Steve McQueen's newest film 12 Years a Slave is going to win big at the next Academy Awards. It's an amazing, gut-wrenching film, and doesn't pull any punches by portraying slavery as pure misery, punctuated by sadism, violence, and cruelty. I looked around the theater from time to time and saw people with their heads in their hands. During some of the more horrific scenes, other patrons walked out.
I guess it took a British filmmaker to tackle the issue head-on, since we Americans have had the cinematic opportunity for over 100 years, and just can't quite get around to making a clear-eyed movie about the Peculiar Institution.
My prediction? 12 Years a Slave will take:
- Best Picture
- Best Director
- Best Actor
- Best Supporting Actor
