Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Featuring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, Kerry Washington
Great filmmakers like Kubrick, Fellini or even a David Lean made masterpieces that changed the cinema landscape.
Tarantino's mark in cinema is broad but focused: he takes a genre or sub-genre and reinvents it. He did this for the gangster film (Reservoir Dogs), martial arts film (Kill Bill), car chase film (Death Proof) and now he does it for the western with Django Unchained.
Much like Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds was inspired by the original film The Inglorious Bastards (1978), Django Unchained is inspired by the original Django 1966 film starring Franco Nero (who does a brief cameo in Unchained), but the two films are relatively unrelated. Django Unchained takes place 3 years before the American Civil War, slavery at its peak.
Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) is bounty hunter looking for the Brittle Brothers, a viscous gang of killers who can only be identified by a slave by the name of Django (Jamie Foxx) living in the Deep South at he can only identify. In return, Schultz will free Django from slavery completely and help find and rescue Broomhilda (Kerry Washington). During their time together Schultz and Django develop a friendship and a successfully bounty hunter partnership. When Schultz learns of Django’s plan to free Broomhilda from the slick but brutal Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio) who owns plantation called “Candyland”. While visiting Candyland in plan to free her they meet up with the head house slave (Samuel L. Jackson) that gets wise to their plans.
By making his first foray into westerns Tarantino delves into the taboo world of American slavery; an aspect of the American western that has been virtually ignored by the old Hollywood system. So, in a way, Tarantino has made a message film without hitting you over the head. He shows you how it really went down and how brutal it was but all in the context of entertaining, edgy and - yes - hilarious film.
Jamie Foxx does an adequate performance as Django but it’s not much of a memorable one. Much like Eastwood’s “man with no name", Django is the stoic-quiet hero. The actor that steals the show is without question Tarantino regular Samuel L. Jackson as Stephen the head house slave. Pay particular attention to a key scene between Jackson and DiCaprio in a study; watch Jackson's body language and how he holds his drink and you'll see how this a brilliant performance that people will be talking about years from now.
I've never been a huge Leonardo DiCaprio fan. His past performances he tries too hard and as a viewer I was always aware of that struggle. With this performance he has really settled into being a fine actor.
Clocking in 2.75 hours, this is Tarantino’s longest film but it never feels long. Fred Raskin does a great job taking over the reins from the late great editor Sally Menke. Tarantino’s style has always been about the characters and letting things progress at its own natural pace. The pacing maybe casual, but it's never dull.
In my opinion, Quentin Tarantino is one of the greatest living directors with a remarkable track record. With his 8th film, Django Unchained, the chain remains unbroken. The film opens on Christmas day. Merry Christmas indeed.
Rating: (4.5 out of 5):
I've never been a huge Leonardo DiCaprio fan. His past performances he tries too hard and as a viewer I was always aware of that struggle. With this performance he has really settled into being a fine actor.
I use to feel that way about him, I think he did some pretty decent work as a young kid. But I feel he has grown as an actor the older he got.
I liked the review and looking forward to seeing the movie.
"I hurt" - Karen Cooper "Night Of The Living Dead"