What the Hell's a "Django"? Part 2

It's a pretty good movie, that's what!

I felt that I should say a quick word or two about the new Quentin Tarantino movie "Django Unchained".  In a previous blog entry, I covered the original 1966 "Django" and the weird semi-prequel from Takashi Miike, 2007's "Sukiyaki Western Django".

Tarantino's movie is a remake in name only.  There are only three major similarities to the original - the song that plays over the opening credits is the same, the movie is a Western (obviously), and original Django actor Franco Nero makes a special guest appearance.  Otherwise, Tarantino makes it his own, as he did with his previous effort "Inglorious Basterds", also a remake.

Its cast is as eclectic as its soundtrack - from Jamie Foxx to Christophe Waltz to Leonardo DiCaprio's bad teeth to Don Freakin' Johnson as a Col. Sanders lookalike, to the surprise appearances by big stars and recognizable faces, it's a grab back of "look, there's so-and-so!"  Likewise, the soundtrack features everything from modern hip-hop to '70's easy listening tunes to classic Ennio Morricone Western themes.  It's a cornucopia of Tarantino's likes and interests, as per usual for one of his films.  Although, I don't remember seeing any fetishized closeups of women's feet this time.  Maybe I just missed it.  Sick bastard. . .

The only major complaint I have about "Django Unchained" is that the iconic image of the lone, grizzled gunslinger dragging a coffin through the desert was not used or referenced.  It's a supremely cool, memorable sequence from the original that I was hoping Tarantino would reprise.  Alas, it was not to be. . .

Tarantino is a movie lover who makes movies for movie lovers -

movie movie movie.

- which means that "Django Unchained" is filled to the brim with loving cinema references and tributes, mixed together by a master cook, baked for two hours at 350 degrees, and presented with a side of juicy ham and red sauce.  With beer. 

The movie features many influences from both American and Italian Westerns, but by making the character of Django a freed slave out to save his wife from an insidious plantation owner, Tarantino is able to incorporate nods to blaxploitation movies of the 1970's like "Mandingo", a particular favorite of his.  This allows him to portray the issue of slavery as the utterly silly and stupid thing it was, while acknowledging the horror of it and indulging in a little angry revenge-fantasy retribution at the same time.  It's a heady mix of serious themes and escapist cinema that shouldn't, but does, manage to blend well under his over-the-top , stylistic direction.

Like all of his other movies.

In other words, if you take movies seriously while not taking them seriously, yet love them with all your heart, then you should be a Tarantino fan.  So here's "Django Unchained", same style, different genre.  I love it!