Django Unchained

This one was a rewatch but still particularly enjoyable on the 4th time of watching. This came at a particularly great time due to combining with me finishing up my time with red dead redemption as well. Very different styles and stories but all very wild west.

Django’s journey feels like a very traditional hero’s journey and you feel for the character throughout. This is made even easier by making pretty much every other character completley reprehensible throughout. Leonardo DiCaprio is horrible but Samuel L. Jackson’s character really gets under your skin, truly played perfectly. Christoph Woltz is incredible as well, he is so likeable throughout. It would be amusing to watch this before or after Inglorious Bastards to see those differences.

It is hard to capture many unique thoughts on such a popular film, especially after seeing it so many times. After this re-watch, there were a few things which stood out to me.

One, the camera work is beautiful. Obviously the crash (?, maybe dolly/snap) zooms are great but the large cinematic pieces were amazing. For Django’s first bounty, I love the juxtaposition of this large ranch shots through the scope of a rifle, especially the impersonal nature; to then snap back to django and Dr Schultz to deliver a more personal lesson on bounties.

The setting and landscapes were also beautiful throughout. This is definitely not a visually dull film, the settings are incredible and the colour work really gives it a strong stylistic feel.

Lastly, the music is great. Not only do we get the wild west themed music, we also get modern hip-hop once Django grows into the ending bounty hunter.

Tarantino almost feels like a guilty pleasure director with a selection of great cinematography choices under the surface. I will always enjoy his films, even if they almost insist on themselves. I also strongly disagree on his feelings about Paul Dano.