"Django Unchained" - Review

Written and Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

Rated R for strong graphic violence throughout, a vicious fight, language and some nudity

Release Date: December 25^th, 2012

Review by: Sean Kayden

“Django Unchained” is the latest film from auteur Quentin Tarantino. His epic new western, actually deemed a “southern” is a big, bold, and bloody affair. However, at the core of this two hour and forty-five minute opus, there is an irrefutably strong love story. Set in the south, two years before the civil war, we’re introduced to Django, a slave played by Jamie Foxx. While traveling through a forest with other slaves chained together and guarded by two men in chariots, a man in his own dentistry chariot stops them. The man is Dr. King Schultz portrayed by the incredibly talented Christoph Waltz. He’s looking for a particular slave that can help him find the Brittle brothers. Schultz was a dentist now turned bounty hunter. After taking care of the guards that don’t comply, Schultz acquires the help of Django, who knows what the brothers look like. He allows for Django to become a free man. The two guys form this unlikely friendship as they travel for one goal in mind.  Eventually that goal is turned into an even bigger one when we find out Django has a wife named Broomhilda depicted by the lovely Kerry Washington. After the slaying of the Brittle brothers, who tortured both Django and Broomhilda, Jamie Foxx’s character agrees to become a bounty hunter with Schultz, who in return will lead him to the man who has his wife. Soon after, we find out she was sold to a man named Calvin Candie, the ruthless owner of the infamous Candyland plantation. The two men have a huge obstacle ahead of them and it won’t be an easy task just to walk up to Candie’s front door and demand him to give up Broomhilda. They decide to introduce themselves under the false pretenses that they’re in the business of purchasing one of Candie’s slave fighters. Candie orchestrates these matches where two slaves fight for sport and wealthy men place bets on it. This is where the movie takes a slightly different, even more ominous turn.

While the first half of the film is reinvigorating, spectacular in execution and tons of fun, the second half is downright fantastic once Leonardo DiCaprio’s conniving, but indubitably charming Calvin Candie appears along with his submissive head slave, Stephen (depicted impeccably by Samuel L. Jackson). “Django Unchained” is literally off the chain offering no short supply of laughs, tension, and utter enthrallment. It’s a spectacle unlike anything this year, ranking it as one of the best American films of 2012.  Tarantino has done it again with his quick-witted dialogue (seriously, he’s probably the only guy who can write a 165 page script without making an audience feel bored or impatient), grandiose filmmaking, and razor sharp direction. The collection of brilliant actors makes “Django Unchained” the most entertaining film of the year. With award type performances by Waltz and DiCarpio and strong showcases by Foxx and Jackson, you’d be hard pressed to find a better acting ensemble of 2012. All and all, the film runs slightly too long, but mostly all is forgiven. With the exception of one mildly phony scene toward the end (where Django escapes from the men holding him captured), the entire film is luminous, audacious, and uncompromising badass. Tarantino is still one of the few directors to be excited for the future. Be sure to catch this ambitiously impressive film in theaters for the full, unadulterated experience.

Grade 4.5 out of 5

Published by Mountain Views News on January 5th, 2013
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v07/htm/n01/p11.htm