In the coming years, I have no doubt 12 Years A Slave will become essential viewing for all. Brutal, agonizing, and heartbreaking as it may be, 12 Years is an exquisitely realized masterwork. Steve McQueen’s direction has never been more confident or poetic. He’s the real star of the movie, as he’s able to tell a difficult story in a transcendent way. This is a film that truly forces you to take a long, hard look at slavery and it’s apparent evil. I haven’t even mentioned the stunning Chietwel Ejiofor, who carries the movie and allows it to soar.