A brutal historical drama (based on a true story) in a muted, morose way. Watching this film, feels like being bludgeoned. Sorry for him, but only that. Not moved, or changed by the experience.
It feels like the movie is only the first half of the story, it would have been nice if what happened afterwards, the effect that Solomon had on human rights, had also been in the film.
This is a difficult situation. Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor – American Gangster, Love Actually, Dirty Pretty Things) is trapped, feels hopeless. Feels like there is no way home, no way to fight.
He reveals his talents, which are a part of his own nobility and bear the secret of it, and it only raises his cost. Trading in flesh is indecent. Just how terrible, is carefully stretched and drawn – to show how long 12 years really would feel, as a slave.
John Tibeats (Paul Dano – Looper, Little Miss Sunshine) is an excellent villain. The world, life itself is the true monster of this story. The only difference between John and the calm, noble master, Mr Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch) is that John knows he is the enemy of right. There could have been more drama to sift from these moments.
It is easier for a man to chase favour from the guards, when protestations of innocence and privilege bring only beatings. To survive, rather than cling to the hope of victory over his injustices.
We have seen this visual style (or lack of) so many times before. It looks ordinary, though the writing is solid, slow and deep. The struggle of this one character, Solomon, though somewhat predictable, draws sentiment. He just wants life to go back to normal, even if it means giving up any hope of freedom.
At the last, he tries to stand up, to fight, and achieves nothing but, in Ford, a slaver who is familiar with him. He thinks, a friend, but if so, he is a friend who will not fight for him, will not lift a finger to rise him up.
Life for these men never rises above pain. No life can ever be good after this, not while slavery is legal. There is too much message in this film and not enough expression, emotion, intellect. His pain is not our pain. His predicament, the failure of his God to live up to his expectations, brings a small droplet of sorrow and empathy.
The story is not epic. There are no great scenes. No great deliveries. There is one interesting meeting between Solomon and Mistress Shaw (Alfre Woodard – Star Trek: First Contact) where she shares small gifts like rising above her station, contrast is felt where his station is not the one he owns, because he is not a slave, though his life would state otherwise.
Magneto (Michael Fassbender) as Mr Epps is an interesting nobleman. He is in love with a black woman whom he owns – name of Patsey (Lupita Nyong’o,) a fine worker who does not even try to fight her position, until out of nowhere one night, she begs Solomon for mercy.
Mr Epps appears to cry from self-loathing. Treating people like things is the beginning of sin, but Mr Epps sees himself as pure, as faithful and his view of the world is sacrosanct.
It is endless, the despair. Here, there is a lag in the story, in anticipation of a sweaty violence, which Solomon refuses to engage in, ending Patsey’s pain.
Mr Epps is crazy with the heat, with his belief, with his Patsey addiction. And we arrive where the story began. Solomon’s pathetic try to write down his plea to home. We eventually discover the purpose of his writing and it seems a simple scheme to save his life.
You can never know what it’s like and this film makes no attempt to help you understand. It is not for the longest time, does he give up the last of his hope. The ending is slow but meaningful, Brad Pitt makes an untidy appearance, delivering a handshake of fate and perceived duty.
Poor Solomon.
1 star
the joy of eating and the folly of thinking 