By Tora B
DJANGO UNCHAINED is Quentin Tarantino’s take on a pre-Civil War slave narrative by way of Spaghetti Western. The film is a masterful depiction of good and evil, framed by the peculiar institution of American Slavery containing a frank depiction of the heinous treatment of African-Americans during that time. The central theme of Django is determination and perseverance in overcoming every obstacle you face, despite the environment and severity of your situation.
Unlike many of Tarantino’s other films, the narrative is chronologically linear, allowing viewers to bond with the characters and watch each character arc take its natural advance. The characters that the viewers will grow to love are: Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz, Academy Award winner for INGLORIOUS BASTERDS ), a doctor-turned bounty hunter, who purchases Django (Jamie Foxx, Academy Award winner for RAY) while hunting down a pair of slave traders who only Django can identify. Granted his freedom, Django accepts the offer and becomes an apprentice bounty hunter with clear designs on the ultimate target, Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio, Academy Award winner for J.EDGAR), the socialite plantation owner who purchased Django’s wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington, The star of SCANDAL). Stephen (Samuel Jackson, Academy Award Nominee for A TIME TO KILL) is Monsieur Candie’s most trusted house slave who hips Candie to Django and Schultz’ arrival at the “Candieland” plantation.
Django Unchained gives the viewers a storyline of romance, determination, vengeance, and heart. The film provides an unflinching depiction of the harsh conditions African-Americans endured during the slavery era. With an accurate portrayal of monstrosities like Mandingo Fights which pit male slaves in gladiator fights to the death, or the gruesome visual of Broomhilda’s violent beating for trying to escape, Django Unchained pulls very few punches. Some viewers may be uncomfortable with the abundance of “nigger” but this is a slavery movie. Some may say that Tarantino has an obsession with the word, but in the context of this movie, you can’t really describe slavery accurately without it.
Django Unchained is a 165 minute heart pounding, fist-pumping, breath-taking, bonding experience. With a score that will have you gripping your seat at every twist and turn via the Spaghetti Western influence of, Ennio Morricone and Luis Bacalov’s enthralling “Django” theme song. You’ll nod your head to the infectious Rick Ross/ Jamie Foxx collaboration “100 Black Coffins” and throw a fist in the air to the James Brown/Tupac collaboration song, “Unchained (THE PAYBACK/UNTOUCHABLE),” a Swizz Beats remix.
With visceral images, and engrossing score and soundtrack and a consistent if more conventional that usual narrative, Tarantino opens a necessary a dialog that is increasingly glossed over with the presences of a black President. Above that conversation is the central theme of Django Unchained: no matter what the circumstance, true love and sacrifice will eventually win out in the end. Here are some quotes from the principals who attended the LA premiere.
It’s unimaginable to think of the pain and suffering that went on in this country (United States of America), making it perfect for a Spaghetti Western interpretation. It can’t be more nightmarish than it was in real life…- Quentin Tarantino
It’s a piece of our history that generally gets sort of whitewashed or perfumed in a way that this film just doesn’t do”. – Samuel Jackson
It was the most incredible script I’ve read in all of my life. I thought, “Who had the guts, and the knowledge to tell it like it really is?” I thought the way he’s telling the story – as true and as honest—if it rips your flesh off, so be it.” – Jamie Foxx
We have to remember not only the best of who we are, but the worst of who we are. And we are not going to appreciate the best of who we are until we see and celebrate the heroism of people who saw evil and faced it down. Even though these characters are fictional, they represent hundreds, if not more, of real men and women, Black, White, who stood up in the face of evil and said, “No!” – Reginald Hudlin
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