This compelling and important period drama is perhaps in some ways a less successful fit to McQueen's objectifying directorial style than Shame, but it nevertheless produces a strong and moving film experience. Central to the film's success is Chiwetel Ejiofor's powerful performance of tremendous strength and humility, backed up by numerous terrific supporting performances from the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti, Paul Dano, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o and Sarah Paulson, who all give committed and finely-drawn performances. It has to be said that the film is a little uneven in terms of scripting (some very stilted dialogue creeps in) and tone, with some odd soundtrack moments, and McQueen's occasional Van Sant-style visual longueurs can be irritatingly intrusive, but there is tremendously effective use of foreground/background juxtaposition and layering of sound and vision at play. All the conventions of the genre are neatly ticked off, and this harrowing and sobering true story remains powerful to the end.
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