As soon as it was announced that his next feature film would be a true story about slavery, I knew deep down that 12 Years A Slave would be one of the most horrifying and emotionally grueling films I would ever see in my life. There would be no power fantasy revenges with stylized shootouts (Django Unchained) and it certainly wasnt going to dance around the topic. I knew this would be raw, direct, visceral, and an emphatic test of endurance that would never leave my mind upon watching it. 12 Years A Slave doesnt disappoint; its one of the toughest movies Ive ever had the pleasure of viewing, but also one of the most rewarding. Its probably the best movie ever made about slavery or at the very least, the most realistic and scarring. Theres no denying it will receive a bevy of Oscar nominations either, and in this article we will be exploring those categories. Note: Minor spoilers are present