First, the negatives.
A tad too long in my view and a bit rambling towards the end when Anthony Hopkins is speaking to the Supreme Court, when it becomes a poor speech in my view, with no real hard-hitting points to be made.
However, the positives
If you want to know how slaves were treated, what they went through, and how they managed to win out in the end, then watch this film. It also helps give a history lesson on how the Civil War was inevitable and what part Europe played in it.
Be warned there are quite upsetting scenes in the film, all of which are based on true events, and then you try and work out why the Americans had slaves when they had the Treaty of Independence stating "that all men are created equal ... with inalienable rights" etc.
Hypocrisy at work
Excellent film if you're interested in the fight against slavery and American history.
Felt very authentic and the issues of the time were recorded and explored thoroughly and sensitively from all angles including references to the reasons for the civil war and the unforgiving brutality of slavery. The film underlined the humanity of the slaves.
Worth a watch.