Quentin Tarantino’s movie “Django Unchained” is a bold and intense story that revolves around revenge, liberation and the harsh depiction of slavery in America. Tarantino has always been one of my favorite directors because of his ability to make movies that completely captivate the audience. With films such as “Pulp Fiction,” “The Hateful Eight” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Tarantino has made himself known as one of the all-time greats in the film industry.
Tarantino’s “Django Unchained” stands apart for me because it is powerful, comedic and action packed. The story revolves around a slave who is purchased and freed by a German bounty hunter named Dr. King Schultz. They work together as bounty hunters and Shultz agrees to help Django find his wife who was separated from him. In the search for Django’s wife, they find themselves in acquaintance with the notorious plantation owner, Calvin Candie.
While the content of the movie can be extreme and mature, it is worth the watch. I’ve seen Django four times, and it is a movie I come back to frequently. It is one of the few films that makes me cry, laugh and want to throw my remote at the tv screen out of pure anger all at the same time. There are a few iconic scenes that are hysterical and quote worthy. There are also scenes that are very disturbing and upsetting, but they all have their own purpose.
Some of the action scenes are so insanely exaggerated that it is almost comical. Tarantino’s use of stylized violence is something that sets him apart from other filmmakers. Some violent scenes are empowering acts of revenge and justice that are essential to the main character’s development. Throughout the film, Django discovers himself as a free man instead of a slave. He becomes empowered and becomes comfortable with who he is.
The film can be seen as controversial in many ways, but the main topic of discussion is the use of racial slurs by white actors throughout the movie. Debating on whether the use of such language is ethical depends on the historical context and purpose of the words. I think that a movie of this nature would feel inaccurate if there were no slurs due to the way people spoke before the civil rights movement.
“Django Unchained” is not based on a true story or even historically accurate, but it does give insight into how cruel the world once was.
It’s a tough movie to watch and some parts of it broke my heart, but it’s too good not to share with others. I would also like to highlight the soundtrack, which fits perfectly alongside the movie. There is a variety of music genres displayed in the soundtrack such as western, R&B and rap. The music was carefully chosen and adds a lot to the overall viewing experience.
The cinematic style and aesthetic choices pull the audience in while holding their attention for the duration of the film. The visual aspects of the movie are outstanding from the vibrant shots outside of the plantations, all the way to the grim shots of the insides.
This is always going to be a movie that I highly recommend for others to watch. It exposes the grotesque reality of slavery, sparks anger in the audience and still leaves us wanting more.
Content warnings: Violence & gore, mild nudity, strong profanity, strong use of racial slurs
