Director: Quentin Tarantino
MPAA Rating: R
Film Pulse Score: 10/10
Django Unchained marks the eighth feature film from director Quentin Tarantino, and is easily one of the best movies of the year. Tarantino proves once again that he is a master filmmaker, and nearly every shot of this 165 minute near masterpiece oozes with style and technique.
The film revolves around a dentist turned bounty hunter by the name of Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), and his partner, a former slave named Django (Jamie Foxx.). These two work together to dispatch some very vile people for the government all the while making their way towards the plantation of a Mr. Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), who is keeping Django’s wife as a slave.
Like all of Tarantino’s previous films, Django Unchained is an homage to the classic westerns of yesteryear from greats like Leone, Corbucci, or Peckinpah. Again, like in his previous work, this tip of the hat is expertly done by honoring classic cinema and simultaneously adding some Tarantino flavor that we all come to expect.
Everything that made films like Pulp Fiction and Inglorious Basterds so amazing is present in this movie, though it’s more similar to the latter than the former. This is a deliberately paced film that is much more grand in scope than you would think just by seeing the trailers.
The violence is brutal and, at times, jaw dropping, but it’s not a non-stop bloodbath like Kill Bill vol. 1. Like Inglourious Basterds, it leans the swing back very far in order to pack a stronger punch. That isn’t to say that the action isn’t intense, because it most certainly is. In fact, this may be Tarantino’s most violent film in terms of brutality.
On the performance side of things, we have a great cast acting from a great script and putting out great performances. Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz obviously carry the most screen time and work well together. The chemistry between Django and Dr. Schultz was evident from the opening scene of the film, and let us know we were in for quite a ride.
Leonardo DiCaprio as the film’s main antagonist Calvin Candie, was sadistic and creepily charming. DiCaprio gets to show off his acting chops by getting one of the more powerful monologues in the film as well, which he brilliantly performs without a hitch.
The film is rounded out by smaller, but equally impressive performances by Kerry Washington, Walton Goggins, James Remar, Don Johnson, and Jonah Hill, however Samuel L. Jackson’s performance as Stephen was by far the best supporting role. It was clearly a part written for Jackson and he took full advantage of it.
So there’s a great cast, a fun story, fantastic dialogue, the only thing left is a kick-ass soundtrack, which Django Unchained provides. The soundtrack is an eclectic mix of classic western themes, 70s R&B, and modern day hip-hop. All the cues are hit perfectly, and each song fits the accompanying scene to a T.
This review could go on for days dismantling and dissecting each scene of this film, but we like to keep things light and concise, so I’m just going to say see this movie. For the love of God see this movie.
I was not as impressed with this film as I thought I’d be, especially given my love of Tarantino’s work (with the exception of his DEATH PROOF and PLANET TERROR films of 2007). I agree with everything Adam says, and yet it didn’t quite do it for me. Perhaps if it were trimmed down in a couple of places, I would feel differently about it; but as it was, I thought it was needlessly overlong. I had no trouble with the violence; the humorous moments (especially the white-mask scene) were truly humorous; and the casting and performances impeccable. But I have to seriously wonder whether or not it will make my top ten list for 2012.