Django Unchained (2012)

 As far as I can remember, I have been a big fan of Quentin Tarantino movies. The non linear storytelling, the impressive use of brilliant verbiage, the extreme violence acts filled with humour -- are all simply irresistible. His movies are a genre in themselves.

Django Unchained, though not following the usual Tarantino-esque chapter-wise direction, doesn’t disappoint. The plot is plain and easy, but it’s the characters and their remarkable dialogue delivery that steals the show and embeds Django Unchained as an entertaining flick to cherish in one’s mind.

As the movie kickstarts, we see Django (Jamie Foxx) being dragged in chains among other slaves, stopped by Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) who in an educated manner offers to buy Django from the Speck Brothers. As the movie unfolds, Dr Schultz makes Django an offer that if he helps find and kill the Brittle brothers for him, he will grant him his freedom. He takes him in as his valet and they both ride off to Spencer “Big Daddy” Bennett’s plantation where they eventually kill the three Brittle Brothers and later convince that they were legally authorised to do so. Later that night, Bennett and his men plan to kill the duo, riding in their KKK style masks. A funny scene ensues here where they are unable to put their act together because of the poorly made masks. Django and Schultz, sitting far away, blow up the cart, killing most of the clansmen.

Django tells Schultz what he plans to do now. He intends to find and free her wife, Broomhilda Von Shaft (Kerry Washington). Schultz proposes to help him in his pursuit if he works with him over the winter collecting bounties. Django agrees and the two bounty hunters set on their course. Schultz teaches Django how to be an expert gunslinger.Once the winter passes, both head to Mississippi and discover that Broomhilda is a slave belonging to a plantation owner, Monsier Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio) who is a ruthless Mandingo-fights lover. They lure him as a wealthy European traveller and a talented slaver/evaluator who are willing to pay a ridiculous amount to buy Candie’s third-most favourite mandingo fighter. Next day, all of them travel to Candieland ranch where they meet Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson), Candie’s loyal house slaver, who instantly starts repelling Django. There they also find Broomhilda and later ask to buy her as well. But their charade is understood by Stephen. He interrupts the deal and informs Candie about this, to which he threatens the duo dramatically and disarms them. Things turn worse and Schultz and Candie are killed. Django goes on a rampage but ultimately surrenders owing to Broomhilda’s capture. He was about to be castrated but a change of plans led to selling him to a mining company. En route, he tricks the travellers, takes a horse, gun and dynamite, and returns to Candieland to seek vengeance and relieve Broomhilda.


Christoph Waltz’s legendary acting skills definitely deserve an Oscar. His charismatic bounty hunter traits, the hidden spring-loaded pistol and his suave verbiage are totally mesmerizing. His style is reminiscent of Colonel S S Landa from Inglourious Basterds. There is no denying about the regal grandeur of the role played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Samuel Jackson never ceases to amuse with his evil-eyed witty one-liners. A short cameo played by Quentin Tarantino himself is quite amusing.
The music in any Tarantino movie is an adventure unto itself, a tradition that continues with Django Unchained. The soundtrack has glimpses from 1966’s Django theme, Ennio Morricone’s Braying Mule and Un Monumento and rapper James Brown’s The Payback. It totally gets one carried away in the movie.

“Awesome” and “Epic” are just modest words to describe this blend of a genre which pays a humble tribute to Spaghetti Western movies.
Wow. Quentin Tarantino never stops enchanting you with his filmmaking skills overridden with dramatic flair. “I like the way you film, boy” 

--Waseem