SO. The thrill you experience when you come to know about the
release of a new Tarantino movie, is quite..thrilling, I must say. You
anticipate the prospect of a blood bath. Some witty dialogues. The music. All seem to fit so well into the
theme of the movie. Django Unchained is Quentin Tarantino’s latest Spaghetti
Western film. What is a Spaghetti Western you might ask? Generally an Italian
director along with a cast of German, Italian and American Actors. A cocktail
of ethnicity.
Set in the American South, the film takes us through a few
months in the life of an African Slave, Django(Jamie Foxx) who has been freed
and turned into a bounty hunter thanks to the eloquence and quick
trigger-pulling-finger of Dr. King Schultz(Christoph Waltz). The film follows
their travels as they strive to rescue the lovely Broomhilda(Kerry Washington)
from the Francophile, and Mandingo enthusiast and slave owner, Calvin J. Candie(my
namesake) played by Leonardo DiCaprio(not-so-proudly) who is assisted in his
affairs by his more than loyal butler, Stephen(Samuel L. Jackson).
I found the opening scene to be particularly striking; a wide
shot of a deserted strip of land across which a group of slaves bound in
shackles and chains are being led by slave traders, walking to the rhythm of
Luis Bacalov’s “Django”. It showcases the brutality of the slave trade and the
struggles of the African slave. However the tone of the movie is set with the
first shot of the expression on Django’s scarred face, unyielding and valiant,
braving the torment he experiences; years of torture having registered deep red
scars on his back.
Jamie Foxx, I would say, did an average job of the portrayal
of Django. He did (could) not fit into the character, appearing ridiculously
out of place in the fight sequences which in a Tarantino movie, we know, are
numerous. Be it his screen presence, his dialogue delivery, he was average at
best. Apart from scheduling problems with other African American actors considered
for the role, why he was chosen for the lead role in a Tarantino flick is
beyond me, there being no scarcity of talented actors out there.
Moving onto more exciting prospects, the character of the
German bounty hunter, Schultz could not have been better portrayed! Christoph
Waltz once again gave a unique performance, adding an Oscar to his list of
accolades. Interestingly enough, this was the second time he was rewarded for
his performance in a supporting role, the first also being in a Tarantino movie
(Inglourious Basterds) and once again in a character related to the service of
the Government. Waltz brought to the table the manipulative prowess, the sheer
confidence, the polished manner of speech AND screen presence you would expect
from the character. His acting literally carried the movie for the first
quarter up until the introduction of Calvin J. Candie.
I like the character Tarantino has written for Candie. He boasts dramatic flair, a taste of the good life and a particular fetish for French culture. A ruthless businessman, he does not like to be taken advantage of and believes in getting his penny's worth. I choose not to comment on DiCaprio’s performance as having
watched too many of his other films, across which he playes diverse roles, my
judgement in that regard is clouded. Samuel L. Jackson completely shadowed DiCaprio however, in his portrayal
of the persistently annoying Stephen. You wonder at times, why they share the
same screen space.
In terms of the plot, Django Unchained keeps you entertained
from start to finish. Numerous comical circumstances all add to the brilliance
of this Oscar winning script. The treachery of slavery is not veiled in any form. It has a
truly heroic ending. Something that makes you feel good. On the whole, I salute
the marvel of Quentin Tarantino in writing a script that is so compelling in
thought, it makes you wanna jump right into the movie. It is fast paced and not
in any way dull. This is a must watch for anyone and everyone.
Oh one more thing. Tarantino plays a short 5 min roll in the film. Keep your eyes open.
