Plot: In the winter of 1858 bounty hunter King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) is looking for the Brittle brothers, a trio of ruthless killers that Schultz has been tasked to bring back dead or alive. However, since Schultz doesn't know what the three brothers look like he tracks down someone who does--a plantation slave named Django (Jamie Foxx). After freeing Django from a group of slave traders, Schultz schools him in the ways of the bounty hunter and promises to help free his wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) from the nefarious plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). But can the duo fool Candie and his suspicious overseer Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson) long enough to rescue Broomhilda without bloodshed?
Review: If you've ever seen a Quentin Tarantino movie you know that the answer to that last question is inevitably no. In fact with Django Unchained it is an emphatic no. Fierce, honest, brutal, will written, and superbly acted, Django Unchained is a spaghetti western that Sergio Leone would be proud of and proves to be director Tarantino's best film since Pulp Fiction. About the only thing missing was Clint Eastwood.
All the trademark Tarantino quirks are here: the abrupt closeups, jolting violence, spirited and witty dialogue, and of course an excellent sound track that mixes 60s western riffs, James Brown songs, and even modern hip hop. What sets Django Unchained apart from other Tarantino films (and other films in general) is its unflinching look at slavery and its brutality. Tarantino has taken a lot of flack for scenes that depict a slave being ripped apart by dogs, the Mandingo fights to the death, and whipping scenes, but let's be honest people: these things happened. As much as I respect the movie Lincoln, it was a film that dealt with slavery throughout yet never once showed an actual slave in the entire film. Obviously, different movies different styles but the sentiment is there. In many ways you could consider Django Unchained the anti-Lincoln. The film is about America's dirty little secret that most people don't want to confront openly. Not Tarantino. He rubs your face in it. Not since the mini-series "Roots" has slavery been so violently depicted.
That's not to say that Django Unchained is not without levity. There are some incredibly funny scenes particularly the initial appearance of Big Daddy (Don Johnson) who resembles Colonel Sanders. However, the best was probably where a group of pre-KKK members complain about the masks they are wearing because they can't see. Scenes like these, as well as numerous instances of witty dialogue, offset an overall bloody and powerful film. Furthermore, Django Unchained proves to be a very viable love story. Although both Washington and Foxx spend minimal time on the screen together, the chemistry is dynamite and Django's love for Broomhilda is undeniable. He's even willing to perform an elaborate ruse with Schultz to become the lowest of the low--a black slaver who is scouting fighting talent at Candie's plantation.
As for the acting everyone, and I mean everyone, is at the top of their game. Foxx has created an iconic and memorable character, a virtual Clint Eastwood cowboy for the 21st century. I delighted in seeing Django progress from a repressed slave to a confident and educated gunfighter. While the scene where Django whips his old slave masters is awesome, what I found even more compelling was a flashback scene where Foxx begs those same masters not to whip his wife. My heart broke for Django in that moment and it made his revenge all the more righteous. I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention the repartee between Foxx and Samuel L. Jackson. The closing scene between the two is just riveting and is a nice tip of the cap to The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Jackson was fantastic as the vile Stephen. In any other year Foxx would probably be getting an Oscar nod, however I think he's going to miss the cut.
The one who most definitely will not is Leonardo DiCaprio. His performance as plantation owner Calvin Candie is mesmerizing. This is the first real villain that DiCaprio has ever portrayed and he knocks it out of the park. Rarely has there ever been a more reprehensible and evil villain portrayed on screen. Unrepentant and despicable, Candie orders white cake in the same tone as when he commands dogs to tear apart a slave. Candie practically oozes slime every time he's on camera and when he finally receives his inevitable comeuppance, I had to restrain myself from cheering.
Equally as impressive as DiCaprio was Academy Award winner Christopf Waltz as Dr. King Schultz. Schultz acts as a virtual surrogate father for Django. He despises slavery and you can visibly see the disgust on his face during the Mandingo fighting, even though he's masquerading as a potential buyer. This lends a humanity to the character who after all is a bounty hunter by profession. The camaraderie between Waltz and Foxx is reminiscent of Paul Newman and Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Waltz also receives an Academy Award nomination on January 10th.
I can't over emphasize what a powerful, riveting, and entertaining film Tarantino's latest is. It exceeded all my expectations. Put simply Django Unchained was off the chain.
My rating: 10/10
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