12 Years a Slave Review
RYAN: This is one of the bigger, more important films of the year, getting much Oscar buzz and deservedly so; but, it is an absolute nightmare. It’s a true story of one’s man’s real nightmare in the 1840s – a free man kidnapped and thrown into slavery – and it is as painful and wrenching to watch as any disturbing thing you’ve ever seen. I was sick to my stomach for much of this film
CHUCK: Honestly, most of the film was slightly blurry for me because I started crying about a half an hour in and didn’t stop. It’s unsettling, more than that. What an unbelievably powerful movie.
RYAN: It’s disturbing on a level that as bad as it is to watch, knowing it actually happened, it’s harder to know that even worse occurred. We don’t normally dwell on the lowest points of humanity on a day to day basis – the holocaust, slavery… but they’re heinous acts of humanity and it’s so hard to watch. It’s done so amazingly – with the art design, editing, performances, cinematography – all so strong it puts you there. It’s not like watching a TV docudrama about his story. This movie makes you relive it with him.
CHUCK: That’s a great way of putting it. It’s not glossy in any way. There’s no feel of a Hollywood touch to it, aside from some of the big stars in the cast. The cast is stellar.
RYAN: Chiwetel Ejiofor is already getting buzz for a leading actor nom and he gives such an outstanding performance – ah! This is one of the roles that must have been exciting to get, as an actor, because you know it’s a big role in a good movie, but then you have to go through all these experiences, as close a possible. I don’t know how actors do it; must be so uncomfortable
CHUCK: Equally impressive on the other side is Michael Fassbender. What a great role to be cast as but how do you go to bed at night?
RYAN: His range as an actor and diversity of employment is impressive. He is a villain in this but he had moments of hesitation.
CHUCK: No – not really with guilt – he really only hesitated in his own actions for one person. He was evil.
RYAN: And as bad or worse was the his wife portrayed by Sarah Paulson.
CHUCK: She was the devil. And this is a part of American history that we haven’t been taught about – Free Americans who were sold back into slavery. Even the small scene with Alfre Woodard gives you a different perspective on the time.
RYAN: She did what she had to do. There was a lot of helplessness and survival going on. There were no considerations for slaves. It’s disgusting that slavery even existed at the time that it did for as long as it did. How people can dehumanize others, I will never comprehend.
CHUCK: Slave owners twisted the words in the bible to justify their bad behavior.
RYAN: Some people still do that today. Other great performances in evil roles are Paul Dano, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti…
CHUCK: Paul and Michael need to do a musical next.
RYAN: (laughs) Tap dancing and jazz hands would be a pleasure. On the other side, this amazing Kenyan actress – Lupita Nyong’o – was amazing.
CHUCK: She went to the Yale Drama School.
RYAN: What she portrayed was brutal and intense.
CHUCK: All performances were steller. The only casting I didn’t like was Brad Pitt.
RYAN: He produced the film.
CHUCK: But three-quarters of the way through, there he is and it took me out of it a bit before I got back into it. I was, like, “And there’s Brad Pitt.”
RYAN: See I notice and name all actors in my head all the time in any movie. Brad was fantastic in this and I get over that really quickly.
CHUCK: He was really good in the role. Everyone was.
RYAN: Just the hair, makeup, costumes, sets, environments – looks to have spared no expense in design you felt like you were in the field with these slaves picking cotton.
CHUCK: It was amazing, even the score.
RYAN: I don’t feel like I’d want to sit through this again, but I do feel like it’s really important to see and have as a movie-going experience. I actually did feel pain and discomfort walking out of it…
CHUCK: I feel like I need a therapy session.
RYAN: (laughs) Exactly. We need to talk about it. But that’s the power of film. This is a story that is important to share and revisit and realize it wasn’t all that long ago.
CHUCK: Especially for the younger generations.
RYAN: We need to honor his story, remember and help propel the commonalities of humanity and the equality regardless of differences and never let any sort of aftershocks of these horrific events remain. It’s a great film and also good to see for awards season.
