Crystal’s review published on Letterboxd:
It feels weird to actually root for an "all of the awards" movie like this but ALL OF THE AWARDS. I try not to listen to Oscar buzz or critical hype but after seeing this film, I can understand why everyone is so taken with it. The rare "awards season" feature that actually feels genuine and honest - more of an artist's vision than a studio's. All of the performances are fantastic and again, genuine. Chiwetel Ejiofor, whom I have long enjoyed, gives the performance of a lifetime and Michael Fassbender is typically great. The direction is spectacular - Steve McQueen has really honed his craft with this film. If you're familiar with his style, the long takes and silences are still present but they are employed a bit more tactfully and the restraint makes them that much more effective. The same with his shot composition - everything is still striking and beautiful but not in a way that draws attention away from the story. The entire movie is devastating but the ending is devastating in the best possible way and is completely earned. I hope the momentum holds for this because it deserves to be praised and remembered for a long while.