FilmGordon’s correspondent Wilson Morales interviews Lupita Nyong’o of Steve McQueen’s new movie 12 Years a Slave. The film is already garnering Oscar talk, and Morales praises Nyong’o’s “raw” performance as slave Patsey.

Nyong’o talks about reading Solomon Northup’s memoir that inspired the film, calling it a “gift” and finding it relatable. Acting in the film, she says, allowed her to see slavery from a more personal perspective.

She also discusses how director McQueen helped her to develop her character and how she feels about being part of a film already being considered large and important.

The hosts also give their Oscar predictions, calling 12 Years a Slave, Gravity, and Captain Phillips locks for Best Picture. They review The Fifth Estate, praising Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance as Julian Assange but finding the movie overall lukewarm.

Listen to the episode here.