating slave owner of Northrup, while Brad Pitt plays a Canadian abolitionist who will forever change Northrup’s life. The film sports a seriously too good to be true cast that includes: Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Michael Kenneth Williams, Quvenzhane Wallis, Sarah Paulson, Alfre Woodard, Dwight Henry, Lupita Nyongo, Scoot McNairy, Garret Dillahunt, and Bryan Batt.
The first trailer is here, and it’s looking like it has the potential to be all kinds of special. The release date of December 27 and the way this trailer was built makes it pretty clear that 12 Years A Slave has Oscar contender written all over it. McQueen has been almost too controversial for the Oscars previously, but I think this may change that.
Check it out below.
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