Tarantino

Twelve Years a Slave...an amazing, impeccably acted, emotionally taxing film that I'll never want to see again.

Dr. DVD

Yeah, me too. It was a great movie, but I don't see myself ever watching it again or having any burning desire to do so. It's just too much of an ordeal.

Solid Snake

So.... When I wa a kid we saw Schindler's List. Cuz you know it's a pretty damn big look at the Holocaust and whatnot. Could this film be something like that? To understand and show certain elements of history to classes? Or is it too close to home? Too much for public schools?

I haven't seen it yet but I was just wondering. We never saw a film on the slave history here, aside from docs. We almost saw Roots but we ran behind in the schedule so that was cut from the syllabus.

Troy Stiffler

I wasn't as "moved" as you guys. I was impressed by the atmosphere and theater-like qualities. The way the actors did their job during very long takes. I'll watch it again sometime.

The material is very hard (physical/verbal/psychological abuse, rape, etc.). I saw it, mostly, as a story about how he used his intelligence to keep his stuff together and held out hope the whole time.

Dr. DVD

As of right now, this would be my choice for Best Picture and Ejiofor for Best Actor. My fear is that they lose out to "Gravity" (which I loved ) for Picture because that was a movie that appealed to everyone and had stars the public liked, and then Actor goes to Robert Redford because it's one of those lifetime achievement deals. Hope not, but fear so.

Mondo Kane

“Devils on the Doorstep makes every other film you see afterwards seem small.” - Steven Soderbergh, film director.

For me, 12 Years a Slave now holds that statement. I doubt that I'll ever see a gripping drama that equals this.

devilshalo

I just never felt that sense of time (12 years) during the film. How long was he with Ford before being sold to Epps? What became of Armsby after Platt was able to talk his way out of his accusation? Who was the girl that forced herself on him and why? And how did no one come to look for him after his wife and kids went away? AND HOW THE HELL DOES PATSY PICK 5X MORE COTTON THAN ANYONE ELSE?!

Dr. DVD

The memoir is told entirely from his POV, he didn't know what was happening with his family at the time. In terms of Patsy, I think it could be inferred that Epps was making it appear she was doing such to drive the average up and use it as an excuse to beat the other slaves.

inri222

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Supermallet

I never got the idea that Patsy's numbers were being inflated. She was just really good at what she did.

devilshalo

Also, there was a child that Epps was playing with and holding (after the rape and whipping of Patsy).. was that the result of his thing with Patsy or a whole different child? Again, I found passage of time and incidents unfolding tough to determine things. And unless Armsby was summarily dismissed, I would have thought either a confrontation between he and Platt would have possibly occurred after Epps approaches him about his letter. And the woman at the beginning, was that supposed to be Sarah Paulson? It didn't look like her, but could see how she may have taken a fancy towards him because of Epps feelings towards Patsy.

Mondo Kane

I see how this could throw off other viewers too, but much like the way Eliza was forced to forget all about her children, Solomon would've been forced to forget all about time. I wouldn't even be surprised if he finally found out the correct date untill he got back home.

Mr. Cinema

I missed this one in theaters. I'm hoping once it racks up some Oscar nominations that Fox will give it a quick re-release theatrically.

Daytripper

Riveting film. I can see it getting the most nominations this year. And it would deserve every single one. Just amazing.

Solid Snake

That's what I got out of it too, Supermallet from almost 2 months ago.

Indy Jones Fan

I was wondering this as well. Unless I missed something, it just seemed so random.

sauce07

I think the point of it was to show that despite living in horrible conditions and being treated like animals, these people still had human needs and wanted to connect with others. I found that scene very sad.

Throwing Copper

I knew this would be a good film, but I really loved it.

Only gripe would be Brad Pitt putting himself in this. He just can't talk in any other voice or even disguise his own voice a bit.

That was distracting, especially coming near the end of the movie.

Osiris3657

He should change his voice for the sake of changing it? Just so you don't realize that the character is played by Brad Pitt? What? Sounds like you just don't like him.

Who are some other A list American actors who don't speak in their "regular" voice in most of their films unless the character specifically calls for a change to their voice? Oh, you can't think of anyone? Surprising.

Pitt is very capable of speaking in different voices and accents. 12 Monkeys and Snatch are perfect examples.

Troy Stiffler

Can't that guy just put a paper bag over his head? Stop stealing my women!

beavis69

This one feel flat for me big time. Decent acting but the ending seemed very rushed and the families reaction at the end was so wooden I almost started laughing. Surprised at the acclaim for this movie. It's subject matter has been done numerous times before so the story itself was not revelatory. Just feels like a movie made to win an Oscar. Most likely will.

Mondo Kane

Aside from Goodbye Uncle Tom, name some other examples.

bootsy

Skipping all the nonsense and untruths in your post, this movie/subject matter has not been done numerous times before or even once before. Northrup's story has not been told in a major motion picture like this. Tell me one movie that is very similar to this movie. You won't be able to but I'm sure you'll try. Not to mention the source material is one of the most important written accounts of the conditions Northrup and other slaves were forced through. And saying the family's reaction at the end was wooden. What the hell movie were you watching

Mr. Cinema

Saw this today and thought it was really outstanding. One of the better acted films of the year, along with Wolf of Wall Street. The fact that it lost the SAG to American Hustle is completely laughable. McQueen absolutely deserves Best Director. If this loses to Gravity, or even worse, American Hustle, for Best Picture, it'll be yet another embarrassing mistake from the Academy.

Defiant1

I think you can forgive Brad Pitt for a small cameo, as this movie wouldn't even exist without him.