Review of Django Unchained (2012) by Danny R — 15 Feb 2016

Quentin Tarantino's audacious, genre-busting, brutally compelling drama which takes place before the Civil War in the Deep South, is an inspired piece of cinematic entertainment that ranks right up there with his best film works.

Django, played superbly by Jamie Foxx is an African-American slave on a chain gang who is freed by a German-born former dentist turned ruthless bounty hunter named Dr. King Shultz, played by Christop Waltz in marvelously charismatic scene-stealing performance.

Shultz enlists Django as his assistant, training him in the art of bounty hunting so he can help him hunt down the Brittle Brothers who are murderous slave drivers. They enter into agreement to conduct a search for Django's wife Broomhilda, well played by Kerry Washington who has been sold into slavery, and thus begins their odyssey to locale and rescue her.

They soon learn that she is being forced to work as prostitute on a large, lavish plantation known as Candie Land by the monstrous owner, a sadistic sociopath with rotten teeth named Calvin Candie, played brilliantly by a game Leonardo DiCaprio, who cultivates "Mandingo" black slave fighters who fight to the death, they are mostly for his personal amusement, but are also for sale too.

Schultz devises an elaborate plan to free Broomhilda from the clutches of the vile Calvin Candie, by posing as a buyer with special interest in Mandingo fighters. All this will lead to a unforgettable climatic gunfight that must be the the bloodiest in screen history.

Quentin Tarantino's direction is flawless, and Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz make a great pair of mismatched buddies, the supporting cast features wonderful performances by Walton Goggins, Dennis Christopher, James Remar, Don Johnson, James Russo, Don Stroud, Russ Tamblyn, Bruce Dern, Michael Parks, Jonah Hill, Laura Cayouette, Nichole Galicia, Dana Michelle Gourrier, and Franco Nero.

Special kudos must go to Samuel L. Jackson's exceptional performance as Calvin Candie's old head house slave Stephen, who is as racist and treacherous as his own master. Stephen is more concerned in enforcing the proper slave structure than his owner seems to be, and loves to torment the slaves under him.

Much has been made about Tarantino's unapologetic and liberal use of the word 'Nigger,' which is a term of hate, but that is what slaves were called during that dark period in America, and it is historically correct.

Tarantino delivers a ferociously creative and original screenplay filled with hilariously amusing dialogue, and some solidly dramatic intense scenes. Simply unmissable, and one of the best films of the year.

Highly Recommended.