Review: Django Unchained

This isn’t fair.

I’m on day one of my new job as Mr. Movie Critic, and the first movie I decide to see with the intent of performing a sharp, keen analysis is Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained.”

I don’t even know where to start. First thing’s first: if you don’t like spoilers, keep scrolling, because there might be a few. Nothing major, but it could still detract from the experience of seeing the movie for the first time.

Djangoooooooo…

This song plays during the opening credits, and immediately you know you’re in for a treat. A Tarantino-style treat. Like finding a $20 bill inside of a brownie–not exactly what you expected, and it leaves a weird taste in your mouth, but damn can I have some more of those brownies?

You get what you expect to see in a Tarantino movie, and so much more.

The movie has a steady hand when it comes to juggling serious and humorous scenes. Or straight-up combining them. There was one scene where Django and Dr. Schultz get on the wrong side of a plantation owner, who later rallies up some of his buddies for some nighttime revenge. They ride over the hill in their crude KKK-esque masks, ready to commit some hate-crimes. And then they get into an extensive argument about the quality of the masks after a few riders complain about “not being able to see a damn thing.”

It goes on and on, and it’s hilarious.

Then you get more serious stuff, like Candie’s rant in the dining room. Not a peep was heard in the movie theatre once Leonardo DiCaprio started screaming his head off. Something beyond silence was heard when he pulled out a hammer.

Fun fact: DiCaprio actually sliced his hand on a wine glass while bringing his fist down on the table, and then he kept acting. And I guess Tarantino just went with it, because the blood on DiCaprio’s hand is made more conspicuous later when he wipes it on someone’s face. 

It’s a little disconcerting.

One of the things I’m looking for here (by which I mean, as part of this blog) are the decisions the director makes, and why. In film, the director has the power to construct the frame however he chooses. He decides what is shown and what is not shown, down to the smallest detail.

Everything you see in a movie like this was a decision. A conscious choice.

And so I was intrigued by Tarantino’s way of mixing historical fiction with little elements of contemporary style. The best example of this is during one of the shoot-outs between Django and what seemed to be the rest of the cowboy world, when rap music started playing. Even some of the dialogue in the movie seems to be taken straight from “Pulp Fiction” (With the same Samuel L. Jackson articulating the same brand of profanity, no less).

“Imma beat yo ass.”

In other words, try watching “Lincoln” and then watching this. They’re based in similar time periods, and while one knows the importance of historical accuracy, the other knows exactly how to entertain you the most.

So there’s my “sharp, keen analysis.”

Until next week!

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13 Responses to Review: Django Unchained

  1. SkeetaBomb says:

    Good review overall and you’re a really good writer! I really liked the trivia bit about Leonardo’s hand, I had no idea, I don’t think I even remember it bleeding! But I couldn’t really tell how much you liked it though and what your overall thoughts were. But I saw it and absolutely loved it, Quentin Tarantino got a bunch of white people to sit in a movie theater and watch a blaxploitation film. Did you notice how every single white person that was given a name died? It was soooo good and when Tarantino blew himself up, that was soo funny (he seems to like killing himself in his movies). I thought it was one of his best movies though, I certainly think it didn’t live up to Pulp Fiction, but then again what movie does, and I think Reservoir Dogs was a better movie as well but it was still outstanding.
    Also I have always been a huge fan of Leonardo Dicaprio, I think he’s great. But Kathryn- do you live under a rock? How did you not know Dicaprio and Samuel Jackson were in this movie?
    Anurag- Definitely see it. You should have wanted to see it the moment you knew it was directed by Tarantino. One piece of advice, his movies are gold.
    Sara- I completely agree with you, I think Leonardo Dicaprio is amazing, however I’m going to have to disagree with you about Inglorious Basterds, I think Django was a better movie.
    Dietz- I completely disagree with you, I personally don’t think Jamie Fox is a terribly good actor. I think he’s a good lookin dude and he does a superb angry face, but aside from that I don’t think his range of talent spans very far.
    Mike- I actually didn’t think about what you said about his pairing of the music with the scenes until you said it, that’s a great point! I don’t know if you’ve seen Reservoir Dogs but Tarantino does a similar thing in that movie, in my absolute favorite scene where Mr. Blonde is torturing the cop, Stuck in the Middle with you, a very upbeat cheery song is playing in the background, its genius.

