Django Unchained (2012) Directed by Quentin Tarantino

 

Quentin Tarantino once again brings us a narcotic euphoria in the form of a comedy western about slavery.  A film about exploitation and the brutal treatment of slaves; with unexpected and compelling moments and the films ability to provide a violent thrill ride, Tarantino gives us many opportunity to be satisfied.

It is loosely based on the 1960’s cult Django westerns along with the comic series. Django Unchained is based in Texas, America before the civil war in 1858.  Jamie Foxx stars as Django; a former slave of a brutal land owner. Django is befriended by German bounty hunter Dr King Schultz played by Christoph Waltz and the duo has a nice sort of bromance throughout the movie. 

Schultz is a German Dentist who is now a bounty hunter travelling around finding people wanted dead or alive. And as this is a Tarantino film, the hunted usually end up dead. Piling bodies up to return in exchange for the bounty.  Schultz needs Django to help him find two brothers who have a bounty out on their heads. He saves Django from yet another brutal stretch of -slavery in return for his help.  Django helps him in return for his freedom and help to find his wife. Through their journey they hunt for Django's wife Broomhilda (played by Kerry Washington) who was sold separately to slavery.

 

He finds her with Calvin Candie (played by the great Leonardo Dicaprio); a racist and sadistic man who is head of the plantation in Mississippi named Candieland.  Candie’s household attendant Stephen played by Samuel L Jackson gives an unforgettable performance. He is very loyal to his white master and is shocked to see Django a free man and riding on a horse.  He treats his fellow slaves exactly how they are treated by the white master. This is one of the most comical moments in the film. Just the shock and impertinence of Stephan is enough to make you laugh.
 

Django Unchained is delightful in its exploding gunshots a splatter western would be the correct term in this case. Tarantino’s main staple in his films is blood. He loves the stuff. And not just trickling blood he has to have exploding blood covering the scene in a red mist.

I won’t spoil anything for you so I won’t babble on, but this film is a definite must see.
 

 

By Lea Weller BA