Movie Review: "Django Unchained"

by Ken Townsend
Senior Editor

"Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Vengeance."

Quentin Tarantino writes and directs this captivating fast action story focused on the brutality of slavery in the Antebellum South. Chistoph Waltz’s performance in the role of Dr. King Shultz is stunning. His charming, polished nature and witty humor presents a stark contrast to the fact that he's a cold blooded hunter of men who, when wanted dead or alive, always come back dead.

Waltz is the only performer in a Tarantino movie to win an academy award. His performance as Hans Landa in the 2009 Tarantino film, Inglourious Basterds earned him the 2010 Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. With his performance in this film he could be a contender again.

On the other hand, he’ll face stiff competition from Samuel L. Jackson whose performance as Stephen, the cantankerous, crafty and loyal house slave of Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio) is compelling. Stephen has mastered the art of manipulation and has risen to a place of trust with Candie. His suspicions of Dr. Shultz and Django lead him to uncover their plan and along with Candi turn the tables on the unsuspecting duo.

This film was made for Academy Award winner, Jamie Foxx. Move over Bad Boys, there is a new bad-ass in town. Transforming from slave to bounty hunter, Foxx as Django quickly catches on to killing white men wanted by the law as retribution for years of cruelty and torture. It also provides him the means to find and buy his wife out of slavery. To this end, he and Dr. King encounter many situations that could easily get out of control, but Django’s ever increasing skill with a gun and Dr. King’s ingenuity keep them ahead of the game every time.

There are many great and solid performances throughout this film and the story itself keeps you transfixed wondering what in the world will happen next. Don Johnson puts in a delightful performance as plantation and slave owner, Spencer Bennett. Other actors include Gerald McRaney, M.C. Gainey, and, of course, Tarantino, who appears in a small, but pivotal scene in the movie.

One caution to all, this is a typical Tarantino film. Graphic violence and lots of blood set against the backdrop of the brutality of slavery in the Deep South prior to emancipation. This film doesn’t hold back. The cruelty of some of the slave owners and their overseers is heart wrenching to watch. Tarantino weaves just enough strands of humor around the dark portions to bring you back from the brink of horror.

This film is lengthy by most standards, but will keep your interest the entire time. Buy your popcorn early because you won’t want to leave once it starts.

Synopsis: Django Unchained - Set in the South two years before the Civil War, Django Unchained stars Jamie Foxx as Django, a slave whose brutal history with his former owners lands him face-to-face with German-born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz). Schultz is on the trail of the murderous Brittle brothers, and only Django can lead him to his bounty.

Honing vital hunting skills, Django remains focused on one goal: finding and rescuing Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), the wife he lost to the slave trade long ago. Django and Schultz's search ultimately leads them to Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), the proprietor of "Candyland," an infamous plantation. Exploring the compound under false pretenses, Django and Schultz arouse the suspicion of Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson), Candie's trusted house slave.
In theaters Chiristmas Day - (Running time - 2 hr. 46 min. (C) The Weinstein Co.)