Having not enjoyed 'Hunger' or 'Shame', I was worried I wasn't going to enjoy this much hyped film with director Steve McQueen at the helm. However, I needn't have worried as, although he still puts his trademark art house stamp on this film with some long laborious shots, the overall result is powerful, heartbreaking and fairly brutal.
Its a brave film too as it resists from including any schmaltzy moments of light hearted camaraderie or any forced melodramatic set pieces to pull at the audiences heart strings. Instead, it just focuses on the honest brutality of the whole situation and that alone has the desired effect. This is not a highly entertaining movie in terms of a cinematic experience but you cant take your eyes of it. Its not one for fans of pop corn films waiting on a shawshank redemption-esque ending. Its gruelling and difficult to watch at times but always captivating. The fact the it is very slow in places only emphasizes the long torturous years that people had to endure.
I'm not a fan of people predicting who will win oscars before they have seen all the nominated films but I'd be surprised if this doesn't win best film. Chiwetel Ejiofor will also be in the running for best actor but for me, Michael Fassbender is the real stand out.
8/10
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