US Movie Review: Django Unchained (2012)

Finally went to see "Django" last night at the theater last night while I still had the chance.  I was somewhat ambivalent to see this film because I'm not really a big Tarantino fan. As much as I like certain aspects of them,  I really get turned off by the over the top sadistic nature of many scenes. I don't think torture and dismemberment make good entertainment for some reason... :-P

I was also a bit weary to watch it after hearing the hubbub from Spike Lee about the film and its liberal use of the N-word.  I suppose to Spike and many black people, its just as serious to have that in an entertaining film as it is to have torture or excessive violence being used for comedic effect.    But then again I can see the filmmakers' point that you can't make a movie about slavery in the 1850's South without people using that term left and right as part of their every day speech.... to NOT include it would be absurd.

With trepidation, I decided to see it because I had heard enough good things from friends to take a chance on it.    Luckily it was a good decision,  overall I enjoyed the film.

Jamie Foxx plays a freed slave who teams up with Christoph Waltz as a bounty hunter.   His goal is to eventually find and free his wife who is still a slave.   You may recognize Waltz from Inglorious Basterds.  He plays a much nicer German in this film than he did in the last one.  And apparently he's been nominated for an Academy award for this.   Leonardo DiCaprio plays the plantation owner and Samuel L Jackson plays the head slave of the plantation house.   Other cameos include Don Johnson and Tom Wopat (aka Luke Duke).

Like many of Tarantino's films it is ultra violent and over the top bloody (comedically bloody).  But it also has a lot of his signature style and profanity laced slick dialogue.    In that respect the film is pretty entertaining (if you can deal with the blood and the subject matter).   As much as this film is by no means historically accurate, it does provide a somewhat unique look into a very dark period in American history that usually gets whitewashed (no pun intended).   Django doesn't pull any punches in this respect.    As far as I can recall, this is Tarantino's first foray into the Old West genre,  and from the music to the cinematography to the editing,  the influence of Sergio Leone (and composer Ennio Morricone) is all over the place.  Which in my book is a plus of course....

Anyway, bottom line:   If you are OK with lots and lots of blood, violence and foul language,  this is worth checking out.  8/10.