My vote is not for artistic endeavor or acting ability which is very good, but I am appalled that Hollywood keeps pumping out this shocking style of drama about slavery which keeps re-visiting the old inflammatory indignations of the past era of the US. I am appalled in all my horror of the harshness of the movie and the severity of the beatings scenes. Shame on those who directed, Steve, and shame on those who sought to raise this issue once again. The movie is far from the entertainment i would normally enjoy! Hollywood needs to take a good hard look at itself and ask is this real entertainment? To boot, the screenplay, which may have followed the original story closely or not, is not that remarkable as far as good drama goes. It seems like the Pitt and other have discovered this story and decided to publicize it for whatever their motives, but I for one am quite tired of mediocrity. I think the last best story along the "slavery line" I had the pleasure of watching was "Armistad". Had i known this was going to be so graphic, i would not have wasted my $20 to fill the pockets of the movie bourgeoisie.