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It's 1858, somewhere in Texas. A group of five slaves are being lead through a desert, when out of the dark desert night a light appears. As the light gets closer to the group we see that a horse is pulling a man on a carriage, with a quite humorous large tooth atop the carriage. He introduces himself as Dr. King Schultz, a German born dentist, and that he is interested in doing business and wants to purchase a slave. He comes across our hero and title character Django, because Django has seen these Brittle brothers that Schultz is asking about. Then through some ultra violence and humor, Schultz comes to acquire Django.
Schultz then makes a confession to Django that he is no longer a dentist, but a bounty hunter. Schultz makes Django a proposition, that if Django helps Schultz locate the Brittle brothers, then Schultz will help Django find his wife Broomhilda. Schultz also will give them both their freedom, because as it turns out, Schultz hates slavery.
Once the Brittle brothers are located and killed, our two heroes set out to find Broomhilda. Schultz finds out that Broomhilda has been sold to a brutal plantation owner named Calvin Candie. Schultz then devises a plan to get close to Candie. Schultz will pose as a man who is interested in buying a slave for entering into Mandingo fights, which is Candie's after dinner hobby. While Django will pose as Schultz's right hand man with a vast knowledge of Mandingo fighting.
Schultz and Django are brought back to Candie's plantation, called Candyland, to finalize their deal. On the plantation our heroes learn that Broomhilda is there on the plantation. But it is not smooth sailing from there. Stephen, who is Candie's trusted Uncle Tom house slave, figures out Schultz and Django's true reason for being at the plantation. What follows next is a spectacular shootout ever put in a western film.
Writer/director Quentin Tarantino manages to bring the western genre back and in a spectacular fashion. The film manages to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the entirety, with the gripping anticipation that continuously builds up. Continuing to be the auteur he is, all of Tarantino's trademarks are present, a lot of dialogue, humor, and exploding violence.
As for the performances, they are great, from the stars to the supporting characters. Jamie Foxx plays Django, is great as the slave turned bounty hunting sharpshooter seeking his wife Broomhilda. Christoph Waltz is amazing as Dr. King Schultz, the dentist turned bounty hunter. The title of the movie may have Django's name, but Waltz is the clear star with majority of the screen time and perfecting Quentin Tarantino's dialogue. Which is strange that he has been campaigned for awards as a supporting actor for his work in this film. Samuel L. Jackson's scene stealing turn as the Uncle Tom house slave is masterful, in his return with Tarantino.
But the true surprise of the film is Leonardo DiCaprio's performance of the ruthless plantation owner Calvin Candie. As a fan of DiCaprio's work, the surprise is how amazing he portrays the villain so well for the first time in his career. DiCaprio mentioned in a "Today" show interview, that Calvin Candie, "Is the most deplorable human being I have ever read in a screenplay in my life." Mr. DiCaprio hits it on the head. You won't see him standing on the bow if a ship proclaiming that he is "king of the world," but rather a "King Louis XIV" type, as DiCaprio describes his character in "Django Unchained." The character of Calvin Candie not only rivals, but is way ahead of the Joker in "The Dark Knight" as the best film villain we have seen in recent years, he even sports a goatee that the devil himself would be proud of. It is a shame that Leonardo DiCaprio's incredible performance in this film has been over looked by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
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With "Django Unchained" writer/director Quentin Tarantino manages to make not only one of the most memorable films of the year, but also one of the funniest. Tarantino has always said that he works with "homages", which "Django Unchained" is full of. From the obvious ( Sergio Corbucci film "Django", along with Sergio Leone's "Man With No Name" trilogy) to possibly the not so obvious (Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver"), "homages" Tarantino plays with in "Django Unchained". The cinematography is amazing, including a beautiful montage with Jim Croce's song "I Got a Name." The music selection is shocking, but it works in a way that only Tarantino pull off.
The film also makes us look at the awful history history of slavery, and we can not look away. Through "Django Unchained" Tarantino reminds of why the n-word is the most atrocious word in any language, and that the atrocities of slavery should not be forgotten so we can never let this happen again.
It is rare that a 165 minute movie can keep your attention throughout the entirety, but "Django Unchained" manages to not to keep your attention and heart racing every minute. I recommend this movie not only for the cinephiles, but for every movie goer. Truly the movie of the year.
At A Glance:
Title: "Django Unchained"
Rated: R
Directed and Written by: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, and Kerry Washington
Run time: 165 minutes
Playing in Albany At: Regal Albany 7 Cinema
Playing in Corvallis At: Regal Ninth Street Cinema 4
Nominated for five Academy Awards including best picture
Official website
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