While it may not be a movie that appeals to the general public on the scale of “Iron Man 3” or “Man Of Steel,” to the more cinephile-oriented viewers, there are few movies coming in 2013 as exciting as Steven McQueen‘s slavery drama “12 Years A Slave.” Earlier this month we got the first images from the film, but for those familiar with the filmmaker’s previous films “Hunger” and “Shame,” that’s only telling not even half the story. McQueen anchors his movies heavily on performances, mood and controlled tone, and does he do it again here?
The first trailer for “12 Years A Slave” has arrived and it’ll certainly get Oscar prognosticators talking. And not just about the ridiculously stacked cast — Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Paul Giamatti, Paul Dano, Sarah Paulson, Alfre Woodard, Dwight Henry, Quvenzhane Wallis, Lupita Nyongo, Scoot McNairy, Michael Kenneth Williams and Garret Dillahunt — but potency of the true story tale, about a free black man, sold into slavery, who has to fight for his freedom once again. No, he doesn’t have a German dentist sidekick.
Expected to show up at the Venice Film Festival in August, it won’t be coming near you until October 18th. Watch below and tell us what you think.
Incredibly reckless to sacrifice the safety of a group of people over an hyper exaggerated art piece loosely based on a glimpse in history. While these actors go home to Beverly Hills, normal white people go home and become targets of an increasingly violent hyper sensitive racist black youth that are killing whites at a growing rampant number. daily
I liked Hunger, loved Shame, but this one to me appears like The Color Purple, Amistad and War Horse combined. Cheesy as hell, that's for sure.
I hope the trailer is to be blamed, and the film surprises me, but the dialogue and the music did hurt my ears here.
I may be wrong but I don't think Solomon was sold "back' into slavery. I believe he had been free all of his life until that point.
Looks great, leaves one question — is Pitt a hired hand on Fassbender's farm? A carpenter? A local Amish fellow with a better heart than Fassy?
My only hesitation is that it's backed in part by 21st Century Fox, one of Rupert Murdoch's (owner of Fox News) outlets. The success of this movie will, unfortunately, aid Murdoch's financial capacity for setting back the causes of human and civil rights through his other media outlets. For that reason, I am not sure I can support it, though it seems a very worth endeavor.
Finally a great film … It's the one we needed.
I got chill bumps just watching the trailer. I'll be there in October! I'm quite familiar with the story and I'm excited to see how it translates to film.
Sam Mendes should reward him for all the recognition he'll get for this, by giving Chiwetel Ejiofor a scene-chewing role as the villain in the next Bond film ?
"12 Years a Slave" looks definitely as a great movie !!! I'll be waiting for it when it gets released, I'm a huge fan of McQueen-Fassbender movies. But there is a lot of pollution going around, you just can't compare "12 Years a Slave" with "Django Unchained", they differ by miles, since this one is a biopic, and D.U. was an Adventure,Western,Action movie… i just don't see why you would compare them (even thou they both tell the story of a slave) knowing that they belong on different genres. Anyway, Cheers !!!
Unlike Hunger or Shame this feels like a straight up awards season movie, don't see why it couldn't cross over, could be more people interested in this type of subject matter than the industry realizes.
Looks amazing.. This is the anti-Django!
It looks impressive and will get awards recognition. Is it me or isn't the music in the beginning Time from the Inception score just slowed down?
some of y'all may get to thinkin':
"where's his pimpin-ass suits? and that funny horse of his? and that loud-ass hip-hop blaring throughout every action-packed fight scene? AND why are they not dropping the n-bomb like it never went out of fashion!!!??"
well, this ain't the film for you if you're that way inclined, mister… this ain't that film at all.*
Can't wait to see this. Ejiofor looks great; as for Fassbender, if he is once again ignored by the Academy, then they've lost all credibility.
Interesting they used "Journey to the Line" for this considering the track "Brandon" from Shame sounds almost exactly like it and probably wouldn't have cost them anything to get rights to. McQueen is awesome.
This looks fantastic and is based on awesome source material. Not too keen on the poster though, it reminds me of a Tom Cruise action movie.
Movie looks terrific, and Chiwetel Ejiofor in particular looks incredible.
Fuck me, the cast for this movie is incredible! How ever did McQueen manage to pull this shit together? And the Northup source text is a superb choice.
Fox Searchlight moved up the release date to October, remember?