Excellent Movie; Tarantino's quality captivates the audience once again

Rating: 9/10 (6 June 2013)

Excellent Movie; Tarantino's quality captivates the audience once again
Pulp Fiction (1994), Inglorious Basterds (2009), and now Django Unchained (2012), Quentin Tarantino has persisted on his unique style and put together another trademark masterpiece. A movie portrayed in 1964, shortly before the Civil War of the United States, Django (Jamie Foxx), a former slave, embarks on an exhilarating journey to find his missing wife Broomhilda von Shaft (Kerry Washington). Together with his emancipator Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), they eventually enter a traditional southern plantation field, known as "Candyland," owned by "Mandingo-fighting" aficionado Calvin Candie (Leonardo Di Caprio). Django and Dr. Shultz create a plan to acquire Hilda, by first buying one of Candie's "Mandingo fighters," and subtly add Hilda to their $12'000 bill. Their plan hits a major setback as Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson), a privileged slave that represses his own race, notices their clever strategy. Intended towards a Western- loving audience, this film depicts heart-pounding gunfights that although graphic, exemplify Tarantino's stunning filmmaking panache. A key aspect, that made this film a success, was how it used contemporary music and was able to adapt it to a film based on the 19th century. Soundtracks such "100 Black Coffins" by American rapper Rick Ross, and John Legend's "Who did that to you?" were the some of the songs used in Tarantino's varied play list. Although the songs and movie are dissimilar in time period, the blend produced between these two elements is efficient and inimitable. One of the major subjects presented in this movie, is how African- American were treated before the Civil War. Racially abused, and discriminated merely by their skin color, this topic was controversially displayed in Quentin Tarantino's film. Unfortunately this was the harsh truth of the years that anticipated the Civil War, and on a personal note, I'm frankly glad that discrimination is oppressed, and equality has been pursued throughout the latter decades of the 20th century. Although the following comparison includes films that differentiate highly in genre, time period, action, and mood there are some major comparisons and contrasts that emerge from both "Django Unchained" and Tate Taylor's Oscar winning success "The Help" (2011), in terms of the display of discrimination. One of the differences is of course, the time period. "Django Unchained," as previously mentioned, is displayed during the ardent years before the Civil War where racism was fiercely denoted by the use of certain words and suggestive actions (which I will not specify). Meanwhile "The Help" is presented to us during the 1960's, where the Civil Rights Movement was gaining momentum, and reaching its defining stages. Racism was not as harshly displayed in this movie compared to Django Unchained, but it was still one of the fundamental subjects in the movie. Second, "Django Unchained" is presented to us in a more "male" point of view. Django, who is of course the protagonist, was surrounded by the unpleasant realities of men who were discriminated. In various occasions, even Django, took advantage of his freedom, and discriminated his own race. "The Help," displays the life of African Americans, from a female point of view, where two housemaids experience the everyday injustice of life during the mid stages of the 20th century in the United States. A third and final difference is the tone of the film. Tarantino's film has an unusual blend of satire and seriousness covering almost every theme/topic of the movie. Even during the gunfights there is mockery and a satiric mood during vital scenes of the film. For example, when Django kills Stephen, the protagonist first shoots his counterparts knees, and as Stephen falls to the ground Django prepares some dynamite. When he leaves the house, Django smiles and subsequently the house blows up. Django's wife is then clapping her hands as if she just watched an elementary school play. "The Help" occasionally presents itself with a satire mood, but in key events of the movie seriousness is heavily displayed, as emotions become the main concentration of the film. This is done, so that the audience can sync in a more realistic idea of how things were during the Civil Rights Movement.
I loved this movie, its tweak of satire tenor together with its mouth-watering action, makes this film one of my all time favorites, deservedly earning a 9/10. This film really captures the U.S during the 1800's, and frankly makes me happy of how things have changed throughout history. Demonstrating the social injustice and racial abuse that marked the years before the Civil War, this made me think of how lucky we are to live in a society that oppresses discrimination, and shows respect towards all races. We are all human beings and we all deserve the same amount of respect. It's true that Tarantino may divulge very controversial scenes, illustrating blood and gore, racism, and an excess of sexual flashes, but there is always a lesson deep down inside that he wants us to comprehend. This film was nominated for 5 different Oscar categories during the 85th Academy Awards. It was a nominee for best motion picture of the year, which was obtained by Ben Affleck's "Argo" (2012). It also finished as a nominee for best achievement in sound editing and best achievement in cinematography. "Django Unchained" did become one of the six multiple-winning films, as it obtained two triumphs for Christop Waltz performance as a supporting actor and Quentin Tarantino's writing/screenplay. Overall, I believe that this movie is simply a success, Tarantino's work has done a fantastic job since the beginning of his career. This movie shows that Tarantino hasn't only maintained his status amongst the elite, but that he has progressed even more, throughout his phenomenal development as a director.
Film Appreciation (Group 2)