Django Unchained: Review

When it first premièred in cinema, I was unable to see Django Unchained due to it's 18 certificate. I consistently heard such great things about the movie, that the hype I felt to inevitably see it grew and grew. Now, four months after it's release, I finally got around to watching the Tarantino masterpiece that is Django. 

Django Unchained follows the slave turned bounty-hunter character of Django (Jamie Foxx). He is freed from captivity by German dentist Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), and together they pursue several targets for the monetary gain of Dr. Schultz. Soon however, Django tells his mentor about his slave wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), and the duo head off to a plantation known as 'Candieland', run by the despicable slave owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio).

Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio)

Now, when I say that Django Unchained is far from over-hyped, I thoroughly mean it. For months, I heard non-stop praise for Quentin Tarantino's spaghetti-western, and it is exceedingly well deserved. The violence in the movie is at times slightly excessive, but incredibly suitable and entertaining. The acting is beyond enjoyable, with DiCaprio and Foxx shining, but supporting cast members such as Samuel L. Jackson adding huge amounts to the already spectacular collection of actors. 

Like every Tarantino movie, the script is incredibly well-written. Swiftly changing between hilarious scenes and edge-of-your-seat tension, the dialogue is superior to almost anything I have seen recently. There are some genuinely funny moments littered throughout, which made me laugh more than when I saw the semi-decent comedy 'Hangover Part III' recently, and others which make it almost unbearable to watch due to their unforgiving nature. 

That's an important point to touch on: as this is a Quentin Tarantino film, no holds have been barred. Several racist terms are used freely in almost every other sentence, but it's an appropriate representation of 1858 Southern America, not entirely for entertainment purposes. The violence acted out upon the black people in the film is at times very difficult to watch, but credit must be given to deliver such an uncensored interpretation of the era. 

It's difficult to think of a single thing wrong with Django Unchained, as everything from the cinematography to the soundtrack is phenomenally enjoyable to experience. My only minor gripe however, is that because the film is almost three hours long, there are a few times where the action slows down and you're left wanting more, but it is not long before the movie delivers and it's back to a consistent pace of entertainment. 

Verdict
Django Unchained is simply spectacular. It is one of few films I have seen lately that completely lives up to all the hype it has recieved, and one which should be experienced by as many as possible. It won't be for everybody, due to the gratuitous violence and frequent racism, but for those able to cope, it is certainly a movie which you should not miss out on.     9/10

"D-J-A-N-G-O, the 'D' is silent."