Review of Django Unchained (2012) by Kevin D — 29 Dec 2015

Tom Brady probably peaked in 2007 when he threw a still record 50 touchdown passes and led his team to a 16-0 regular season record. Only "The Book of" Eli Manning could tarnish that season with a surprise upset in the Super Bowl. Since then Brady has compiled nice accomplishments and consistent numbers: he won comeback player of the year in 2009 after suffering a season ending injury in 2008. He won the MVP award in 2010 with 36 td's. He threw 39 more last year and 34 this season. He was mildly in the discussion for MVP this and last year, but something that's been against him is the fact that these numbers are expected of him.

Brady putting up seemingly eye popping stats is no longer a surprise and the expectations he has set for himself have somehow ended up making his great numbers look pedestrian.

Perhaps we're starting to take our superstar quarterback for granted here in New England. We always know that our quarterback can lead us up against any opponent with ease and we know that we'll always have a fighting shot as long as #12 is in the lineup. But he's getting older. TB12 is 35, but isn't showing signs of age. We need to start appreciating him before his game takes noticeable drops.

I suppose the same could be said of Quentin Jerome Tarantino. The dude has compiled entertaining movie after entertaining movie in astounding fashion. Lots of imitators have tried following in his footsteps, but there's only one Tarantino. In fact there have been lots of movements against the guy, igniting him as an imitator constantly borrowing from other directors. People see the talent in Tarantino and want him to do things they want and step out of his comfortable territory. A lot of people complain about what he's not doing instead of appreciating the works he ends up creating.

The man is thinking of hanging up the cleats soon and when he does, who else will be as much of a sure thing as him? A movie by Tarantino guarantees a faultless screenplay, outstanding wordplay, enthusiastic performances, entertaining stories, and above all, a true and completely thought out screen vision.

There were moments in this movie where it appeared obvious that Tarantino was borrowing elements from himself or that some monologues went overboard and escaped realism. There was an action scene that even felt a little clumpy and out of place. The set ups to situations are getting a little old. At times while watching the film it felt like I was listening to my dad tell me a story he's already told me a million times and I was helping him fill in the blanks.

But you know what I still had a blast and those elements are truly what make a Tarantino film unique. For as many times as I can sense the winks at the audience and familiar story elements, Tarantino still has the ability to hold me gasping in tense situations and keeping my legs pinned into the ground hoping for a release of suspense.

Characterization is arguably still Tarantino's best strength. The characters that really stuck out this time are Sam Jackson's Stephen (my favorite villain of 2012) and Christoph Waltz's Dr. King Schultz (my favorite character of the year). Words can't describe the creation of Stephen and how well and bravely Jackson tackles and executes the performance. Waltz is seamless as the charming doctor. It's a performance much like Col. Hans Landa minus the sinister Nazi-ness.

DiCaprio, in true DiCaprio fashion does a nice job of getting into character and establishing himself into the film's universe. We get a real sense of just how childish and arrogant his Calvin Candie is. However, it was really hard to feel anything about him. He just came off as cold. Just looking at DiCaprio's filmography, it's clear that he almost always picks great movies and he definitely does a nice job acting each time out. It's just difficult for me to distinguish the performances from one another. In my mind he has still yet to have a career defining role (the one I guess that sticks out for me is Blood Diamond, but hopefully the best has still yet to come from him). I guess I thought this would be a career defining role for him, with an actor's director behind the camera and all, but I guess we'll have to settle for a very good performance instead of a great one.

One of the better things about the film is that it truly feels like 1857. The treatment of African Americans is ruthless and the actors were all brave and authentic in their portrayals of what it was like living in that time period. It almost serves like a live action history lesson with distinctive Tarantino panache. The landscapes are enthralling, the music selection is larger than life, and the costumes are vibrantly alive.

Tarantino still has the ability of shocking and satisfying audiences. Some scenes and scenarios might not play out the way we want, but just when you think it's all over, it ain't.