“D J A N G O… The D is silent!” That line alone should make you want to go see Quentin Tarantino’s new movie, Django Unchained. If that’s not good enough, the roster of actors and actresses should: Jaime Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Kerry Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, and the list continues. The movie is set roughly two years before the breakout of the Civil War, so its set during a time in America’s history where owning other people as property, manual labor, and many don’t want to acknowledge as this is a part of the history of the United States of America.
Django Unchained follows the hero, Django, played by Jaime Foxx, who is thrown into the world of Bounty Hunting due to him knowing the identities of three of the other hero’s bounties, the German Doctor, Dr. King Schultz, played by the amazing, Christoph Waltz. And the bond between the two beings, quickly forms from there on out. That takes me into the acting throughout the film. And by every acting God upon the film sets, every actor or actress brought their A++ game. Each character, completely believable; each character, you would swear, “Yup these people could have existed in that time period, and acted just as they did.” Foxx’s and Waltz’s on screen chemistry was amazing, and Waltz’s delivery on various idioms or comments on the current situation, were simply astounding. Foxx’s character, Django didn’t talk as much, but when he did, the character command the respect of those involved in the exchange. And in classic, Tarantino style, the funny moments, are poignant, and just down right, awesome. You’ll definitely have moments to laugh your ass off.
This brings me to the second half of the movies, super stars, Samuel Leroy Jackson and Leonardo DiCaprio. Even though they were just supporting actors to Django, they, in my opinion, stole the second half of the movie from Foxx and Waltz. The veracity of Calvin Candie delivery of his suave, southern debonair, and Stephen, his oldest slave and confidant, that even has the enormous respect from the entire household, but still knows, he’s a slave, and even though he is a slave, he uses, every ounce of his power throughout the household, while Calvin is away. And always, with a Tarantino movie, he makes his appearance and something fantastical happens by time he leaves screen.
The story, as I mentioned before, it’s set during pre-civil war times, roughly two years before. And for the historical set piece that Tarantino has created. You honestly believe this is what the young United States of America was like with slavery as the World’s most profitable commodity during that time. Just as it is set during that time, the use of the N-Word, is frequent, as many would expect since that was what the slaves were called, not black, not african, not african-american, not colored. To slave owners, and those who were pro-slavery, they were property and the N-Word. But I digress, as the journey with Django and Schultz, continues and Schultz is willing to teach Django the ways of bounty
The movies scene where you are introduced to Calvin Candie, in the upstairs New Orleans Townhome, you can just see that, this man, is subtle evil, and simply amazingly evil. But that scene from the door opening for Django and Schultz to when they finally leave, you can see how over the top and in love with his lifestyle Candie is. And with all revenge movies, the plan goes awry, and the heroes are found out, but I won’t spoil the rest of the story beyond that, because this movie is worth the money for a ticket nowadays.hunting, and even pay and free him once its complete. Django says in response to the proposal, “You get to shoot white people, and get paid for it? What’s not to like about it.” The story even gives a slight glimpse into the mind of a bounty hunter, that you’re killing people and collecting money, but it does take a toll upon the human psyche, but when that bounty has killed and marauded across the state, it makes it slightly easier. But the main story of the movie is both one of revenge, and rescuing the damsel, Broomhilda, played by Kerry Washington from the clutches of the unknown villain.
Visually, the movie is spectacular. The cinematography is especially amazing, from the snowy mountains in the west to the plantations in the south, it feels like, “Yup, this is what it would looked like during that time.” The costumes for every character, simply period perfect, nothing seemed out of place, or more so, they didn’t wear that in 1861, ever, at all. The most memorable costume was Django’s, riding to the plantation of Big Daddy, and him wearing a super blue suede outfit, for him being a valet to Dr. Schultz. And all the while, Django, looked good throughout the subsequent scenes while on the plantation. This brings me to the Tarantino style of movie making, hyper violent, and raw scenes that are bound to come. During certain scenes, the violence is extrapolated, by leaps and bounds. One scene, as they are approaching Candyland with the caravan that is Calvin Candie’s entourage and such, we come upon D’Artagnan, an attempted runaway, but was caught, and what happens next is something, not for the squeamish. So, if you don’t like things like that, then you may want to pass it off until it comes on cable TV with tons of edits.
Django Unchained, a classic in the stable of movies created by Quentin Tarantino. If you love any of the actors in the movie, the style that Tarantino delivers, from the violence to the funny, or to just see a great movie. This one is worth the money and surely will have nominations for many of the people attached to the movie. But as I stated, above, if you’re not for the use of the N-Word, in an epic, during slavery, and over the top violence, I’d pass if I were you. But if not, GO! And I’ll leave you with this random fact: Tarantino wrote this movie with Will Smith in mind to play Django; funny how things work out for the better in movie land.
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