Lupita Nyong'o is in talks for a role in 'Star Wars: Episode VII'.

To historian Brenda Stevenson, a scholar on American slavery, 12 Years a Slave is a masterful cinematic work that achieves more than any other film on slavery, so worthy that she plans to screen it in classes at her university, UCLA.

12 Years a Slave, Cate Blanchett, and Matthew McConaughey were among big winners at the Critics Choice Movie Awards, taking honours for best picture, actress, and actor.