Ultimately, that is the question I ask myself whenever I see a movie at the cinemas. Was it worth the 16 dollars admission fee? Unfortunately, no.

Now, don't get me wrong. I did like Shame. However, 12 Years A Slave pushes the audience so far in its historical chapter of human depravity that you won't take anything from this film, but it will take something from you... your innocence.

Films like Shindler's List, It's A Wonderful Life, and Shawshank Redemption have successfully entertained us. This is due to their pacing and inspirational denouements. 12 Years A Slave unrelentingly portrays the horrible subject without any moments of humour or kindness that helps break the tension.

This is why this film cannot be considered amongst the great films suggested, because it teaches us nothing we don't already know nor does it give us any inspiration.

Who is Solomon? He is just a man waiting for someone to save him. Is he charming? Funny? An opportunist? A man that takes charge of his life? No, and this is why the Law of Diminishing Return comes into full throttle. He doesn't do anything but wait, while practice of torture escalates into something thats boring. I wanted to feel bad for the slaves, but their is no background or history invested to make you truly empathise with the characters. For that reason, the relationship between the 'black man' and the 'white man' feels too clinical.

I walked out of this film having lost something. Many of the audience quietly exited feeling the same, I'm sure. If you can, don't pay for this movie.