12 YEARS A SLAVE- Page 3

[dented146]

Posted: 11/11/13 at 1:30am

It's a wonderful movie with great performances from top to the bottom. In my opinion the pace is slow at times but it's a tough subject matter and I thought McQueen did a fine job finding solid ground moving forward.

Having said that, I thought Mathew McConaughey was just spectacular in DBC. I liked what he did better.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 11/11/13 at 1:01pm

My issues with the movie are not that it was shock porn. As I've said, I found the book far more graphic and relentless a depiction of violence. But I found myself crying many times while reading the book, deeply drawn into the characters, the suffering, their choices, and their world. I didn't dislike the movie and find much to admire in it, but it simply didn't move me anywhere near the way the book did. There are moments in McQueen movies when I am in awe of his work, and yet the scripts leave me wanting so much more when I consider the treatment of the subjects. I find a couple of scenes (Mulligan's cabaret act, the final scene on the train) in Shame unforgettable but - again as a function of the script more than the direction - the movie struck me as a failed opportunity to compellingly explore sexual unmanageability in a meaningful way.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 12/14/13 at 7:17pm

Saw this on the same day as Dallas Buyer's Club. Didn't love it, but great acting. Dallas Buyer's Club...loved it. MAJOR SPOILER, MAJOR SPOILER,MAJOR SPOILER. For those that read the book (12 Years A Slave). Does it explain how Solomon's wife was able to hold on to her house for all those years without the benefit of additional income from her husband? I did not find it realistic that during that time, a young woman with small children, would be able to afford what looked like a pretty nice house.

Updated On: 12/14/13 at 07:17 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/14/13 at 8:56pm

In my opinion, Dallas Buyer's Club is a terrific little film. 12 Years a Slave is and landmark achievement.

[DAME]

Posted: 12/14/13 at 9:07pm

I think everyone telling me it is a landmark achievement diminished its effect on me. You know how that goes. Loved Dallas Buyers Club. But really not blown away by anything this year. What is wrong with me?

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/15/13 at 9:37am

Because you have expectations, preferences, and standards that aren't being met by this year's crop of films.

While I haven't seen as many as you have, Dame, I feel the same way. The subject matters of the 2013 movies (overall) don't interest me. They all feel recycled. Even the "edgy indy" movies feel like ten years ago and even more cliche than the tentpole films. I can't get excited about seeing any of them.

Just checked out Before Midnight and was bored through most of it and disappointed by the end ... after loving the first two films.

A lot of "going through the motions."

My favorite of the year (not a perfect film by any means) didn't even register on anybody's "good" list ... The Great Gatsby. I'll go see Saving Mr. Banks, but I'm not expecting it to be "wow" either.

Bring on 2014!

[ArtMan]

Posted: 12/15/13 at 12:17pm

Best12Bars, I would like to recommend Mud. One of my favorite movies this year. Great original story with fantastic acting.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/15/13 at 2:43pm

I don't think I'll ever understand the love that MUD got. I rushed to see it and struggled throughout it to keep my eyes opened. I honestly thought it was one of the most boring films ever made.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 12/15/13 at 3:05pm

I had little expectations. I had read the review in Entertainment Weekly and knew a little of the plot. I found the dvd in a pawn shop for $1.50 and decided to take a chance. I really enjoyed it. I guess that is why I didn't love 12 Years A Slave. I heard the hype of what a great film it was, so I had high expectations going in. Was quite disappointed. Maybe if I had not read and heard all the glowing reviews, maybe I would have loved it more.

[strummergirl]

Posted: 12/15/13 at 3:08pm

As a fan of Jeff Nichols, it just felt like Mud was a step into the all too familiar, derivative coming of age film. Tye Sheridan was really good and Ray McKinnon and Sarah Paulson made the most of their screen-time.

Frances Ha was probably my favorite of the year.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/15/13 at 3:12pm

I just picked up FRANCES HA at Barnes & Noble! Criterion blu-ray is all buy one get one free, plus they emailed me a 25% off coupon plus my member discount, so I had to get it since it was one of the best films I saw all year, as well.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 12/15/13 at 3:13pm

Strummergirl, what other Jeff Nichols films would you recommend? I don't know his work. I almost thought he wrote and directed Winter's Bone, which is a favorite of mine, but of course he didn't.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 12/15/13 at 3:13pm

Strummergirl, what other Jeff Nichols films would you recommend? I don't know his work. I almost thought he wrote and directed Winter's Bone, which is a favorite of mine, but of course he didn't.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/15/13 at 3:16pm

He's only done four films. Of those, I thought TAKE SHELTER was pretty remarkable and well worth checking out.

