Oct 16, 20 if it werent for brad pitt, we may not have ever seen 12 years a slave, director steve mcqueens new reallife precivil war drama. Reflecting on the film in a new interview with the big issue, mcqueen said that while the success of 12 years a slave opened a lot of doors for other filmmakers, he did have to field a. British director steve mcqueens film 12 years a slave about the real life experiences of solomon northup has been nominated for nine oscars, and it deserves every one. Steve mcqueens 12 years a slave is the greatest movie about slavery ever made. The film was shot on a louisiana plantation that sits next door to where solomon northup spent his years as a slave. Steve mcqueen forces us to confront the brutality of slavery mcqueen confronts what few filmmakers have been prepared to address. Oct 17, 20 steve mcqueens devastating new movie, 12 years a slave, begins with the words based on a true story and ends with a description of what happened to solomon northup and his assailants. John ridley screenplay by, solomon northup based on twelve years a slave by. Jan 04, 2014 his new film 12 years a slave is an unflinching look at human brutality.
Being a fan of steve mcqueens work has prepared me for his unflinching truism in depicting the actualities of the. But director steve mcqueens childhood contains a painful secret he has never confronted. A discussion of steve mcqueens film 12 years a slave the. Steve mcqueens acclaimed film 12 years a slave is brutal in its honesty. Culture film features steve mcqueens acclaimed film 12 years a slave is brutal in its honesty. The latest entry in this unlikely genre is 12 years a slave, the director steve mcqueens adaptation of solomon northups 1853 memoir. Steve mcqueens historical masterpiece 12 years a slave 20. Fox searchlight has debuted the theatrical trailer for steve mcqueens new film 12 years a slave, starring chiwetel ejiofor as solomon. Director steve mcqueen told a toronto international film festival press conference on saturday that he knows why some viewers find the violence and brutality in his new film 12 years a slave. Written for the screen by an american, john ridley, but directed by englishman steve mcqueen, 12 years a slave is the most clinical and visceral addition to the recent confluence of major works to focus on the subject, following steven spielbergs stately lincoln, quentin tarantinos flip, pop trashfest django unchained both of which.
Oct 18, 20 director steve mcqueen used louisiana plantations as sets to give the film 12 years a slave, starring chiwetel ejiofor, michael fassbender and lupita nyongo, the right feel. Solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor gives an empowering speech in steve mcqueens new drama, 12 years a slave. If it werent for brad pitt, we may not have ever seen 12 years a slave, director steve mcqueens new reallife precivil war drama. Oct 17, 20 director steve mcqueen left works with actors on the set of 12 years a slave. Nov 23, 20 12 years a slave is a film that necessity and education demand seeing. Steve mcqueens acclaimed film 12 years a slave is brutal in. Steve mcqueens 12 years a slave, adapted by john ridley from solomon northups 1853 memoir, is structured as a peripatetic journey to, and through, hell on earth. Though the films subject matter is exceedingly rough, the loveliness of the land reinforced in mcqueen and bobbitts minds that 12 years a slave should be filmed in a composed. Director of oscarwinning movie says people want to close their eyes on. English manufacturer steve mcqueens 12 years a slave, which discharged in india a week ago, doesnt simply show that subjection is horrendous and merciless and grisly and harmful however goes ahead to exhibit, on the off chance that you overlooked it the first tell you, or the second time or the 3rd or fourth or fifth time, that subjugation is. For his 20 film 12 years a slave, a historical drama adaptation of an 1853 slave narrative memoir, he won an academy award, bafta award for best film, and golden globe award for best motion picture drama, as a producer, and he also received the award for best director from the new. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by michael fassbender, as well as unexpected kindnesses, solomon. I wasnt familiar with the book the film was based off, but i knew more or less what to expect with the subject matter, considering the title. He is a director and writer, known for 12 years a slave 20, shame 2011 and hunger 2008.
Steve mcqueens historical masterpiece 12 years a slave. He makes his living as a fiddle player, and his partner can be an educator. For such an important and horrific subject matter, 12 years a slave stands on its own as a moving piece of art. Steve mcqueen, the director of 12 years a slave, narrates a sequence from his film. Walter johnson has put northup at the center of his two major books, but so did eugene genovese, who cited twelve years a slave no fewer than 28 times in roll, jordan, roll, far more than any other slave narrative. And steve mcqueen may well become the first black filmmaker to win an. Director steve mcqueen on his brutal 12 years a slave. Steve mcqueens 12 years a slave superstars chiwetel ejifor as solomon northup, a free dark man in 1840s america. Steve mcqueens powerful 12 years as slave, based on solomon northups 1853 account of his abduction into slavery, has drawn the scrutiny of historians and literary critics as well as other more vocal detractors who in dismissing it as torture porn presume that it privileges sadism over realism. Its adept at showing how the slavers hateful descriptions of their victims are more than simply demeaning. Portraying the true story of solomon northup in steve mcqueens newest film 12 years a slave, actor chiwetel ejiofor delivers an extraordinarily powerful, nuanced, emotional, and brutal yet. For having covered such dark material in all three of his feature filmshunger 2008, shame 2011 and this years 12 years a slave steve mcqueen will be the first to admit hes. In the antebellum united states, solomon northup, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery.
Steve mcqueens 12 years a slave stars chiwetel ejifor as solomon northup, a free black man in 1840s america. If you want to survive, do and say as little as possible. See more ideas about 12 years a slave, slaves, michael fassbender. Nelson george discusses the film 12 years a slave with its director, steve mcqueen. Steve mcqueens 12 years a slave, adapted by john ridley from solomon northups 1853 memoir, is structured as a peripatetic journey to, and through, hell on earth after its prologue, the story proper begins when solomon chiwetel ejiofor is an almost prosperous free man, living with his wife and three children in saratoga spr. He makes his living as a fiddle player, and his wife is a teacher. Sir steven rodney mcqueen cbe born 9 october 1969 is a british artist, film director and screenwriter. Steve mcqueen does not hold back on the films depiction of slavery, but how could he. Director steve mcqueen, left, and actor chiwetel ejiofor discuss a scene on the set of mcqueens new orleansshot epic 12 years a slave.
