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At long last, I can tell you with certainty that 12 Years a Slave is one of the best movies of the year, and one of the best historical films I've ever seen. I can also tell you that hours later, as I'm sitting here typing, I'm still overwhelmed with emotion. I've seen a lot of depressing movies in my day, but I've never been hit so hard as I was sitting in that tiny theater. I was so overwhelmed, I didn't even shed tears until the final credits rolled.

I suppose it makes me seem overly emotional admitting that I cried uncontrollably in a movie theater, but I don't care. 12 Years a Slave is just simply brutal. I'd teared up a bit about 20 minutes into the film, but I was almost beyond getting totally worked up until everything was over. Then? Oh yeah, I let it rip, and so did several other people around me, including my companion. I'm not entirely sure I've felt this gutted since Schindler's List.

If you're not familiar with the premise of this film, here's the short version: 12 Years a Slave is based on the memoir of Solomon Northop, a black man who lived among the aristocracy in Saratoga Springs, New York, working as a successful musician and raising a family. Northrop was kidnapped and forced into slavery on a plantation in Louisiana in 1841. He later wrote at length about his experience, within a year of his release. I haven't read Northup's memoir, but you can bet I will now.

Let me try to compose myself a bit and tell you some of the many reasons I believe 12 Years a Slave is so incredibly powerful. First and foremost in my mind right now is the extraordinary acting. Chiwetel Ejiofor, as Solomon Northop, is simply unforgettably captivating. Michael Fassbender, as a particularly sadistic, menacing, alcoholic plantation owner, is powerfully horrifying. There is not a bad acting performance to be had in 12 Years a Slave, and several others stood out, including Lupita Nyong'o (remember her name, trust me), Sarah Paulson, Alfre Woodard, Paul Giamatti, Paul Dano and Benedict Cumberbatch.

And yes, Brad Pitt is in this, though not that much. Some critics have taken issue with Pitt's role in 12 Years a Slave. If you'd like to find out why, take a look at this piece in Vulture - you'll get the idea. I'm putting that out there, because it's not like this film is loaded with huge spoilers, but I try hard not to read too much about films before I see them. To be fair, big props to Pitt for pushing so hard to get 12 Years a Slave made, and his brief appearance in the movie no doubt helped secure the financing that was needed to make things happen. I'm totally forgiving Pitt for World War Z, because this film is in a totally different stratosphere. He is redeemed.

12 Years a Slave is a must-see movie, but I have to say this again and again: It's unflinchingly brutal. It's horrific. It is not melodramatic. It doesn't need to be. The tragedy that befell Soloman Northup and all slaves is impossible for us to even imagine. It is told uncompromisingly on screen here. You will cringe, you will want to scream, you might even want to look away - and yes, you might cry. You will, in some way, be deeply moved by 12 Years a Slave. It's worth it. If you want a powerful drama, this is it. Just be ready.

12 Years a Slave deserves every bit of praise it's gotten. It deserves multiple Academy Award nominations, and most certainly a Best Picture nomination (or win). I expect that we could see nominations for not just Ejiofor and Fassbender, but also Nyong’o and director Steve McQueen. I was not a huge fan of McQueen's other films, including Shame, but I absolutely am on board with him garnering big acclaim for 12 Years a Slave. My companion found the numerous close ups in the movie "annoying and distracting," but they had the exact opposite effect on me. I applaud McQueen's incredible vision. He deserves all the praise he gets.

I can't recall a film shaking me to my very core like this ever. I suspect that several days from now, I'll still be sitting here reeling from 12 Years a Slave.

Photos courtesy of BuzzSugar.com and NPR.org