12 Years a Slave

12 Years a Slave, 2013. A man is kidnapped and enslaved.

Directed by Steve McQueen. Written by John Ridley, based on a book by Solomon Northup. Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, with Adepero Oduye, Paul Giamatti, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o & Brad Pitt.

Concept: C
Story: B
Characters: They're exactly what they need to be. B
Dialog: A
Pacing: A
Cinematography: A
Special effects/design: A
Acting: A
Music: B
Enjoyment: With movies like this, about atrocities and horrors, it's usually the case that the more well made they are, the worse the experience of watching them is. This is somehow an exception. It's strongly affecting and emotionally draining. But I never once wished I wasn't seeing it. B

GPA: 3.4/4