12 years a slave

[SKII]

Just had a cheeky wee midweek trip to the cinema to take advantage of Orange Wednesdays. Posh seats at the Omni for half price not to be sniffed at.

It's going to win things, of that there is no doubt. However, it has to be said it is a harrowing, graphic watch. I've seen it described by the odd reviewer as "violence porn". Not sure I'd go that far but it certainly leaves the likes of Roots and other productions standing in terms of the degree of unrelenting abuse in the plot. Realistic of that there is no doubt but it's heavy duty stuff over 2 hours 40 mins. Half the audience left the cinema in tears - male, female and all ages. Powerful stuff.

The cameo by Brad Pitt though is the one bit that felt a little out of place. It is Brad Pitt being Brad Pitt, playing the liberal nice guy he portrays in real life. A bit like Sean Connery in Red October.

 

[broonieboy]

Just sitting watching wolf of wall Street at home. DiCaprio puts in a cracking performance in a madcap story. Jonah Hill trumps him as supporting actor. Recommend this and American hustle.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Greenmachine]

I'm sure it is a great film and will probably win lots of Oscars...however I cannot watch any film anymore portraying the slave trade, the Holocaust or prison life. The first two of those are probably the most horrible degradations mankind has ever sunk to, and as far as prison films are concerned the whole idea of being slung in jail for something you didn't do just terrifies the life out of me and makes me sick. Sorry, I just can't pay money and see these things being portrayed on the big screen or anywhere to be honest

 

[hfc1875]

Seen all of the above and enjoyed them all.
Watched Captain Phillips & Dallas buyers club the other day I recommend them too.

 

[egb_hibs]

Just had a cheeky wee midweek trip to the cinema to take advantage of Orange Wednesdays. Posh seats at the Omni for half price not to be sniffed at.

It's going to win things, of that there is no doubt. However, it has to be said it is a harrowing, graphic watch. I've seen it described by the odd reviewer as "violence porn". Not sure I'd go that far but it certainly leaves the likes of Roots and other productions standing in terms of the degree of unrelenting abuse in the plot. Realistic of that there is no doubt but it's heavy duty stuff over 2 hours 40 mins. Half the audience left the cinema in tears - male, female and all ages. Powerful stuff.

The cameo by Brad Pitt though is the one bit that felt a little out of place. It is Brad Pitt being Brad Pitt, playing the liberal nice guy he portrays in real life. A bit like Sean Connery in Red October.

Not seen this but reading about it I am reminded of my old mums opinion of that Mel Gibson film about Christ - the one that is similarly brutal. My mum - as a much more devout catholic then I - absolutely hated it. She felt that the overall message and proper reflection on it was lost in wallowing in sadism, which in her view played to the self flagellating tendencies of the Gibson sort of Tim.

I wonder if she'd have detected something similar here - self flagellation has certainly trumped more balanced and considered reflection in many areas of secular life and thought, not least any consideration of western history, and certainly where race is involved.

I dunno. It's certainly not something I'd take in at the cinema so will need to reserve further opinion till it hits the telly.