12 Years A Slave

After wining the prestigious top prize at the 2013 Toronto Film Festival, 12 Years A Slave by British director Steve McQueen, is tipped for Oscar glory

Based on the memoir of Solomon Northup , a free man kidnapped then sold into slavery in Louisiana in 1841, this film illustrates the brutality African American slaves suffered during the 1800’s without any form of sugar-coating.

The drama boasts a heavyweight, award-worthy cast with Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender (unwaveringly believable as the sadistic planation owner) Benedict Cumberbatch and Paul Giamatti with Chiwetel Ejiofor, by the looks of things, giving a highly emotive and passionate performance as Northup.

Previous winners of the People’s Choice Award have been Slumdog Millionaire, The King’s Speech and Silver Linings Playbook all of which went on to have success at the Oscars. Despite nearly 6 months to go until the 2014 Oscars, the extremely hard-hitting, harrowing drama looks set to continue onto awards glory and if so McQueen could be the first ever black director to win Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture.

At the Toronto Film Festival screening, Brad Pitt who stars as well as producing, said “Steve was the first to ask the big question: why have there not been more films on American history of slavery? It took a Brit to ask it…And I just have to say: if I never get to participate in a film again, this is it for me.”

If you haven’t yet seen it, here is the 12 Years A Slave film trailer.

Do you think it will win big at the Oscars? Let us know @tweetjanes