Morgan Freeman Not Interested In ’12 Years A Slave’

Morgan Freeman isn’t interested in watching 12 Years A Slave, despite the fact that Steve McQueen’s film is set to be a permanent fixture in the upcoming awards season.

Freeman has admitted that he already knows that he will simply get angry when he watches the acclaimed film, because of its depiction of various injustices and racism.

12 Years A Slave is based around the true story of Solomon Northup, an African-American who was kidnapped and then enslaved in the South for 12 years in the 1840s.

Freeman noted, “I saw a television movie that was made a few years ago about the same character. But I don’t particularly want to see it. I don’t want my anger quotient exacerbated, you know? Things are bad enough as they are. I don’t want to keep punching myself in the face with it.”

12 Years A Slave was given a limited released across the United States on October 18, and will recieve a wider distribution on November 1.

Earlier this week, it was given three nominations at the 23rd Gotham Independent Film Awards in the best film, best actor, and breakthrough actor categories. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong’o are the thespians who have earned the two latter nominations.

Paul MacInnes of The Guardian lauded the film, calling it a “necessary” film which was “stark, visceral and unrelenting.”

In the same interview where Freeman asserted that he wouldn’t be watching McQueen’s cinematic account of slavery, he also discussed the current political climate in the United States.

Freeman took this opportunity to discuss the Tea Party, stating,

“The lengths that people will go to to show their prejudices! You see some of these signs that say, ‘TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK!’ What the f*ck is that? Whose country are you talking about? They are being pushed to the side, which is a good thing for them to realize: you don’t have the power you think you have in this country.”

He then addressed their dissent towards President Obama, noting, “Obama was legitimately elected president. If you don’t like that, fine, either move out, or make your point and get yourself elected, but don’t tear the country apart! That’s not going to get you anywhere.”

Morgan Freeman will next be seen in the comedy, Last Vegas, which sees him star alongside Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro and Kevin Kline. Last Vegas is released on November 1, 2013.

Will you go and watch 12 Years A Slave?

[Image via JStone/Shutterstock]