The latest trailer for 12 Years a Slave teases the story of Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), an educated and happily married black man living in New York in 1841. Then, his world is torn apart as he is abducted and taken into slavery where he, as you can guess by the title, spends 12 years.
From the moment we saw the first 12 Years a Slave trailer, it had riveting written all over it. And the word out of the Toronto Film Festival has done nothing to reduce the excitement over this powerful film from director Steve McQueen (Shame). It won top prize at that fest and seems to be on a collision course with Best Picture at the Oscars.
The film reunites McQueen with Michael Fassbender, who finds new depths of evil as the man who torments Northup. And word is… he’s a lock for Best Supporting Actor.
What is the most astounding aspect of 12 Years a Slave -- that arrives October 18 and also stars Brad Pitt (soon to be seen in The Counselor with Fassbender), Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Quvenzhane Wallis and Sarah Paulson -- is it is all true.