Craftsmanship, boldness and originality

Rating: 9/10 (18 February 2013)

Is there any director with as much cinematographic bravado as QT? I don't think so. 'Django Unchained' is, once again, a dazzling display of craftsmanship, boldness and originality. And, above all, it has this quite unique QT-touch of not taking anything too seriously. A lot of it is completely over the top, and that's exactly why it's so much fun to watch.
At the same time, Tarantino doesn't make it easy for himself. The subject of slave-trading and race relations in general is sensitive. But once again, not taking yourself too seriously does the trick. Only Tarantino can pull off a scene where Samuel L. Jackson tells Leonardo Di Caprio he doesn't want a 'ni**er' like Jamie Foxx in the house.
The acting in 'Django Unchained' is superb. I particularly liked Christoph Waltz as a slick gentleman bounty hunter who can talk his way out of (almost) every situation. He is extremely polite and at the same time extremely violent. Leonardo Di Caprio is also excellent as a sadistic plantation owner - supposedly the first time he plays a villain.
And there is the trademark Tarantino dialogue. Witty, funny, and sometimes absurd: when one bounty hunter asks the other if he's positive that the man they're going to shoot is really the one they're looking for, it turns out he doesn't understand the meaning of the word positive.
I've enjoyed watching this film from beginning to end. There are hardly any weak moments or unbalanced scenes. No one in the film business does what Tarantino does. And that's why each QT-film is a sensation. 'Django Unchained' is no exception.