Genius; unmissable Tarantino at his best.

Rating: 9/10 (13 February 2013)

I was surprised that my wife was keen to see this, having no interest in gore nor action films. She left the cinema saying of Tarantino "He's an absolute genius".
That this can be accomplished given the copious gore, ample guns and a steady supply of explosive (and expletive come to that), is testament to Tarantino's mastery. Most of the film is spent in casual dialogue, effortlessly delivered amidst knife edge tension. The racism is up front and centre, breaking new ground where Blazing Saddles feared to tread. Jamie Foxx is more lovable the nastier he gets, Cristophe Waltz is moving beyond legend status into something else entirely. While he was familiar to me, I didn't even click it was him until the movie was finished. Now of course his performance seems amplified in it's magnificence when you stand it alongside Inglorious Basterds.
I read that this is the first film that DiCaprio has been in where he was not given top billing. This surprised me (Gilbert Grape anyone?) but in many ways I feel that this was one where he would have deserved it. This comes of as a career defining performance. He totally breaks his own mould. It seems Tarantino has helped him to keep his trademark enthusiasm menacingly in check until given the all clear to explode. When he does, it's sickening, chilling even. DiCaprio unchained with a scene that leaves even Waltz lost for words. For a moment at least. And what a moment!
Django Unchained is Tarantino at his best and devilish worst. My wife is right. The man is a genius, and he has given me leave to order a Quentin Box Set for a month or two of great Sunday viewing with the missus. Quality time.