Review of Django Unchained (2012) by Jason T — 28 Jun 2014

Django Unchained is the latest film from Quentin Tarantino, of Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill fame. He is a filmmaker known for smart dialogue, brutal violence, and various over the top indulgences. This film does nothing to break that trend. Anyone going into this film should know what they will be getting. This film should be viewed as a bloody action, suspense, humor, hybrid that is over 2 and a half hours long. This is not "12 Years a Slave." That film is harrowing, realistic, and painful to watch. Exposing the crime of slavery with no romanticism whatsoever. This movie has extreme violence against African Americans as well, but it serves to set up the cathartic desserts that are served at the end of the film.

The acting, as to be expected in a Quentin Tarantino film, consistently hits the mark. With the exception being Kerry Washington, who really isn't given much to do in the scenes she is featured. Leonardo DiCaprio is mesmerizing as plantation owner Calvin J Candie, whose genteel nature is just a ruse for a heartless, vicious temperment. Just as exciting to watch is Samuel L. Jackson, the very definition of an Uncle Tom who appears harmless at first glance and is anything but.

This being a Tarantino joint, you are going to have to deal with some overlong scenes and one misplaced one, where a would be mob has an issue dealing with the eyeholes on their masks, seems like it should belong in Blazing Saddles instead of here. However, on the whole the pacing here feels much better than in QT's last film, Inglorious Basterds.

The extreme violence of this film cannot be overstated. I do not know if "Mandingo" fighting was a real thing, but it is disturbing and very difficult to watch as presented here. The scene also lets us know what kind of human being our heroes are about to deal with regarding Candie. There is also another ultra-gory shootout that you may feel a little guilty to be thrilled by.

I feel QT takes the revenge aspect a little to far in the end. The whole mission of the film was for Django to get his wife back. He does, and then instead of getting out of Dodge while the getting is good he goes back to Candie's estate for one last, totally over the top confrontation with Samuel L. Jackson. It becomes a little indulgent to say the least, you will be ready for the movie to end. That said, there are a number of great moments and you will not mistake this film to be from any other filmmaker out there. Score: 8.5.