30 Greatest Best Picture Oscar Nominees Of The Last Ten Years
7. 12 Years A Slave
12 Years a Slave is many things, but one thing it must never, ever be mistaken for is enjoyable. This is a frankly traumatic viewing that is often unbearably difficult to watch, and that is why this movie is so fantastic.
Many period drama films about historical events are schmaltzy and manipulative, but there's none of that with 12 Years. Instead, it's a straight, unflinching recreation of one of the nastiest chapters in American history, populated with humanized characters (even the film's antagonists) and faithful period detail.
It's shatteringly emotional without ever being exploitative or manipulative, it's harrowing and brutal without ever feeling gratuitous and in general, it's a brilliantly balanced, entirely worthy depiction of slavery - in fact, it might just be the best film ever made on this subject.
Furthermore, Steve McQueen's direction is utterly masterful and, with the exception of Brad Pitt's slightly awkward cameo, the entire cast is simply breath-taking, with shatteringly brilliant performances from almost all involved - especially Chiwetel Ejiofer, Michael Fassbender and Lupita N'yong'o.
The film is overly slow-paced at times, but other than that it's an almost-flawless recreation of one of the saddest chapters in recent history and it is, quite arguably, one of the greatest Best Picture winners of all time.