12 Years a Slave

Directed By: Steve McQueen

 

Screenplay By: John Ridley (Based on the Book “Twelve Years A Slave” By: Solomon Northup)

 

Starring:

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Michael Fassbender

Benedict Cumberbatch

Paul Dano

Paul Giamatti

Lupita Nyong’o

Sarah Paulson

Brad Pitt

Alfre Woodard

 

12 Years a Slave is Steve McQueen’s monumental film about slavery and directorial follow up to his 2011 movie Shame.

 

This film follows the true story of Solomon Northup, a free man who is forced into slavery. This movie shows an unflinching look into the world of slavery.

 

Chiwetel Ejiofor gives a riveting performance as the films lead, in fact there is amazing performances all around, but the stand out performance in this movie is Michael Fassbender’s powerhouse portrayal of brutal slave owner Edwin Epps.

 

Steve McQueen doesn’t shy away from showing any of the brutal aspects of slavery, such as one point in the movie where we follow Solomon as he walks to a store to buy supplies for his “master”, when he crosses paths with a group of white men about to hang two black men from a tree.

 

This film is excellently written and directed, and although not my very favourite film of 2013 I would be very surprised if this movie does not get awarded with the “Best Picture” Academy Award.

 

10/10 – Cody

10/10 – Michael

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#2 On Cody’s list of favourite movies of 2013
#1 On Michael’s list of favourite movies of 2013

 

The Ides Of March

Directed By: George Clooney

 

Screenplay By:

George Clooney

Grant Heslov

Beau Willimon

(Based on the Play Farragut North By: Beau Willimon)

 

Starring:

Ryan Gosling

George Clooney

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Paul Giamatti

Evan Rachel Wood

Marisa Tomei

Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future – John F. Kennedy

Well after buying the DVD at the weekend after hearing great things, I finally got around to watching The Ides Of March yesterday

The Ides of March takes place during the last days before an Ohio presidential primary, where an ambitious campaign press secretary (Gosling) finds himself involved in a political scandal that threatens to ruin his candidate Governer Mike Morris’ (Clooney) shot at the presidency

During the film you are with the main character Stephen Meyers (Gosling) all the time which make you see the events of the film from his perspective which i think was a very good technique to use for this particular film

A big part of why i really like this movie is the acting. The acting is top notch all around, I can’t pick a favorite performance out of this movie but Philip Seymour Hoffman being one of my favorite actors I might lean more towards his direction

Also I think that George Clooney did a really good job of directing this movie and that the movie was paced very well. I would have to say that this is George Clooney’s best directed film to date

I really liked this movie from start to finish and anyone who likes political dramas should definitely watch this.

8/10 – Cody

8/10 – Michael

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