Release Date
October 18, 2013 (Limited)
DVD Release Date
March 4, 2014 (Buy on Amazon)
Director
Steve McQueen
Writer
John Ridley
Cast
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Garret Dillahunt, Paul Giamatti, Scoot McNairy, Lupita Nyong’o, Adepero Oduye, Sarah Paulson, Brad Pitt, Michael Kenneth Williams, Alfre Woodard, Chris Chalk, Taran Killam and Bill Camp
Studio
Running Time
133 minutes
MPA Rating
Rated R for violence/cruelty, some nudity and brief sexuality
"12 Years a Slave" is based on an incredible true story of one man's fight for survival and freedom. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty (personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by Michael Fassbender), as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth... Full synopsis »
MOVIE REVIEW
They call it unflinching. The term "essential cinema" has been tossed around. It is the movie to beat this awards season. But is it? Is it really? 12 Years a Slave, the true-life drama about a black freeman who is kidnapped in pre-Civil War 'Merica and sold into slavery, is a terrific movie... but it's not quite the masterpiece it's cracked up to be. Full movie review »
