Django Unchained
Directed By: Quentin Tarantino
Written By: Quentin Tarantino
Produced By: Stacey Sher, Reginald Hudlin, Pilar Savone
Cast: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, Kerry Washington
Plot: Django (Foxx) is a slave, until he is freed by Dr. King Schultz (Waltz), who makes a deal with him. If he helps him catch The Brittle Brothers and various other bounties, he shall help him rescue his wife from notorious plantation owner Calvin Candie (DiCaprio).
Brilliant, controversial, fantastic. These words have been used to describe some of Tarantino's previous works, and Django Unchained is no exception. The film shows us Django's journey from slavery to freedom, with alot of bloodshed along the way. However, it has received alot of negative publicity for the issues it covers: slavery, the portrayal of white people and the excessive use of the 'N-word'. I feel that all these things are necessary for a film of this genre. If anything, it highlights the horrors of that time.
The first thing that comes to mind when I look back on the film is how fun it is, but at the same time completely brutal. I was unbelievably impressed with Leonardo DiCaprio's performance as the villain of the film, Calvin Candie. I'm not aware if DiCaprio has ever portrayed a villain before, but he is astounding. The scene in which he saws open an old human skull is sinister and downright scary. I was left on the edge of my seat throughout his menacing performance.
However, his polar opposite in the film is the wonderful Christoph Waltz, playing Dr. King Schultz. I didn't think it was possible for him to top his portrayal of Hans Landa in Tarantino's previous film; Inglourious Basterds, I was very wrong. If anything, he beats it. Some of the one liners he delivers are hilarious, and when he tells the German story of 'Broomhilda' it is completely heartwarming.
Jamie Foxx, so aptly described in the film as a 'Silver-tongued devil' by Schultz, is fantastic. From the start our emotions change from sympathy to admiration. Django clearly learns the rules of wit from Dr. King Schultz, as towards the end of the film his one liners become more and more enjoyable. He also progresses visually. He goes from beaten and broken slave to complete badass. Tarantino has created yet another character that will be remembered for years to come.
As for the great Director himself, he's crafted another masterpiece. It goes perfectly along with the rest of the films he has so perfectly created. The film is visually impressive, the screenplay is superbly written and the action is thrilling. There's no shortage of blood spilled, with some especially brutal scenes of the treatment of slaves. The dog scene and it's flashbacks is rather disturbing. There are some pleasurable deaths however, with fantastic quips from Schultz and Django. The film is astounding. Tarantino, you've done it again.
10/10
Written By Eammon Jacobs
