Review of Django Unchained (2012) by Levi B — 30 May 2016

Many filmmakers and directors seem to lose their touch over the course of their careers. Sometimes it seems like they're able to make a few good movies, and as time goes on their works becomes sloppy or uninspired.

This is far from the case for Quentin Tarantino, who has, in the past, directed arguably some of the best films ever released in cinemas. With Django Unchained, he continues to showcase what he and his films have become best at: the ability to chose incredible actors to play memorable characters, the smooth incorporation of violence, dialogue, and tension into an interesting plot, and the creation of a setting that is believable and engrossing (if not entirely historically accurate.

.. I'm looking at you Inglourious Basterds.) Django Unchained tells the story of two unlikely friends: a German bounty hunter and his new, recently freed-from-slavery partner, Django. The film follows their adventures into the plantations of the Civil War-era South as they transition from two bounty hunters looking for their next reward to two gentlemen trying to rescue Django's enslaved wife.

Now, the thing that stands out most here is the acting from the ensemble cast. And EVERY main actor steals EVERY scene they're in. Jamie Foxx, who plays Django, does a stellar job in his role without a doubt.

But he is overshadowed in most of his scenes by Christoph Waltz, and oh does he overshadow him. Waltz establishes himself as one of my favorite actors in the film industry with this film, doing an equally impressive job as his role as Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds.

His character is funny, interesting, likeable, and badass all at the same time. And that's without speaking of Leonardo DiCaprio's and Samuel L. Jackson's parts in the movie. One word can be used to describe their performances: incredible.

When Foxx, Waltz, DiCaprio, and Jackson are all on-screen at once, it's overwhelming in the best possible way. Additionally, Tarantino does a fine job of incorporating the best parts of storytelling into this masterpiece.

His trademark tension shows up several times and, of course, what would a Tarantino movie be without the violence we all know him for? The explosions of blood and ridiculous shouting and screaming make their entrance many times throughout the movie at well-placed times.

The Civil War-era feel of the movie is also great and feels authentic, and I felt immersed in the time period throughout most of the movie. In short, Django Unchained is one of the best action movies to hit screens in a long time.

With incredible acting, an amazing script, and satisfying action, Tarantino reminds us of the way movies should be made with one of his finest works yet.