Fanboys Anonymous

Ok, so that title doesn't really work. But you know what does work? Django. Oh damn. Saved it. I totally saved that. So, if you're here, chances are you're sort of on the fence. It may be about this movie. It may be about Tarantino in general. Well, let's get one thing out of the way immediately.


Personally, I love Tarantino's work. It was something akin to culture shock when I found out that everyone doesn't. But that's ok. So Tarantino may not be your thing. If so... well, definitely stay away from Django. It's got a lot of quintessential Tarantino-isms. Over the top violence, tense speeches, oh yeah, and the dreaded "n-word!" GASP. So, definitely stay home if offensive language is something that bothers you. Why would you consider seeing a film about slavery, set in the 1800's?

Django Unchained is the tale of a slave named Django (played by Jamie Foxx, but you knew that already, yes?) and his quest to reunite with his wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington). The subject matter is handled well, and Tarantino managed to write some genuinely funny scenes poking fun at racism, and the Ku Klux Klan. But the overall tone of the film is a bit on the somber side. It reflects the tale of Sigurd, or Siegfried, and his quest to save Brunhilde. The titular Django fills the role of Sigurd, and his wife Broomhilda obviously Brunhilde.

The movie is on the longer side. The main storyline of the movie involves saving Broomhilda from Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), but a good hour's worth of movie happens before DiCaprio first appears on screen. To me, this is by no means a bad thing. Django Unchained has a story to tell, and every bit of it is interesting.

The first half of the film is dedicated to showing how Django befriends German bounty hunter King Schultz (Christoph Waltz). To be frank, Christoph Waltz's performance is absolutely wonderful. The movie is worth seeing for him alone. The man already won a Golden Globe for the performance, and as of this writing has at least an Oscar nomination as well. These accolades are truly deserved. The role of Schultz an important one as well. Not only is he the catalyst for the entirety of the movie's events, but he is something of an avatar representing the modern movie goer. Schultz abhors slavery, and is one of the only people that treats Django like a human.

Well. I've been trying to keep this spoiler free. So how do you review a movie without spoilers? Like this.

PROS:

1. A story wonderfully told. Tarantino is up for a Oscar for his writing here, and there's very clearly a good reason as to why.
2. Absolutely fantastic performance by Chrisoph Waltz as King Schultz, and great performances by the rest of the cast as well.
3. Scenes range from genuinely funny, to moving. The whole gamut of emotions is run here.
4. Length. I love long movies.