"Django Unchained": In Detail

 http://www.beyondblackwhite.com/quentin-tarantinos-django-unchained-brilliant-storytelling/



                                                                       "Django Unchained"

 I am choosing to do this project about Quentin Tarantino's new epic "Django Unchained" because when I went to see it in theaters it blew me away. Everything about the film from the acting, the directing, the story, and all the visuals are astounding. Obviously what stands out about this film is the controversial story about slavery and the explicit racial slurs. It is because of this the movie has been in the news even before it hit theaters with film director Spike Lee blasting the film and Tarantino.


"Django Unchained" is a western set in the antebellum south two years before the Civil War. Some people may think that the film is a bloody revenge story. Even though there is that aspect to it, at the heart of the film it is a love story about a man searching for his wife.

Quentin Tarantino directs/writes his ninth feature film with "Django Unchained", and it is pure Tarantino. All of his signature trademarks are here with dialogue(lots of dialogue), spastic chaotic violence, and shocking music choices. Being set in 1858 and having gangster rap in the film is pretty shocking, and will take you by surprise. Tarantino regulars Christoph Waltz and Samuel L. Jackson make up part of the cast. Waltz is brilliant as the German dentist turned bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz, and Jackson is surprisingly devilish as the uncle Tom house slave Stephen. Tarantino newcomers Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, and Kerry Washington round out the main cast. Foxx is the titular character Django in search of his wife Broomhilda. Leonardo DiCaprio steals the show as Calvin Candie a ruthless Mississippi plantation owner. In the film Schultz and Django team up to seek Broomhilda, who becomes acquired by Calvin Candie, which sets up the ultimate showdown.


"Django Unchained" definitely fits into Tarantino's filmography, as I stated before all of his trademarks are in this movie. The pulp story telling, the over the top violence, dialogue dialogue and more dialogue. Also the tongue in cheek humor. Of course it wouldn't be a Tarantino movie without controversy. What sets this film apart from Tarantino's other work is the content and setting of the story. Tarantino became famous by telling stories about people on the streets that we could bump into.


Quentin Tarantino manages to create a noteworthy film with "Django Unchained", meaning that he brings to life a subject that has unfortunately taken a back seat recently, and that subject is slavery. Critics of the film complain about the use of the n-word. The word is used excessively, but is was coming during the time period. But it is not glorified, the characters that use it explicitly are the most evil, disgusting, backward characters that have been on film. It is because of this that Tarantino shows us why the word is disgusting and should never be used in society today. Tarantino also reminds us why slavery was terrible and why we should never forget this dark past of our history so it can never happen again.

 The film has three strengths. The first is the acting, all the actors nail the subtle nuances that make their characters believable. The second is the directing, Tarantino continues to prove that he is the modern day auteur with his trademarks making this film. The third is the writing, Tarantino proves again that he is a brilliant screenwriter with his fascinating dialogue sequences that build up the action about to come. The only weakness that this film has is the editing. Long time Tarantino editor Sally Menke passed away a short time before filming began, as a result the film drags on a little longer than what it should. But that is just being nit-picky. There is a general consensus that Tarantino's greatest work is "Pulp Fiction", no argument there, but this film definitely gives it a run for its money. Obviously the film will not be forgotten for its can not look away violence and controversial subject matter. Film critic Roger Ebert described the film as(http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2013/01/django_unchained.html ) "Often beautiful to regard." meaning the cinematography is astounding. Which is confirmed with a beautiful snow montage set to Jim Croce's song "I Got a Name."

Being the cinophile that I am, I went out and saw this movie three times, and I had been looking forward to its release for over a year. My group of friends loved the film too, they went to the multiple viewings with me.  What I learned by doing this critique was that I feel I was able to connect to this film more than I would have if I just went out and saw it. It truly is a great piece of art that everyone should see.