Between my hubby's crazy job situation, my impossibly busy schedule and all the rest, Matt and I haven't gotten out to see a movie since AUGUST. I'm ashamed, dear readers. But, Matt had the night off tonight, so we made it a mission to go to the movies (especially because between my Scene Card and my brother's Christmas gift to us, it was super worth while). We whittled our choices down to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and Django Unchained. On the way over, Matt said, "Lady's choice," so I picked Quentin Tarantino's latest. I am VERY glad we saw it. And while Tarantino may not be for everyone, those who are interested should definitely take a chance on Django Unchained.
The movie is set in the years leading up to the American Civil war and focus on Dr. King Shultz (played so perfectly by German actor Christoph Waltz, whom I said to Matt was basically born to play for Tarantino) and his friend/partner Django Freeman (Jamie Foxx in one of his best performances). While at first, the movie is about Django learning to be free and having rights, it quickly becomes a rescue mission when Shultz tries to help Django find his wife, Broomhilda, who has been bought by the absolutely ruthless Calvin Candie (another insanely perfect performance here, this time by Leo Dicaprio). Yes, there is gore. Yes, there is action. And yes, there is ample use of the N-word. But, it's all done within context, and it's all executed perfectly by writer/director Tarantino.
The movie is inspired by the old Spaghetti Western Django, so there is certainly a lot of the feel of those old Sergio Leone/Sergio Corbucci movies. But there are amazing and historically accurate (albeit hard to watch) bits, too. In a recent interview, Kerry Washington even spoke about how Tarantino researched to make things as real as possible, and how shocking that was for everyone involved.
Historical accuracy aside, there is an excellent (and comedic) exchange by a number of white hooded men that so perfectly mocks the utter stupidity of racism, racial violence and prejudice, it made all of us at the theatre laugh. Speaking of all of us at the theatre, there has been some definitely loud complaining online about Tarantino and his "right" to make a movie about slavery. Our audience was mixed race, age and gender and we all clapped loudly at the end of the movie. You KNOW a movie is great when movie theatre patrons are clapping for the film and no one from the film is there. Tarantino's race has no bearing on the quality of this film, nor does he do anything inappropriate, out of context, racist or sexist, for that matter. As a history buff, I am actually impressed with how well this movie plays, especially with the incredibly difficult subject matter at hand.
It's a movie about racism, but it doesn't make the movie racist. It's a movie about slavery, but it's not glorifying it in any way. At its heart, though, Django Unchained is a movie about freedom, redemption and retribution. And it's difficult and fun all at once.
Do I think you should get a sitter? Absolutely. But, if you aren't into gore, or don't like Tarantino movies, this may not be the flick for you.
So, spill it! Will you go see Django Unchained?
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