LIFESTYLE37 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2013 MUSIC &MOVIES An unblinking portrait of slavery in ‘12 Years’ Actor Patrick Wilson attends the premiere of FilmDistrict’s ‘Insidious: Chapter 2’ on September 10, 2013 in This film publicity image released by Fox Searchlight shows Chiwetel Ejiofor in a Universal City, scene from “12 Years A Slave.” — AP California. —AFP n Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave,” refuses to surrender. “They’re something Solomon Northop, a free man from about it that I find very heroic,” says Ejiofor. Iupstate New York who’s kidnapped and “You could only find that by really con- sold into slavery in Louisiana played by fronting his experience head-on.” The hang- Chiwetel Ejiofor, is hung for daring to strike ing scene is only one of the film’s lengthy Cyrus’ ‘Wrecking Ball’ smashes an abusive and imbecilic plantation hand moments - a beating that serves as an intro- (Paul Dano). He’s cut down, but only just duction to life as a slave; a forced whipping barely enough to reach the ground. of another slave - showed in full, unbroken McQueen captures it all in one long, ago- view. “If you don’t know what that feels nizing take, as Northop is left dangling, like,” says Ejiofor, “if you don’t get inside that One Direction’s VEVO record shuffling excruciatingly on his tiptoes. experience of being there all day, out there “I don’t think I’ve seen that on film, and I in the sun, hung by your neck, barely able iley Cyrus’ image overhaul has attract- her controversial VMA performance, which wanted to make damn sure if it was on film, to stay alive, then you don’t know the ed record-breaking attention. The 20- apparently has given her the boost in attention it was going to be done well,” McQueen said depth that this man is prepared to go to in ‘Myear-old pop singer’s new music video she was hoping for. Still, there were some draw- in a recent interview. “It was very necessary order to keep himself alive.” for new single “Wrecking Ball” has shattered the backs. Vogue editor Anna Wintour was decided for me to use those kind of shots to tell the The film is often harrowingly difficult to record for most views on VEVO in the first 24 to nix Cyrus’ appearance on the December issue’s story. Film is what 115, 120 years old? It’s a watch. But it’s ultimately concerned with hours, with 19.3 million views across the music cover in wake of the twerknado that rolled baby. There’s no right or wrong way to being faithful to Northop’s experience video platform. This isn’t the first time Cyrus has through the media after Cyrus took the VMA shoot anything. It’s not style. It’s necessity.” (“Solomon deserved nothing less,” says reigned supreme over VEVO, though. stage in skin-colored under garments last Film history, however, is long enough that McQueen), and capturing his undimmed “We Can’t Stop,” the first single from her month, and proceeded to back her butt into the one might expect one of the nation’s most dignity. Northop went on to be part of the upcoming album, “Bangerz,” broke a previous crotch of married man Robin Thicke. essential chapters to have been depicted abolitionist movement and lecture on slav- record when it debuted on VEVO in June. One Cyrus may not be too worried about losing on screen more frequently and fervently. ery throughout the Northeast. “This is not Direction’s “Best Song Ever” stole the title in July the high-profile publicity, though, because she’s “It’s a massive hole,” says McQueen. There National Geographic or any kind of scientif- when the music video hit 12.3 million views in 24 already gotten plenty of it - even if a lot of it was- have, of course, been a handful of notable ic exploration to tell you how things actual- hours. In the larger YouTube landscape, Psy’s n’t all that flattering - and she doesn’t “pay atten- films about slavery (“Beloved,” “Amistad,” the ly were,” says McQueen. “It’s about the nar- “Gentleman” became the first music video to rack tion to the negative” noise surrounding her miniseries “Roots”), but, it’s safe to say, nev- rative.” up over 20 million views in its first 24 hours last career. Instead, she’s just thanking her fans for er before has there been a movie like this. Though the experience of making such a April. Cyrus’ was shy of breaking any records out- the success. “12 Years a Slave” is the most unblinking film, shot in 35 days outside of New side of VEVO, but she did follow in Psy’s footsteps “Y’all did went so above and beyond with portrait of slavery yet seen in cinema: a Orleans, might be expected to be weighed by pummeling Justin