Django Unchained

Django Unchained, Quentin Tarantino's latest western-inspired movie, is set in the southern states of the USA around 1858, a couple of years before the civil war broke out, when slavery was still going strong. It is the story of Django (Jamie Foxx), a young man whom in the beginning of the movie we find enslaved, his wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) having been stolen from him and sold. Django is being recruited by dr. King Schultz, a German dentist-turned-bounty hunter, to help him recognise some criminals. Schultz gives Django his freedom, they become partners and after a very "productive" winter, they set off to find and rescue Django's wife, who has been bought by a plantation owner, Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), aka the man with no soul.

Bright, brave and skillful, Django is the definition of a hero. Sure, he gets a chance, but he also does whatever he can to turn his life around and take vengeance, motivated by love. Dr. Schultz is the “god-sent machine”, who gives Django the break he needs, and whose different background (Europe, bitches :P) allows him to have a less mainstream -at the time- approach towards Django and see him as a friend. Calvin Candie, on the other hand, is a ruthless man with absolutely no respect for human life, born and raised in a rich home with slaves, not only unable to see beyond that status, but also making the most of it, the bloodthirsty he is. Stephen, Calvin's elder servant (Samuel L. Jackson), is like a corrupt uncle Tom. As for Broomhilda, even though she did not play an active role like, say, firing a gun (after all she was a woman in the 19^th century), she was the reason of all this journey.

The story of the film is fictional, but it documents a social situation the whole world, and particularly America, is or should be ashamed of. Tarantino presented for the first time the crimes against African-American people in full-frontal view, without holding back the element of verbal or physical violence, thus making a film that pays tribute to history and hopefully works in a cathartic way.

Even though the movie is violent, it is also very entertaining. The tone of most of the movie is funny, due to the smart script by Quentin Tarantino, the great deliveries of all of its actors and all the details. Speaking of details, Franco Nero, the star of the original 1966 Django movie made a cameo appearance in this movie, as well as Jonah Hill, not to mention Quentin Tarantino himself. Also, did anyone else notice Amber Tamblyn by the window?

Django Unchained is a film that has reached its own full potential. The quality of acting, the amount of entertaining references (which are the joy of the cinephile), the funny moments, the intense moments, the amazing soundtrack, all blend to a project that looks like it is a product of the heart of Tarantino and the whole crew, sprinkled with Tarantino's characteristic blood splatter and gunshot. Even if I accepted it has flaws (too big-too much blood-etc), I wouldn't care to change them if I could.

Favorite line 1: "D' Artagnan, mother****ers."

Favorite line 2: "You silvertongued devil, you."