Film Review: Django Unchained

Directed by Quentin Tarantino. Stars: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio. Written by: Quentin Tarantino. Released December 2012.

For years Quentin Tarantino has been toying with fans and Hollywood with his secret script about slavery and giving very little information about it. Nonetheless, there is always an excitement and buzz that comes with a new Tarantino film. His films have dealt with gangsters, changed history with his look at WWII and dealt with the fury of a female scorned.  Add the cast that Tarantino lined up and you get the crazy, witty, violent and fun Django Unchained.

The film is about a slave, Django, who is rescued and freed by a bounty hunter posing as a dentist, Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz). He helps him to find the Brittle brothers since he is one of few who knows what they look like. In return, Schultz will help Django find and free his wife, Brumhilda Von Shaft, who happens to now be owned by one of the richest and largest (and eccentric) slave owners, Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). Who also deals in underground salve fighting, kinda like fight club.

Like any Tarantino film, it is filled with references to obscure films and genres that an uber cinephile like Tarantino understands and has fun with. It is part of his distinct style. This time (thanks to a little research) the film is in part homage to a 1966 film Django. The character of Django was played by Italian actor Franco Nero.  Franco can be seen in a scene where Django (Jamie Foxx) chats up a slave trader at the plantation known as Candie-land. The trader asks him for his name, where Django replies “D-J-A-N-G-O. The D is silent.”  The trader replies, “I know.”

This is known in film studies a meta-moment and Tarantino fills his movies with them. This is no exception, as well as referencing other westerns (even using the same locations) as well as old German myths and has it all work somehow.

Now that we got that bit of history out of the way...

Yes, the film is violent. Yes, the “N” word is used and has been criticized by some. Going into a film about slavery what do you expect? Going into a Quentin Tarantino film about slavery and you shouldn’t expect anything else. It is a dark and ugly part of history. Even with the undertone of humour you should feel uncomfortable at the ease that this is all depicted. That is in part what makes the film and Tarantino style’s so great.

Also typical is the witty dialogue. The film has an awesome blend of intense moments with cleaver one liners. Add a soundtrack that is a blend of music genres that reflect the blending of film genres. Old songs such as Johnny Cash’s “Ain’t No Grave” and new songs by Frank Ocean and John Legend, as well as songs used in the 1966 Django.

You always get solid performances in Tarantino’s films. He is an actor himself and knows how to motivate and give direction to them to get what he wants, as well as letting them explore and do their own thing. There is also the typical Tarantino cameo.

Christoph Waltz once again shines and it is nice to see him work with Tarantino again and probably not for the last time. He has some of the best one liners in the film and working along Jamie Foxx they make a good pair, who is also good and strong and shows that his Oscar for Ray wasn’t for nothing.

The performance I was most interested in was Leonardo DiCaprio as Calvin Candie. No doubt that Leo is a talented actor, but he tends to do the same intense type of roles. Next to Christoph Waltz, it is the showiest role. For the first time he plays “the bad guy” and he does well. He is still “Leo” about it, if that makes sense, but it is refreshing to see him do something different. You can tell he enjoyed it as well and had fun with the character. Will this be the role that finally gives Leo the Oscar he seems to badly want-who knows? A supporting nomination wouldn’t be surprising.

As written by Richard Crouse “Django Unchained” is bloodier than you’ll expect—with a shootout as violently gratuitous as any gun battle ever filmed—and funnier than you think it is going to be. It’s a message movie and a pulpy crowd pleaser. In other words, it’s a Tarantino film.”

Remember! The “D” is silent.