Comments on: Telluride Review: Steve McQueen’s ’12 Years A Slave’ Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender & More

By: james palmer

james palmer — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:09:42 +0000

i didn't care to much for fruit vale station,but loved the butler.

By: Alan b

Alan b — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:09:42 +0000

Haaaaa brrrere derrrrr

By: Alan B

Alan B — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:09:42 +0000

Another phenomenal review: "All the white characters are depicted as villains, which is bad, except the one character who isn't, and he's incongruous." Fascinating insight.

By: Based on a true account

Based on a true account — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:09:42 +0000

Why doesn't this review acknowledge that the movie is based on the true life autobiographical book of free man kidnapped and sold into slavery Solomon Northup? The white people you see depicted were real people not fictional characters, so complaining about their cruelty as some sort of disservice to audiences or to white people is bizarre. Also, I don't see you mention William Ford (played here by Benedict Cumberbatch) and his wife. They are white people in Northup's slave experience who maintain good conditions for their slaves and honestly want to be good people and benevolent slave owners. They are part of an unjust system and a bigoted culture, but within that context they are nice people. Northup appreciated Ford and his wife very much and praised them highly, unsurprising since his other owners were so awful and abusive.

By: Bill Edmunds

Bill Edmunds — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:09:41 +0000

I'm worried about the review's claim that Pitt plays the only likable white person. Having read Northup's memoir, I can tell you he had a deep respect and even love for his first owner, a man named William Ford (in the film played by Benedict Cumberbatch). Northup even said he would have willingly stayed with Ford his entire life if he could have had his family with him. Northup was keenly aware that Ford had grown up in a society that accepted people of african descent as being 'made' for slavery, and did not blame Ford for this sentiment, although he did ponder many times how Ford could be such a kind and generous man who did not see the hypocrisy of owning other human beings. Sounds like the film might not portray this character accurately. Then again, Fassbender's character appears to be an amalgam of two different characters, so I guess changes are inevitable.

By: Higher Value

Higher Value — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:09:41 +0000

I wish Hollywood was more careful and accountable about making these "Hyper Exaggerated -Sensitive Racial Movies". When they, (Producers/Actors) go back to the hills with their rich white friends, the regular white people go back to normal life, where there happens to be a lot super charged hyper racists black youth ready to bash "Massa's" head in.