We're now getting down to the toughest part of my Top 10 list. When I sat down to compile my list, I had my top three picked out right away. The problem was, I didn't know what order to put them in. Even as I've gone through the process of posting my other entries, I've switched the order of the final three around at least four or five times.
I suppose you can say that I have a three-way tie for first place.
All of the movies in the top three are, in my opinion, masterpieces, among the best movies of the last decade. In the end, when I had to decide what order to put them in, I decided to go with how they each stood up the best upon multiple viewings. That made it only slightly easier.
Ultimately, the order I've put these movies in only reflects my feeling today. I can't say that I'll feel the same way in the future. Of course, that's one of the things I love about movies, how they change and evolve in my mind over time.
Anyway, enough delay. Let's talk about 12 Years a Slave.
As you'll recall, I've already posted a fairly extensive review of this movie on the blog. So, I'm not going to try to recreate that here. But, I do want to post a few quick thoughts.
In my earlier post, I referred to this movie as "a cinematic kick to the balls." I also likened it to "a long, slow beating." After seeing the movie a second time, I think those descriptions are still pretty apt.
I don't think I've ever seen a movie so brutal. And, I'm not just talking about violence and gore, because it's more than that. Don't get me wrong, there movie has its fair share of violent moments. But, the most brutal moments are those wherein we see the mindset that justified slavery in the first place. The movie immerses the audience in this world entirely, making it, I believe the first film to really examine the issue of slavery in such a way.
That is what makes 12 Years a Slave a landmark film.
You can read my original review here.
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