Django Unchained Review

Justin, Dad and I saw Django Unchained on December 27, 2012. This movie followed the Quentin Tarantino formula utilizing elements from his previous films and other inspirations on his career. I have seen every major Tarantino movie, and I can honestly say this is my favorite of all them. I thought the story in this movie was excellent with a team of bounty hunters: one professional-Dr. King Schultz played perfectly by Christoph Waltz, and his recruit over personal issues with slave owners around the American South, Django played very well by Jamie Foxx. I have yet to see a movie I didn't like Christoph Waltz in. Foxx is usually somebody I dislike, but he filled the role well. The friendship between the two men constantly grows, and I felt that the actors interacted well on screen integrating what the character called for naturally. Django is also on a mission to rescue his wife, played by Kerry Washington-who is quite beautiful and I expect will have a great career just like her father. If you didn't know her father is Denzel Washington. They go from plantation to plantation trying to find her while also collecting the bounties of the wanted owners like the Brittle Brothers. Eventually, they cross paths with the ruthless Calvin Candie and his estate appropriately named Candieland in order to acquire Broomhilda (Django's wife). They create gimmicks for themselves in order to gain favoritism with Calvin. Leonardo DiCaprio played an exceptional villain. He was cunning, ruthless, warped, and indicated how dark of a character he can play. DiCaprio has been my favorite actor for at least 10 years now, and I think the Candie role could finally land him his first award win for Best Supporting Actor. Him and Waltz both deserve it, but it would be nice to see DiCaprio finally win. If you think the chemistry between King and Django is good, wait til you see the chemistry with Calvin and his loyal servant Stephen played very well by Samuel L. Jackson. The scenes between the four of these characters range from calm to extreme anarachy. In fact my favorite scene in the movie takes place in a dining room between these characters turning from a conversation into a huge Scarface mansion shootout. DiCaprio and Waltz stole the show, and both deserve their nominations. This movie combines dramatic elements, great comedy (specifically a scene involving the KKK which had the whole audience laughing, and Stephen's over-reacting to Calvin's jokes), and intense bloodshed. I still think the best scene in any Quentin Tarantino movie is the Showdown at the House of Blues in Kill Bill Volume 1, but this is my favorite overall movie of his, and I believe deserves the praise it's getting. From the excellent cast to the animated characters to the dialogue to the story/plot to the bloody showdowns, the movie easily warrants a 5/5 for me. Awesome to see Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio both nominated this year. I'd love to see both win, specifically DiCaprio as he deserves it after putting out excellent movies since 2002 from Gangs of New York to Catch Me If You Can (still baffles me why he wasn't nominated for this) to Blood Diamond to Body of Lies to Shutter Island to Inception and I am sure I'll enjoy his work in The Great Gatsby-of course Carey Mulligan is Daisy Buchanan in that which is a completely different topic but she's one of my favorite actresses so it's worth mentioning it). Definitely enjoyed Django Unchained!! Remember, the D is silent!!