12 Years a Slave *****

It's hard to exaggerate how good this film is. Told cinematically without the glossy remove of many historical dramas, "12 Years a Slave" depicts the brutal enslavement of a free black man, Solomon Northup, kidnapped in Washington D.C. who survived to regain his freedom and publish his story in 1853. John Ridley's screenplay plunges us into Northup's desperate and humiliating situation, then takes us back to the beginning of the story, all told cleanly and in the locutions of the period and the original author himself from a perspective inside the peculiar institution.

Much happens in the 12 years, and the movie takes the time to depict each highlight. Even though it's 2 and a quarter hours, there's nothing extraneous or superfluous, and the viewer's attention does not flag. Steve McQueen's direction is often close-up as he draws outstanding performances from an incredible cast. Chiwetel Ejiofor leaps to the highest level of his profession with his portrayal of Northup. Michael Fassbender, a mainstay of McQueen's oeuvre, delivers an electric performance as the sadistic plantation owner Edwin Epps. Lupita Nyong'o and Adepero Oduye are also in award nomination territory, inhabiting their slave characters' suffering fearlessly.

The movie is searing and touching. In Denver it's available only at The Mayan for now, but with strong word of mouth, and near-universal critical acclaim, I'm sure Fox Searchlight will be expanding the limited release run soon. And as we head into award season I expect multiple nominations for for this outstanding motion picture.