Bieber’s 2012 hit wrecking ball :) I love you so much and thank straightforward resurrection of its atrocities, with the heaviness of its subject, the cast “Boyfriend,” which debuted last year with 8 mil- you for breaking the vevo record!!!,” she tweeted complications and, most of all, its plain real- says the process was too focused, too fast- lion views in the first 24 hours. on Tuesday afternoon. “Bangerz,” her 13-track ity. “I wanted everyone to be Solomon moving for such a mindset. Says McQueen: Cyrus’ “Wrecking ball” is currently approach- new album which features Britney Spears, goes Northup,” says McQueen. “You are on that “If you start thinking about it in such a way, ing 22.5 million, and is even more revealing than on sale on Oct 8. — Reuters journey with him.” “12 Years a Slave,” which it will paralyze you.” Michael Fassbender, Fox Searchlight will release in theaters Oct. who starred in both of McQueen’s previous 18, premiered over the weekend at the films, plays Edwin Epps, the far harsher of Toronto International Film Festival where it two plantation owners. (The other, more Zemeckis in negotiations to direct was hailed as a masterpiece and very possi- benevolent plantation owner is played by bly this year’s best picture Oscar winner. It is Benedict Cumberbatch). He’s described quickly gathering force as a kind of epochal with understatement as “a man of hard achievement. countenance.” ‘Chaos Walking’ for Lionsgate McQueen, the British director of the sex- Fassbender sought to find the humanity addiction drama “Shame” and the Irish in Epps, who’s torn by his love for his most fter proving he’s still got the live-action With “The Hunger Games” coming to a close Republican Army hunger strike tale prized cotton-picker (Lupita Nyong’o, in a touch with the modestly budgeted in 2015, Lionsgate has high hopes for “Chaos “Hunger,” had planned to make a film about shattering performance). “You are going to A“Flight,” Robert Zemeckis may soon be Walking” and believes the project has the slavery, but it didn’t take shape until his places that are uneasy, but it’s my job,” says back in the tentpole business, as he’s in nego- potential to launch another teen-friendly sci-fi wife came across Northop’s 1853 autobiog- Fassbender. “Of course the emotional ele- tiations to direct Lionsgate’s latest young- franchise in the vein of “The Hunger Games” raphy, which straightforwardly tells of his ments follow, and they do have an effect adult sci-fi movie “Chaos Walking,” multiple and “Divergent.” Unlike those series and nightmarish odyssey. Ejiofor (the “Dirty and there’s a residue going home with individuals familiar with the project have told “Twilight,” however, the protagonist in “Chaos Pretty Things,” “Kinky Boots” British actor of them. But concentrating on the work sort of TheWrap. The Oscar-winning filmmaker has Walking” is a young male, Todd Hewitt, who Nigerian roots) plays Northop, a violinist protects yourself from that.” spent the last several months weighing the holds the key to stopping planet-wide destruc- taken from his family and put into servitude The film, made with a budget of $22 mil- possibility of tackling “Chaos Walking,” which tion and saving mankind. on plantations, all the while unable to con- lion, was produced by Brad Pitt’s produc- Oscar-winning screenwriter Charlie Kaufman Ness’ “Chaos Walking” series features three tact his home or even proclaim his true tion company Plan B, and the actor appears is adapting from Patrick Ness’ bestselling books - 2008? s “The Knife of Never Letting identity. His journey, “down the rabbit hole” in a small but pivotal role, warning Epps of young-adult trilogy. An individual familiar Go,” 2009? s “The Ask and the Answer” and as Ejiofor says, isn’t into a uniformly evil a coming “day of reckoning.” Speaking to with Zemeckis’ plans confirms he’s in negotia- 2010?s “Monsters of Men.” The author’s latest world of slavery, but one peopled by a wide reporters at Toronto, he expressed his deep tions but cautions that no deal is in place - YA book, “More Than This,” was published on spectrum of human decency, both masters pride in having been a part of “12 Years a though a studio insider is optimistic one could Tuesday by Candlewick Press. “Flight” soared and slaves. Slave.”“If I never get to participate in a film close before the end of the month. in theaters, grossing $161 million worldwide It’s in many ways about how, faced with again ...” he said, trailing off. “This is it for Story is set in a dystopian future where on a $31 million budget, and marked a return unspeakable hardship, one reacts.