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Rating: 5 out of 5
Quentin Tarantino returns to the big screen following up the “we in the killin’ Nazi business. And cousin, business is a-boomin'” mega-hit Inglorious Bastards with his spaghetti western film, Django Unchained. Tarantino decides that fighting Nazi is one thing but showing the world on the subject of American slavery with a character that any black man/person can root for. I was extremely hesitant to watch this film because I’ve seen a lot of slavery films, but I admit that as a black man, I found this film enjoyable. Making a return to the big screen, the original Django and inspiration can be found from Italian filmmaker Sergio Corbucci and the 1966 film Django.
What is Django Unchained about? Well, it starts off in 1858, in the great state of Texas. The film starts with a group of slaves walking through the hot ass environment of Texas by the slavers Speck Brothers. During a night stop, former German dentist Dr. King Schultz (Waltz) arrives and asks about the slave Django and if the slave knows anything about the Brittle Brothers. In the background, Django (Foxx) says he knows them and can point them out. Dr. Schultz proceeds to “buying” Django’s freedom, along with setting the other slaves free. Dr. Schultz tells Django that he is a bounty hunter, and he is chasing the Brittle family. He proposes a deal to Django: if he helps him, he will give his freedom, a horse, and $ 75.00 for him. Django accepts the agreement, and Dr. Schultz trains him to be his deputy. They kill the brothers at Big Daddy’s plantation. During a discussion, Django tells Dr. Schultz that he would use the money to buy the freedom of his wife, Broomhilda (Washington), who is a slave that speaks German. Intrigued by this, Dr. Schultz proposes another deal to Django: if he teams-up with him during the winter, he would give one-third of the rewards and help him to rescue Broomhilda. Django accepts his new deal as Django so eloquently states, “Kill white folks, and they pay you for it? What’s not to like?” and they become friends. After the winter, Dr. Schultz goes to Mississippi and learns that Broomhilda was sold to the ruthless Calvin Candie von Shaft (DiCaprio), who lives in the infamous Candyland Farm. Dr. Schultz plots a scheme with Django to lure Calvin and rescue Broomhilda from him. Little do they know that Calvin’s cruel and ruthless slave head, Stephen, is not easily fooled.
Django Unchained is definitely a Tarantino film. Hands down, it has his feel and marks all over it, but it was very, very enjoyable. Tarantino did a masterful job tackling a tough subject as American slavery and blending it into a story of finding a lost love, revenge, friendship, and showing black excellence.
I honestly don’t know where to begin with how great and fun this movie was. I guess I shall start with some of the scenes and how the progression of character Django goes from a lowly slave to a badass, muthaf***in bounty hunter.
First, Tarantino shows the craziness of white people and how they saw things with black people. First, this is shown when Django and Schultz arrive in town after Schultz saves Django. Tarantino shows everyone running in their house or just amazed at what they have seen because as Django so elegantly put it, “They never seen no n***a on a horse.” Also, the whole Ku Klux Klan scene was entertaining and crazy in itself. Now the Klan are no good people, but this film made so much fun of them. The whole conversation about the masks and why they can’t see is hilarious. When they attack and get messed up is pretty funny. Big Daddy deserved what he got.
What I didn’t like but needed to be seen was how slavery looked like. The minute the word/state Mississippi scrolled across the screen, I knew that I was going to feel awful, and the N-Word was about to be thrown around like it was another day in the park. Yep, I was right. First, we see black people chained like dogs as they are ushered through the streets. We see how white people look at them for sport as they have to fight each other, untimely killing each other. The scene that actually turned my stomach was with the runaway slave D’Artagnan. Calvin and the group finally make it back to Candyland, and they stop because Calvin’s house group find the slave in a tree. When Calvin gives the order to release the dogs, you knew terrible things were about to happen.
What is also great about this film is the development of the character Django. When we first meet Django, he is a slave and lacked knowledge about words. His education was low. Now when Schultz tells him that he can pick out his costume, the dude picks out the brightest blue outfit in the world. Homeboy rode up in such a blue outfit that I couldn’t help but laugh. From there, the true magic of Django arrived. It was actually the words from Calvin that aided in his development. By playing a black slave driver, he found his voice and confidence. The whole shootout scene was phenomenal as the music blasted, and he shot EVERYONE!
One of the significant aspects of this film is the overall acting by all the characters. First, there is Jamie Foxx as Django Freeman. Foxx did an excellent job as Django. It wasn’t Academy Award stuff, but the character development that Foxx showed his character was significant. We see a slave who couldn’t read to one that was the quickest draw and talk like the best of them. Just to watch Django play his role as a one-eye Charlie was something else. Christoph Waltz as Dr. King Schultz was truly SPECIAL!! You can’t but love Waltz and his character. Waltz played Schultz with such charm and appeal that you couldn’t help but be happy that he found Django and helped him on his journey. Waltz was so good that he won the Academy Award for this role.
Even though I absolutely HATED the character Leonardo DiCaprio as “Monsieur” Calvin J. Candie should’ve been nominated and also won the Academy Award for this role. If you want to see the real face of an evil slave master, DiCaprio shows it as Calvin Candie. DAMN, I hated Calvin so much, but DiCaprio was so freakin good at it. The one scene that showed DiCaprio at his best was in the dining room, where he cut his hand. He didn’t break character, and that one scene was the one that I was like, this dude is a master at his craft. I still can’t stand his ass. To follow him was Samuel L. Jackson as Stephen. Stephen might honestly be the most dreadful character in the WHOLE film. He was a house slave that actually ruled Candyland with an iron fist. Just think about it, when Calvin was away, he gave out orders. He actually told the whites what to do or fed them ideas. When he warned Calvin about Django and Schultz, he sat in the chair and drank wine as he gave Calvin orders. Samuel L. Jackson can play any role, and he is so versatile.
Another highlight of this film is the freakin’ soundtrack. This soundtrack works so well with this film and actually makes it even more enjoyable to watch. The opening song “Django,” sung by Rocky Roberts & Luis Bacalov, set the tone for this film. It didn’t set the tone in a bad way. It gave you the sense and feel that you were about to watch one of those old classic western films. Then we get “His Name Was King” (from Lo Chiamavano King) sung by Luis Bacalov & Edda Dell’Orso. The scene that this song was for was genuinely perfect. Just how Django rode his horse and listening to the song was a perfect mesh together. We can’t forget about some other songs. First, how bout “Freedom” sung by Anthony Hamilton & Elayna Boynton. A great song for a movie about a former slave who is trying to rescue his wife. Django sees his wife every time as this song plays. Let’s not forget “100 Black Coffins” sung by Rick Ross. I love me some Rick Ross, and this song was a perfect fit as Django and everyone marched the slaves that Calvin bought to his plantation. Ultimately, they will end up in coffins at the end. My favorite song was “Who Did That to You?” sung by the great John Legend. First, the song started at the PERFECT time after Tarantino’s character died. The song plays simultaneously with Django riding off and getting his vengeance. How can’t you love John Legend also?
Django Unchained is one of the best movies I have seen in years. It is violent, shows racism and the south, and a character that becomes a true BADASS! The acting is excellent with Waltz winning the Academy Award, but DiCaprio is equally amazing as the ruthless Calvin. I highly enjoyed this movie and the soundtrack. Go watch this great film and genuinely enjoy the story and action.
