12 Years a Slave

What I liked:

• It's crazy to me that this is based on a book written 160 years ago.  Why wasn't this story told sooner on the big screen?
• The story is intense and director Steve McQueen doesn't cut away from uncomfortable moments.  If anything he stays on them too long so that you really start to feel for what Solomon went through.
• Chiwetel Ejifor is fantastic as Solomon Northup.  He has a great shot at an Oscar nomination.
• Lupita Nyong'o is wonderful as Patsey.  The character almost flies under the radar for most of her screen time but then has a scene of a lifetime.
• A lot of people are talking about an Oscar nomination for Nyong'o (and it would be well deserved) but I think she has some competition from Sarah Paulson who plays heartless like no other.
• Michael Fassbender plays evil so well.
• The rest of the cast is a knockout as well: Dwight Henry, Bryan Batt, Kelsey Scorr, Quvenzhané Wallis, Scoot McNairy, Taran Killam, Adepero Oduye, Michael K. Williams, Paul Giamatti, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Alfre Woodward, and Brad Pitt.
• Pitt looked like his character from Legends of the Falls...just 20 years older.

• Great cinematography and camera work.
• Fantastic makeup and special effects.

What I didn't like:

• I would have liked a moment between Solomon and Anne at the end.

Grade: A-