"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 year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist (Brad Pitt) will forever alter his life.

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.
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