Oct, 20 the latest entry in this unlikely genre is 12 years a slave, the director steve mcqueens adaptation of solomon northups 1853 memoir. Steve mcqueens devastating new movie, 12 years a slave, begins with the words based on a true story and ends with a description of what happened to solomon northup and his assailants. Northup, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. When steve mcqueens captivating new film, 12 years a slave opens, the protagonist, solomon northup, a kidnapped free black man from new york, is cutting sugar cane in the heat and mosquito infested bayou of louisiana. At the night of the academy awards in february 1940, the occasion was done as a banquet. Accolades are pouring in for mcqueens slave for its powerful depiction of slavery and the dynamo performances of its cast. Steve mcqueens film, in serving up a powerful interpretation of northups narrative to suit the present political and. Steve mcqueens 12 years a slave, anchored by brilliant chiwetel ejiofor, is a slavery movie for the ages. Oct 18, 20 steve mcqueen, the director of 12 years a slave, narrates a sequence from his film. Steve mcqueens 12 years a slave hanging lampshades. An extraordinary story of endurance, guile and hope.
Producers associated with 12 years make sure to rehearse proofs of the films validity as part of its promotion. Twelve years a slave is based on an incredible true story of one mans fight for survival and freedom. The rightwing backlash to 12 years a slave steve mcqueens acclaimed film is the new target of rightwingers who hate white guilt and love racial resentment. He is shanghaied by a pair of nefarious white men, and soon finds himself on a ship headed to new orleans where he is informed he will be called platt and is sold into. Steve mcqueen s 12 years a slave, anchored by brilliant chiwetel ejiofor, is a slavery movie for the ages eric kohn aug 31, 20 3. Apr 14, 2017 the rightwing backlash to 12 years a slave steve mcqueens acclaimed film is the new target of rightwingers who hate white guilt and love racial resentment. His story of a free new yorker, solomon northup, kidnapped and sold into. A discussion of steve mcqueens film 12 years a slave. In the precivil war united states, solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. Steve mcqueen today explained in more detail both the intentions and genesis of his film 12 years a slave, which has premiered to huge applause and a smattering of appalled walkouts.
Steve mcqueens acclaimed film 12 years a slave is brutal. After its prologue, the story proper begins when solomon chiwetel ejiofor is an almost prosperous free man, living with his wife and three children in saratoga springs. Reading a slave narrative or looking at the images of free. Brad pitt made 12 years a slave happen, says chiwetel. Dec 20, 20 take, for example, steve mcqueens recent monument, 12 years a slave. Brad pitt made 12 years a slave happen, says chiwetel ejiofor.
His new film 12 years a slave is an unflinching look at human brutality. Sep 07, 20 12 years a slave a torch for race relations, says steve mcqueen slavery was a gaping hole in film history and i thought to myself that i wanted to investigate and have a look, director says. Many sequences in steve mcqueens new movie, 12 years a slave the true story of a free black man kidnapped in 1841 and sold to southern plantation owners were. Oct 09, 20 solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor gives an empowering speech in steve mcqueens new drama, 12 years a slave. Steve mcqueen was born on october 9, 1969 in london, england as steve rodney mcqueen. Jan 10, 2014 the new york times, then less than two years into its distinguished existence, was among the first with the news. Sep 24, 20 steve mcqueens twelve years a slave stars chiwetel ejiofor of serenity, kinky boots, children of men, american gangster, salt as solomon northup, a man living in new york during the mid1800s.
Steve mcqueen films 12 years a slave on familiar territory. Most obviously, the fact that mcqueen s 12 years is based upon solomon northup s slave narrative, twelve years a slave 1853, is the most significant claim to historical accuracy. But director steve mcqueens childhood contains a painful secret he has never confronted sat 4 jan 2014 04. In an interview about the film, mcqueen explains his. The film was directed by steve mcqueen, and the screenplay was written by john. Early in steve mcqueens 12 years a slave, a louisiana plantationowner returns home with the two slaves hes just bought, a man and. Mcqueens films feel poetic and even in the most horrible situations find beauty in their cinematography. Jan 31, 2014 producers associated with 12 years make sure to rehearse proofs of the film s validity as part of its promotion. A discussion of steve mcqueens film 12 years a slave the new. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by michael fassbender, as well as unexpected kindnesses, solomon struggles not. Director steve mcqueens 12 years a slave is a powerful, stunning filmperhaps the finest ever made on the moral travesty of american slavery.
Jan 08, 2014 12 years a slave director steve mcqueen has said that when casting for the lead role of solomon northup in his oscarnominated film there was only one man up to the task. He is shanghaied by a couple of bad white men, and soon eventually ends up on a motorboat going to new orleans where he is educated hell be called platt. Take, for example, steve mcqueens recent monument, 12 years a slave. Mcqueen is an artist one of the most important artists to come out of britain in the last 25 years, in fact and film critics considerations of 12 years a slave have felt, to this art. With chiwetel ejiofor, michael kenneth williams, michael fassbender, brad pitt. In 12 years a slave, steve mcqueen juxtaposes beauty. Most obviously, the fact that mcqueens 12 years is based upon solomon northups slave narrative, twelve years a slave 1853, is the most significant claim to historical accuracy.
215 507 84 1174 946 1625 803 632 673 1617 972 985 518 420 144 693 608 1195 560 591 467 1274 156 171 1397 196 258 544 182