Django Unchained

Quentin Tarantino is one of those filmmakers that has definitely left his mark in this society as a writer/director with such distinction that after the first five minutes of the film, one can come the realization that this is a Tarantino film. He is hell bent in righting wrongs even if he has to change history, people or situations to make that happen. You can truly see this in his "Django Unchained".

It is 1858, two years before The Civil War. Former dentist, Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), buys the freedom of a slave, Django (Jamie Foxx) and trains him with the intent to make him his deputy bounty hunter. Meanwhile, Django comes to realize that his wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), who is under the hands of Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio) a ruthless plantation owner in Mississippi, is a place that he and Schultz must arrive at in order to scam their way to getting Broomhilda back.

Others to round out the cast are Samuel L. Jackson as Stephen, Candie's head servant at the plantation, Walton Goggins as Billy Cash, henchman of Candie's, Dennis Christopher as Leonide Moguy, Candie's lawyer, James Remar as Butch Pooch/Ace Speck, David Steen as Mr. Stonesipher, and Laura Cayouette as Lara Lee Candie-Fitzwilly, Cal's sister.

This was brilliantly written and directed by Tarantino ("Reservoir Dogs" '92, "Pulp Fiction" '94, "Jackie Brown" '97, "Kill Bill: Vol. 1" '03, "Kill Bill: Vol. 2" '04, "Sin City" (special guest director) '05, "Grindhouse" (segment "Death Proof") '07, "Inglourious Basterds" '09). The way Tarantino can take a concept, whether familiar or not, and make it flow from one scene to the next so effortlessly is amazing. If you want to see one of his best, rent "Inglourious Basterds". The way he rewrote history to fit his fantasy was so well executed, it almost made you think that this is how history really played out. This film is basically the same. He takes Schultz, makes him like a 21st century thinking type person and puts him in the 19th century, teams him up with this slave, Django, becomes Django's mentor, and lets us see how this is going to play out with all the others that are clearly 19th century thinking people. It makes this script such a hoot.

If you're a Tarantino fan, you will just revel in your seats, but even if you're not, the way the story unfolds with the expertise acting, specifically by Waltz, even Foxx and DiCaprio, the writing and directing, it will even have you enjoying this ride.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                       Rated: R                         165mins.