Django Unchained: A Story Worth Revisiting!!

Prior to watching this film I was very much on the fence as to whether or not I was going to see it. However, once I saw it there was no question, this was a movie to see. Despite all the controversy and the overwhelmingly one-sided critics Quentin Tarantino's tenth directed film Django Unchained is right on the money. It might be one of his best yet. This is a film that has many roles to captivate, cultivate, amaze, shock, and everything in between.

Django Unchained is movie that is your typical American spaghetti western film, entertaining, funny, and even educational. It was obvious that Tarantino and his team clearly did their research with this film, as the viewer is presented with the subject of slavery right smack in your face (check out the actual/authentic masks that the slave had to wear). Not only do we see a clearly painted picture of the institution of slavery, but the film addressed specifically slave trading, code-switching, prostitution, and mandingo fighting. Even though the film is filled with violence and gore (at moments enough to make you cringe) one has to realize the context of the film...and let's not forget the fact that it is Tarantino's style...IJS.

This is not simply a story about a former slave who is trying to rescue his long lost wife and seek revenge towards her slave master, this is a game of winner take all, literally. Sometimes you have to go for the gold, "by any means necessary". And just in Tarantino style the writing is over the top brutal, genius and hilarious. A movie clearly written on his own terms. His style of dialogue and perfect scenery is a true trademark of a fine filmmaker. Grant it I will admit there are moment where the film comes off botchy and stagnant, but not enough to ruin the film. Interestingly the film has a running time of 165 minutes, however it actually moves quite swiftly.
 

Thankfully with this film Tarantino and the casting director offer a great balance of actors. Each character in this film contributed a great deal to the success of this film. Obviously each actor really had to step outside of who they are as an individual in order to play their respective roles. The acting is actually quite stellar. They truly make you believe them from the talk, walk, and dress!! He pulled out the big guns with this one. I even got chills watching them it was just so real. (Also the fact that the main part of the movie took place not to far from where my family is from, Greenville, MS.)

Playing the lead role of Django Freeman, Oscar winner Jamie Foxx delivers on all levels playing this former slave. Clearly playing a character like Django for Foxx is not easy, it is actually very evident and fitting. It actually makes the role seem more real. His discomfort adds to the authenticity. With this character Foxx walks a very thin line between sadistic and empathetic. It takes a special character to play this role and I think Foxx embodies it well (maybe it was a good thing Will Smith turned it down, not sure I would be convinced seeing him play Django). And then here come the high rollers. Now you gotta love a character who is a former German dentist turned bounty hunter, Dr. King Schulz (Christoph Waltz). This is definitely a standout role for him, nailing every nuance of his complex, obsessive character. Opposite of character personality is Calvin Candie (aka Monsieur Candie, played by Leonardo DiCaprio) who is ruthless plantation owner and slave master. In this role DiCaprio is delightfully vicious and strangely comfortable in his role...kinda of scary. Both Schulz and Candie are quite impressive and add the perfect touch to what the film needed.

Now what would a film be without an uppity negro slave, and Samuel L. Jackson fills the role perfectly. Jackson's role in this film is brilliant, think of him as an extreme Uncle Ruckus character. Here he plays the quintessential "Uncle Tom".  Jackson truly nailed this role. I have never had such a love hate relationship for a character like Stephen since Denzel Washington in Training Day. It is as though in a weird and twisted way, he appeared to be enjoying playing the role, almost borderline parody-like. And then there is the dame. Although her role is the driving force of the main character Django, Broomhilda (played by Kerry Washington) what we get to see of her acting wise is rather limited. She is actually rather riveting maybe even dreamlike. Through Washington's character we get to see the dynamics of the house and field slave and those who are there simply for pleasure sake. You feel her pain, her passion, and her love and devotion for Django.

As you will see there are several big names, but many of the characters in this film are not veterans. And that is ok sometimes the veterans do not need to outnumber the rookies. In this case with many of the actors having limited roles it makes the viewer really appreciate and pay attention to each interaction. Little words can be just as significant as several words. And for all my folks who have seen the original Django (1966) film, you will be pleased to see a cameo appearance from the main man himself, Franco Nero.

Overall with a great script and a close to perfect cast, the only thing left to be mesmerized and entertained with is the cinematography and the musical score. The scenery is absolutely amazing and scarily beautiful. I can only imagine what it felt like to walk on the plantations in the steps of former slaves and slave masters. The spirit of the ancestors I'm sure loomed over on a daily basis. The score and soundtrack is just as stunning. As a whole is quite classic using such songs as Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in the West" and "La Corsa", and Ennio Morricone's "Sister Sara's Theme". And the icing on the cake, it's nothing like watching a fighting scene and hearing Tupac and Rick Ross...oh how fitting!! When you hear you will know exactly what I am talking about, trust me.

Hopefully people will not just believe the hype and truly make their own opinion about this film. To be honest, it is a perfect discussion starter regarding such issues as the use of the 'n-word' (if you really think about it the use of the 'n-word' in the film is actually more historically correct than in previous Tarantino films), double consciousness (wearing the mask, the veil), drapetomania, and the unique science of phrenology (measurement of the skull). And speaking as someone who is an African American woman there was no point in the film where I felt disrespected or made to look like a fool. I imagine the goal of this film is not to bring or keep Blacks down, but rather to re-introduce a myth/story of a classic narrative to make us aware of what DID happen over some 300+ years ago. Anytime when a film deals with such a controversial and touchy topic as slavery there is always this feeling that it is a conspiracy from "the man".

Slavery is a reality!! You can run from it, but there is no hiding the truth. Tarantino said it best in the 2007 The Daily Telegraph, "I wanted to do movies that deal with America's horrible past with slavery and stuff but do them like spaghetti westerns, not like big issues movies. I want to do them like they're genre films, but they deal with everything that America has never dealt with because it's ashamed of it, and other countries don't really deal with because they don't feel they have the right to."
   
Sometimes it really is just simply a movie. One thing that I will say is that Tarantino is one exceptional genius! Django Unchained is a point blank awesome and brilliant film! A definite must see folks! [Oh by the way the 'D' is silent :-) ]

Rating: 9.5 out of 10 stars