Quentin Tarantino is at it again. His latest film takes on an entire new genre: the spaghetti western. Tarantino takes a unique crack at the western genre by changing the setting. Instead of being set in the Old West, the story is set in the Deep South two years before the civil war with slavery as the backdrop for the film. Because of this, the film feels fresh and it certainly has more layers than the average western or action movie.
The story follows Django, a slave who meets Dr. King Shultz, a German dentist-turned-bounty hunter. He seeks help from Django who has information on his next bounty: a brutal trio known as the Brittle Brothers. In return for assisting on their capture, Shultz will give Django his freedom and help him rescue his wife, Broomhilda, from the clutches of the slave owner Calvin Candie.
One thing I always like about a Tarantino film is its casting. Jamie Foxx is brilliant as Django and gives a solid performance on all levels. Although Django is the main character, Dr. King Shultz, played by Christoph Waltz, steals the show. Waltz plays a quirky bounty hunter who is efficiently brutal, surprisingly polite, refreshingly calm, and would almost be a fish out of water if his character wasn’t so intelligent. It’s a nice contrast to the evil and nasty Nazi general he played in Tarantino’s earlier film, “Inglorious Bastards”. Leonardo DiCaprio plays the slave owner Calvin Candie. His memorable charm masks an arrogant brutality that makes DiCaprio effectively scary at times. A good supporting cast includes Kerry Washington, James Remar, James Russo, Jonah Hill, Bruce Dern, Don Johnson, and a cameo by Tarantino himself. The best supporting character by far is Samuel L. Jackson, playing a head house slave named Stephen. Just about everything that comes out of his mouth is downright hilarious. In the theater people were not just laughing; they were losing it whenever he was on the screen. His performance almost rivals that of Waltz.
This film has the typical Tarantino feel. It blends humor, violence, catchy dialogue, a good soundtrack, and an interesting premise. But the way it plays out is interesting; the film is very humorous throughout and is consistently violent, being the most violent film Tarantino has ever made. But among the laughs and the gore are blips of something more sinister. These sinister things I speak of are forms of brutality that make the audience cringe and shiver. This is not done for shock value; these blips remind us that this film deals with the terrible history associated with slavery. It’s done effectively; you’ll laugh and cheer at the right moments and when it’s time to get serious, you’ll freeze, gasp, and close your eyes.
I have some minor complaints though. I don’t mind gore and blood but at times it was too much for me. The climax started with a bang but then became drawn out. On the one hand it worked because it kept you guessing. But on the other hand it felt really downplayed from when it started. Other than those things the film was excellent. I also realize his movie will rub some people the wrong way. Do not see it if you do not like Western movies, violence, or action. Do not watch it if the “N” word is offensive to you in any way; the film uses it excessively due to the historical context it’s recreating. But if you’re a diehard fan of Tarantino or just looking for a new take on Western, get to a theater ASAP.
Grade A-