'Adult supervision is required.'
DIRECTOR: Quentin Tarantino
CAST: Ray Charles, Colonel Hans Landa, J. Edgar Hoover (cross-dresser), Alicia Masters, Nick Fury and lots of racist people...
PLOT: Jamie Foxx's 'Django' (the 'D' is silent) becomes a bounty hunter with everybody's favourite German, Christoph Waltz (playing 'Dr. King Schulz'). They end up shooting a lot of white people in a bid to get back 'Django's' wife (Kerry Washington) who is enslaved by Leonardo DiCaprio's psychotic plantation owner 'Calvin Candie'.
The idea of myself writing a review on a Quentin Tarantino film strikes me as a little one-sided. As a huge Tarantino fan, I go into every one of his eagerly anticipated films expecting to love it. But fuck feeling biased, there's a reason why I and so many others enjoy his work - because it's fucking awesome. And the fact that this latest offering of violent Tarantino goodness is not far off from grossing $200 million worldwide means many others agree. Certainly not bad for a film with an '18' certificate (rated 'R' for you Yankees).
But 'Django' is simply the same case as any Tarantino film - the majority of his fans will undoubtedly love it, he might convert a few haters to fans, he'll definitely win some new one's who are yet to sample any of his previous films and most of his haters will continue to hate.
But people who hate Tarantino's films surely do so because of personal preferences. At the end of the day, nobody can say that he is a bad filmmaker.
Visually, 'Django' is absolutley stunning - often beautiful, completely taking full advantage of the brilliant scenery, and often harrowing, as the themes and events that surround slavery aren't shyed away from. He continues to outdo himself with explosive and stylish soundtracks - utilising songs that should really not work but somehow work like a treat. The dialogue is as good as it gets - very intelligent, and often extremely funny, which is surprising considering the subject matter. Despite all of the terrible things that happens in the film, I dare you to state that it isn't entertaining, or even hilarious at certain moments - a stand out comedy moment is when the fantastic Don Johnson and his mob of pre-KKK racists are arguing about not being able to see out of the shabby hoods.
But Don Johnson isn't the only outstanding performance from the quality cast. In fact, it's simpler to say who's performance was bad - nobody's. Fuck, even Tarantino had a fun cameo as an idiot Aussie who gets tricked. Jamie Foxx is perfect as the titular character. Considering that Will Smith was originally lined up for the role, after the viewing it is deemed positively impossible for anyone else to embrace the character as he does. Foxx is both charismatic and even morally innocent as he shoots anyone who crosses his path. DiCaprio is terrifying as the eccentric 'Calvin Candie', truly inspiring casting as beforehand I would never have been able to imagine him in such a sadistic, but yet hugely entertaining role.
Samuel L. Jackson continues his impressive form of appearing in every movie ever made with more consistency. His character, 'Stephen', is possibly the most intriguing - a black man who is racist to other black people, who pledges his alleigance solely with 'Candie'. He switches back and forth from 'Look! Point and laugh at the funny talking, uneducated ignorant racist' to 'Woah, shit... he's pretty fucking scary'.
But the man who steals the show, much like Tarantino's previous film 'Inglourous Basterds', is and was always going to be... Jonah Hill. I joke of course, Christolph Waltz is your man. He's still just as vicously entertaining, charismatic and enthralling, even though he's not playing a villain, which came as a surprise. He just oozes cool and you are always in safe hands. He definitely deserves another Academy Award.
A lot of controversy has surrounded Tarantino's latest film (yeah, because that's new). I can't help but feel the need to weigh in my opinions on the debates that surround 'Django', which might hopefully spark some healthy and insightful debates.
Starting with the ongoing, never-ending debate of violence following the whole hilarious argument that transpired on Channel 4 when QT was interviewed, my opinion is very simple. Violence in cinema is fun when it is presented in this way - over the top ultra-violence that captures every speck of blood flying through the air in a visually beautfil yet horrific way. Anyone who is familiar with Tarantino's work is accustomed to it, you know you'll be getting a lot of blood. I haven't been as excited during a single action sequence in quite some time, but I was literally on the edge of my seat during one of the late action sequences which was shot amazingly.
But the main debate surrounding 'Django' is the alleged racism, and more specifically, the extensive use of the 'N' word. Yes, the word is used a lot throughout the film. But in the context of the film's narrative and setting, plus the fact that the film is a long one, the word doesn't seem used for the sake of it. Back then, the word was used all of the time, and Tarantino is simply representing that terrible time. If the director was black, would anyone bat an eyelid? Nobody accuses John Carpenter or Wes Craven of being serial killers due to the fact that they make slasher films. So because Tarantino has racist characters in his films that use a degrading word, it doesn't make him racist.
I even read one review earlier that accused Christoph Waltz's character being a subject of 'white guilt' because a white man has to help 'Django' on his quest for revenge. A plausible argument, perhaps, but the fact that Samuel L. Jackson plays a horrible black man wasn't mentioned is telling. The point that is being made is that regardless of skin colour, you can be a wanker.
But away from all of the debates and controversies, this postmodern homage to the Spaghetti Western genre is a must for all Tarantino fanatics and buffs of the classic genre. Whether or not it's up there with his best, I guess I'm not brave enough to say so. But for me, picking a least favourite film of his is akin to picking the least nicest boob... when you come right down to it, they're all bloody nice.
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