Tuesday, October 22, 2013 | TechNews

 

Movie Review:

‘Twelve Years A Slave' composed of dark, poignant scenes

Melanie Decelles
STAFF WRITER

I like to review bad movies. I prefer
to describe the quality of the fake blood and
plastic limbs sent flying past the faces of giant
robots. Every now and then though, I can be
talked into a ‘good’ movie, the kind that will
make me think about the artistry involved and
its reflection on humanity; so this week I will
put aside my glowing review for “Machete Kills”
and implore you all to go see “ 12 Years A Slave.”

It becomes apparent from the very
first scene that when director Steve McQueen
decided to adapt the memoir of the same name
he knew what a large task he was undertaking;
and he rose to the challenge with gusto. Every
set and costume was flawless and detailed
from the rufiles on wealthy women’s trims to
the cravats of the landowners. The music was
all made from acoustic instruments and many
of the songs were sung by the actors in the
scenes. The combination of all of these details,
the finely crafted metal coins the slaves were
given to identify themselves when they left the
property and the spirituals sung by the actors
as they worked made this intense film a fully
irnmersive experience.

The film follows Solomon Northup,
a free man played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, a
violinist from upstate New York who is sold
by his business associates into slavery. The film
alludes to the common nature of this practice as
Solomon finds himself with other black people,
some of whom were already slaves some who
weren’t, who have been kidnapped and are
about to be brought to the south to be sold as

slaves again. Early in the film one of Solomon’s
fellow captives is freed from their captivity by
his owner who has come to ‘rescue’ him from
being sold.

As the man that spent weeks in
darkened cells and locked under board on
a slave ship with Solomon is taken away he
never gives Solomon a parting glance, unable
to feel anything but relief that he is no longer
in danger. This act will be repeated multiple
times throughout the film as it goes into the true
dehumanizing nature of slavery. Where people
are kept afraid for their lives at every turn they
lose all ability to offer each other compassion;
they might sneak one another a drink of water
and tend each other’s wounds but they become
less and less likely to speak out of turn on
another’s behalf as they are brutalized again and
again. McQueen worked his hardest to provide
as realistic a View of slavery as possible with
long and lingering shots on hanged men and
flesh ripped open. The end result is difficult to

YEARS
A S LAVE

Image courtesy of schoolraclccom

 

watch but impossible to turn away from.

The story is told by some of the
best actors McQueen could find. Benedict
Cumberbatch plays Solomon’s first owner Mr.
Ford, who is offered up as a best case scenario
for a slave. Not a master that will free you but at
the very least not want you brutalized without
reason. In an effort to save Solomon’s life he
passes him on to Edwin Epps a cotton farmer.
Michael Fassbender’s turn as Edwin Epps is one
of the darkest and most chilling portrayals of
human cruelty I have ever seen.

Lupita Nyong’o plays Patsy, the young
slave that Epps harbors a deep obsession with;
her performance alone is a powerhouse and
combined the two of them are electric. When
she pleads with him your heart breaks, when
he beats her in response it’s almost more than
can be born. Solomon befriends Patsy in a way.
They are often paired and at times he is held
responsible for her but still there is only so much
compassion he has to offer her. Solomon who

vowed to not let his sorrow consume
him but to always work towards his
freedom draws further and further
into himself as each year goes by,
learning how to play the role of a
good slave right before our very eyes.
Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Solomon is one
of the most nuanced and beautiquy
acted characters you will ever see.
Ejiofor’s ability to capture
despair and the breaking of his spirit
done in most scenes in complete
silence shown only through his eyes is
beyond masterful. The story, already so
hellish and difficult to watch, requires
a strong and sympathetic lead Ejiofor
gives the audience that in droves as a man who
has had his basic humanity stolen from him at
a moment’s notice. When he begins to refer to
himself only as his slave name and tell only the
lie his slaver told him about his past, you realize
that you are watching the breaking of a good and
talented man.

This movie is dark. It will offer many
squeamish moments and the type of agonizing
silences that most go to movies to avoid. But
if you have the stomach, and the two and a
half hours to spare, this movie will completely
entrap you in its world and leave you blinking
on the sidewalk unable to move on from its
dramatic images. To say it is moving would be an
understatement. And with awards season right
around the corner it’s safe to say that Nyong’o
deserves a nomination at the very least. Ejiofor
on the other hand WILL receive an Oscar for
his performance even if I have to make him one
out play-doh and mail it to him.

 

    
 
 
 

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Tower I West lobby (indoors) MSV I Dock (north of main entrance)

OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY

October 26 9o m-l pm

Electronic Waste Only: laptops - computers - tablets - televisions -

cellphones '- printers

- monitors - DVD players - video game consoles

scanners - computer mice - fax machines - keyboards

DROP OFF LOCATION:

A truck will be parked on the street between MTCC and MSV
at the intersection of 33rd and Wabash on the HT Campus

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wiped clean all personal information From the devices; ll‘T Will notbe undertaking such efforts and
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it ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY)

Officeol Cam us Lite

Daniel Trust, a Rwandan Genocide Survivor '
and GLBT Advocate will be speaking on
campus on Thursday at 7:00 pm in the
MTCC Auditorium. Come hear his story!

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Wicked 8. Fright Fest tickets will
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To see when you can sign up!

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Have you been redding ”The Meunmg of
Matthew” with us? Come to the book club
wrap- up on 10/29 @ 7 pm in MTCC Aud

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