  2. Tim Groh says:

    Haha interesting comparison with Lincoln and Django, I never would have thought of that. And I enjoyed your closing statement, insinuating Django is meant to entertain. Surely Tarantino has has some messages about violence, racism, slavery, and some other things, but it is encapsulated by the entertaining movie. I heard a portion of an interview with Tarantino and the interviewer was pushing him to say something about his use of violence. He stubbornly maintained that it was just movie violence, it was funny. The interviewer wasn’t laughing but I was. It’s a little disoncerting but makes you think. Overall, I definitely enjoyed the movie as well.

  3. Heazel Souid says:

    I heard so many good things about this movie. All of my friends recommend it, so when I saw your post, I knew I had to comment. To be honest, I had no idea what this movie was about. After reading your critique I started getting more interested, so I went on YouTube and watched the trailer, and I have to say I was really impressed! The movie looks different and interesting and your review kind of ties it all together!

  4. Mary Newman says:

    I haven’t yet seen this, but I really want to, especially after reading this post! I tried to skip most of the spoilers so you didn’t ruin anything for me. I appreciated the fair warning. You have a great writing style, and I look forward to your future reviews!

  5. Ari McGuirk says:

    Django was by far my favorite movie to come out this year and I thought you hit the review out of the park. I really liked that you added the interesting bit of trivia concerning Leo’s hand. Christoph Waltz deserved the golden globe for sure. Hopefully he nabs the Oscar as well!

  6. Mike Stavrakos says:

    This is a great review, coming from someone who saw and loved Django Unchained. I love how you mentioned the soundtrack, because in my opinion that was one of the highlights of the movie. The way Tarantino paired the serious scenes which had a lot of the worst aspects of racism and slavery with some pretty heavy rap was awesome.

  7. Ryan Dieter says:

    This was a phenomenal movie. I loved Samuel Jackson. I loved Jamie Fox (in my opinion one of the most highly underatted actors around). I loved Decaprio. Everything about this movie to me was great. It’s a must watch.

  8. Austin Marlowe says:

    I havent seen Django Unchained yet (but I have seen Lincoln!). It seems really interesting and not like anything else that was put out this year. I cant believe Leo was able to keep acting after cutting his hand, yet another reason I could not be an actor. Thanks for the review.

  9. Sarah Chang says:

    Leonardo DiCaprio. Enough said. Tarantino always has that raw, yet quirky, serious, and humorous sparkle in his films and the actors he choose always give the character that three dimensional portrayal, like the way Christoph Waltz strokes his mustache to give Dr. Schultz his own idiosyncrasies. When discussing this film with my friends, I said Inglorious Basterds was better….what do you think? Regardless, though, both movies were brilliant. Great review and great movie.

  10. Sabrina Evans says:

    I was not aware until last month that Tarantino movies were typically violent. Probably because I’d never seen one. And my friend recommended this to me. And then said it was really violent. And then I started wondering if I come across as a violent person. Anyway! Leo is great, love him, his acting, his movies. This was a great choice to review and can’t wait for the next one!

  11. Anurag Sen says:

    I actually wanted to watch this movie but never got the chance. When I saw the trailer for the movie, I was thinking it was going to be a historical fiction action movie. I didn’t realize it was a funny movie. Your review was pretty good; it actually made me want to go watch the movie.

  12. Kathryn Dent says:

    Wow! I must say this is an excellent review! I have not seen django unchained, nor did I really know what it was about. I was nervous reading this because you did warn us of spoilers, but I don’t think you gave anything away! Your review defeintly makes me want to go see this movie! I had no idea that Leonardo DiCaprio or Samuel L. Jackson were in this movie! It’s crazy that you were able to find the fun fact about shooting the movie! That was a nice touch. Props to the pictures as well; they really added a lot perspective your blog! Good work!

  13. Allison Loose says:

    Ah! Django Unchained! I watched this over break with my a couple of my best friends from home. I was honestly amazed by the Leo’s acting. It made me appreciate him so much more as an actor, just because you could hardly tell that cutting his hand open was an accident. And the hood scene? Just fantastic. Literally couldn’t breathe. Good review!

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