A film we’re already predicting to be a player in the Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor races in the upcoming Oscar season, and pretty much a shoo-in for the Cannes Film Festival in May, Fox Searchlight are showing they’re expecting big things from the “Twelve Years A Slave” as well.
The studio has tweeted that they will drop Steve McQueen’s latest on December 27th, right in the thick of awards season. Featuring a ridiculously great ensemble including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Scoot McNairy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti, Paul Dano, Sarah Paulson, Garret Dillahunt, Ruth Negga, Taran Killam, Adepero Oduye, Alfre Woodard, Quvenzhané Wallis, Dwight Henry, Michael K. Williams and Brad Pitt, it will be a decidedly different take on slavery than Quentin Tarantino‘s rootin’ tootin’ hip-hop and Ennio Morricone-flavored “Django Unchained.”
The film tells the true story of Solomon Northup (Ejiofor), a free black man who is tricked back into slavery, faces a grueling life under several owners and has to go to court to reclaim his status. We presume this tale will not involve a German dentist and his colorfully-attired sidekick.
Basically, this is one that we’re hugely looking forward to, and we’re just glad it’s now officially on the calendar.
Hold your horses. Steve McQeen is an extremely difficult director for the academy to digest. It's still early in his career for him to do those sugar flaouvered movies (Like david O Russel and his Silver Linings). And if Michael Fassbender was snubbed by the academy for his truly amazing performance in Shame, I would suggest to lower the expectations on this one (as far as Oscars are concerened. I imagine that the film itself would be critically acclaimed)
Yaaaaaay! Look out for nine year old Stom Reid playing the role of Emily in this amazing film.
Add best supporting actor for Fassbender.
A U.S. debut at the NYFF seems pretty likely.
Awesome.