[strummergirl]

Posted: 12/15/13 at 3:17pm

Debra Granik directed Winter's Bone.

He's directed 2 others. Shotgun Stories and Take Shelter. Like the first one love the second one. Both prominently feature Michael Shannon and share the themes of family and stubbornness but Take Shelter is breakthrough in a way where once you see it, I think it is better understood why Mud disappointed me.

Jordan, bought Frances Ha too. It's something I recommended to all my friends and I've had a 100% success-rate.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/30/14 at 5:43pm

I finally saw this move today. I will set up my "review" by saying I resisted it until now, because I am not a fan of "torture" movies or relentless violence, and I had heard from enough people that the violence was extremely hard to take. I also had a sense, perhaps from the media or from the advertising, that this was an "important" film that everybody should see. That's almost the kiss of death to me. I immediately have a bad reaction to anyone who tells me I should see something because "it will make me a better person." That kind of recommendation only backfires on me. I usually avoid the film at all costs, and I also think very little of the condescending person (or studio) who suggests such a notion to me. My first thought is, "Really? F*ck you!"

I tried to get as much of this resistance out of my system before I saw the film, but it's fair to say I went in with my own preconceptions and bias, just as we all do. And while I didn't love it, I didn't hate it either. There were moments that were extremely powerful. Also moments that were incredibly slow, and to little effect. The performances carry the film. The direction often undermines the storytelling just as much as it elevates it. I really don't think Steve McQueen deserves an Oscar for his direction. At times it was the weakest aspect. The dialogue is stilted and stylized. Sometimes it's smart and poetic. Sometimes it's clunky and bad. Again, the performances carry it through.

Chiwetel Ejiofor does the heavy lifting of taking us on the journey, and he does a fine job of it. A well deserved nomination, and I"m glad he's getting noticed for his work. I thought Sarah Paulson was just as good as Lupita Nyong'o. They are both very powerful supporting performances.

There really wasn't a bad performance in the film, and there are a lot of good, smaller roles throughout the story.

The story is the best thing about this project. The script is good, the direction is wildly uneven, and the performances are outstanding.

It's not the best movie I've seen this year, and I haven't even seen that many so far. I don't regret seeing this one. The violence was intense but not prolonged or overindulgent to make the point. Cinematography, Art Direction, and Costumes are all fine, but not what I would call Oscar-worthy.

I thought the score was really good, along the lines of the modern, synthetic music found in There Will Be Blood. It's not highly original anymore. It's pretty trendy with today's filmmakers ... but it works well.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/30/14 at 5:49pm

Wow, it sounds like that movie had to overcome a lot of your baggage to work for you. I'm not surprised it couldn't.

I thought it was a singular achievement and the best mainstream American film I saw all year. I'm not particularly interested in debating it, we like what we like. I happened to think the direction was superb.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/30/14 at 5:54pm

Some of it worked for me, some of it didn't.

And I wish more people would admit to their own baggage or preconceptions when they see any film.

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 1/30/14 at 5:58pm

I'm so glad others agree with me on Paulson's performance. She was radiant and definitely deserves as much (if not more) attention as Lupita Nyong'o. I saw the film back in October and the more I remember it, the less I like it. I believe Gravity and American Hustle are both superior films.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/30/14 at 6:07pm

It is not possible for me to disagree more with anyone who thinks Gravity is a better film than 12 Years.

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 1/30/14 at 6:08pm

Thanks, good to know.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/30/14 at 6:13pm

I think 12 Years a Slave is a better overall film than Gravity, but I also think Gravity was better directed and has a brilliant central performance by Bullock.

[DAME]

Posted: 1/30/14 at 6:15pm

I wasn't as blown away with 12 years as everyone else. Strong subject matter . But I think the film was uneven and had some serious pacing issues.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/30/14 at 6:15pm

"Gravity" is such high-gloss junk. Sadly, it's also the only one of the Best Picture nominees I've already seen, so I'll have to sit through it a second time at the AMC Best Picture Showcase in a few weeks. It's "Avatar" all over again.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/30/14 at 6:17pm

I don't think it holds a teeny tiny candle the size of the one you put on a birthday cupcake you buy for somebody at work at the last minute because they reminded you at lunch that it's their special day to the central performance of 12 years.

But her performance is definitely the focus in the parlor trick that is Gravity.

Updated On: 1/30/14 at 06:17 PM