If I were to bet on which film is going to win the 2014 Best Picture Oscar, then I would be putting my money on 12 Years a Slave. While it has hot competition from American Hustle, Gravity, Her and The Wolf of Wall Street, this is the personal favourite for most people, so I was very excited to see it last night. A good film? Yes, very. Good acting? Yes, very. Did it live up to the hype? Definitely not. I liked this film, don't get me wrong - the performances from all the main cast were amazing (a scene where Ejiofor breaks the fourth wall and stares the audience out for about 20 seconds was the highlight of the film), and the pacing and directing were brilliant. But there isn't anything really new here. In years to come, I feel this will become THE slave film, however to me it felt like something I'd seen lots of times before. Another thing I liked about this film was how brutally honest it decided to be. Many films, however brutal they have been in the past, have still not captured the horror of slavery, and this I feel 12 Years A Slave did well. There were many moments I felt physically angry towards certain white characters, and so devastated for the African Amercan slaves, especially Eliza, who literally cries for weeks on end when she is split from her two young children when she is sold to Benedict Cumberbatch. A great film, a good length, couldn't have asked for a better cast, the small problem I have with this film is with the story - great as it is, the middle seems to meander around from scene to scene. I would also have enjoyed more closure, or more exploration into the effects that Solomon's kidnapping had on his family. Overall, a very good film, and definitely Oscar worthy, but not Best Picture worthy. Out of the 9 nominees, I have seen 3 - this, The Wolf of Wall Street and Gravity. I'm afraid to say, I prefer the latter two to this.
8/10
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