Anything that Tarantino releases nowadays is followed by a wave of hype and expectation because his previous films like Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction are so revered. Even more recent films like Inglorious Basterds are still held in very high regard. It must be difficult going into a project knowing that if it isn't close to perfection then the critics will be ready to destroy you with their reviews. So you can't fault Tarantino for being bold in producing an epic Western movie set just before the American Civil War.
The opening hour which sees Django released from slavery by Dr. King Schultz as they hunt the Brittle Brothers is excellent, Christoph Waltz excels as a bounty hunter who can smooth talk his way out of any situation with his German accent and cunning linguistic skills. The German is seen as a refreshing change of pace from the deeply racist white community in the deep South at the time. As Django becomes more at ease around Schultz an intriguing relationship is formed although the site of a black man on a horse does make life more difficult for them as they travel around.
Leonardo Di Caprio also turns a stellar performance as the extremely eccentric plantation owner Calvin J. Candie who only sees black people as commodities for him to buy and sell at his will. We see some pretty gruesome scenes of a man being torn apart by dogs and two men fighting to the death for the entertainment of Candie placing a mirror to America's chequered past in slavery.
As ever Tarantino manages to set up small set pieces to introduce some comedy to proceedings, an impromptu meeting by the Ku Klux Klan before raiding the camp of Django and Schultz is particularly hilarious (featuring a cameo by Jonah Hill). Unfortunately an enthralling first hour the film rather bogs down in overly long conversations and scenes which should been condensed or even omitted from the film entirely. Tarantino can be guilty of making his films too rich in needless dialogue, in Pulp Fiction the conversations between Travolta and Jackson were sharp and hugely entertaining but that isn't re-created here which makes the long back and forths between Candie and Schultz frustrating.
Once you finally sense the ending is coming you are instantly back involved as we see everything come to a frantic close that reminds us why we fell in love with Tarantino's work in the first place. Judging from early reviews it looks like this will be another of his films to be fondly remembered as a classic even if I don't necessarily agree.
2.5/4 Slick and entertaining as you'd expect but too long and over laden with dialogue
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| Django Freeman (Jamie Foxx) and Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) |
Leonardo Di Caprio also turns a stellar performance as the extremely eccentric plantation owner Calvin J. Candie who only sees black people as commodities for him to buy and sell at his will. We see some pretty gruesome scenes of a man being torn apart by dogs and two men fighting to the death for the entertainment of Candie placing a mirror to America's chequered past in slavery.
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| Calvin J. Candie (Leonardo Di Caprio) |
Once you finally sense the ending is coming you are instantly back involved as we see everything come to a frantic close that reminds us why we fell in love with Tarantino's work in the first place. Judging from early reviews it looks like this will be another of his films to be fondly remembered as a classic even if I don't necessarily agree.
2.5/4 Slick and entertaining as you'd expect but too long and over laden with dialogue
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