The actual history of Solomon Northup is a tragic and captivating story, but 12 Years a Slave doesn't deliver the emotional impact I was expecting. The film starts out well, but then it plateaus until the end of the film, and even the ending is subdued. This movie has a very realistic feel to it, though, and the cast, in particular Chiwetel Ejiofor, gives excellent performances. I'm glad I saw it, but I'll probably never watch it again.