Django Unchained
Starring: Jaime Foxx, Christolph Waltz, Leonardo Dicaprio
Directed By: Quentin Tarantino
Reviewed by Danielle Muir
[rating: 4.5/5]
Say what you want about Tarantino, the man is a master of entertainment. His distinctive style ensures that dull moments are always few and far between, with shock value turned up to 11 and blood spurting like the hot springs of Utah. Taking his pen to the world of slavery in pre-civil war times is risky business (or insulting if you ask Spike Lee – so don’t), but Tarantino manages to fuse an ass-kicking action flick without skimming over the horror and torture faced by African-Americans at the hands of their opulent white owners.
Pleasant German bounty hunter Shultz (Waltz) and his rickety dentistry wagon approach a shuffling bunch of slaves in the dead of night. One of them, particularly scarred by vicious lashings, is one of the few who have seen the faces of the Brittle Brothers – Shultz’ next bounty. His name? Django (jan-go). The D is silent. Together they partner to kill for cash, whilst Django starts the hunt for his lost wife Broomhilda Von Shaft, now a slave at the infamous Candieland.
In comparison to his other works, Django Unchained is probably the most accessible for all. The story is linear and there aren’t switches to different perspectives or time periods (apart from the occasional flashback). But Tarantino fans needn’t be alarmed that he’s catering to the masses – blood still explodes like water balloons, there’s enough zooms to poke at least 2 sizeable sticks at and some wonderfully charismatic one-liners thrown in for good measure (“I like the way you die, boy.”) What’s wonderful about Tarantino is that he takes elements that work, no matter whether they’re contemporary or from the civil war era, and puts them together. Case in point, Django riding along to the rhymes of ‘100 Black Coffins’ by Rick Ross, as his mirage wife dances in glorious yellow.
Not only does Django boast some intense action sequences, it’s also laugh-out-loud funny, whilst also wrapping its paws around your heartstrings and giving them a firm yank. Mandingos (black fighting slaves) tearing each other to pieces, the Ku Klux Klan having serious mask issues, there’s a wide range of tones to be felt.
Christoph Waltz is the best performer in the whole shebang, with his penchant for ultra-pronunciation and warm heart making him the most likeable character. Together with Foxx they make an unexpectedly powerful duo – with Foxx delivering his lines with the punch they require. Much has been touted about DiCaprio’s wannabe aristocrat Calvin Candie, and he does put in a wonderfully menacing show – however probably isn’t given the screen time to warrant an award, nor does he blow your socks off. Still, a fine choice for an intriguing character. Where the film slightly falters is the awkward cameo from Tarantino himself, along with Australia’s own John Jarratt – yes you heard correctly – however that particular scene rounds off in such a way all is forgiven. Samuel L. Jackson is also a hoot as decrepit Stephen, right hand man to Calvin, who treats his people like dirt so he’s not thrown off the pedestal.
Django Unchained is a must-watch for Tarantino fans and film-goers alike, one of the most entertaining films in recent years that’s brimming with character and personality distinct to its creator. Cleverly weaving the serious and the hilarious without losing the horror of slavery, it truly is a brilliant piece of original filmmaking – something that, these days, can be hard to come by.
