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| Courtesy of The Weinstein Co. |
Like Inglourious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino’s revisionist WWII flick, his latest
is yet another twisted take on history. Django Unchained is the divisive auteur’s
take on the western, which is every bit as hilarious, offbeat and violent as
you’d expect a cowboy picture from the guy responsible for Pulp Fiction to
be. Take that as a recommendation or a warning, depending on your opinion of
the filmmaker. Personally, it’s one of my favorite movies of the year.
Billed
as a “southern,” Tarantino’s 165-minute opus spans pre-Civil War Texas,
Tennessee and Mississippi and introduces several iconic characters. Jamie Foxx
(atypically understated) plays Django, a slave who comes under the ownership of
dentist-turned-bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz, absolutely electrifying).
He is looking to collect a massive reward for killing the Brittle brothers, but
only Django can tell him what they look like.
Schultz
promises to free Django as soon as they eliminate their targets, and the bounty
hunter quickly proves to be a man of his word. However, the two men become
friends and decide to partner up in the bounty hunting business. Schultz is in
it for the money, but Django is honing his skills in order to find and rescue
his beloved wife Broomhilda (the stunning Kerry Washington).
Django’s
mission touches Schultz’s heart, so he joins in the quest that leads them to
the plantation of Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), a particularly brutal slaveholder.
They gain access to the compound under the pretense of starting a
slave-fighting ring, and everything goes according to plan until they raise the
suspicion of Steven (Samuel L. Jackson), Candie’s trusted house slave. As you’d
imagine, the scheme falls apart pretty quickly after that.
Tarantino’s films are always
controversial, but Django Unchained should divide audiences more than usual
due to its incendiary treatment of such a sensitive topic. At the very least,
it should spark plenty of conversation. Tarantino responsibly handles the myriad
of issues raised by slavery, but still allows moviegoers to experience
emotional catharsis through Django’s mission of vengeance. (And let’s face it:
if you’re upset over what happens to the bad guys in this flick, we need to
have an entirely different kind of chat.)
Still, sensitive viewers should stay
far away. The violence is graphic and over-the-top (often comically so), and
the language is exceptionally severe since the flick deals with race relations in
the Deep South circa 1858. The n-word is used virtually nonstop and the f-bomb
is dropped almost as liberally.
Those able to contextualize the provocative
material will find plenty to enjoy about Django Unchained. Tarantino’s visual
style and talent for dialogue remains as magnificent as ever. Numerous lines
had me doubled over in laughter (the first hour is practically a comedy, but
the tone shifts significantly once Django and Shultz arrive at Candie’s
estate). There are also some genuinely breathtaking shots of the American
landscape, accompanied by Jim Croce’s “I Got a Name.” Anachronistic, yes, but
it’s used splendidly.
As for performances, Tarantino
continues to demonstrate his skill for flawless casting. Foxx is phenomenal
(though I admit I’m curious what the film would’ve been like with Will Smith,
the director’s first choice) and Waltz is even better. He’s probably a lock for
a Best Supporting Actor nomination, but Schultz is just as much of a main
character as Django.
DiCaprio is chilling but funny as the
buffoonish Candie, making you laugh and hate him simultaneously, but the true
villain of the film is Jackson’s character. After so many years of playing the
same kind of guy, Jackson quickly reminds viewers what a fantastic actor he is.
Washington isn’t onscreen very much – she serves as a metaphor more than a
character – but she radiates strength and power in each of her scenes.
The filmmaker boosts a few other careers
as well, packing his movie with dozens of recognizable character actors in
brief but memorable roles. When is the last time you saw Don Johnson, Dennis
Christopher, Tom Wopat or Lee Horsley on the big screen?
The trailer is a fair representation
of what you’re getting with Django Unchained. If it’s not for you, the movie
won’t be either. But if you’re already a Tarantino fan, his latest is a
fantastic Christmas present.
Django Unchained is rated
R for strong graphic violence throughout, a vicious fight, language and some nudity.
Grade:
A
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