"Django Unchained" - good, unclean fun

by brionic , Tuesday, August 06, 2013, 23:54 (4131 days ago)

Despite some of the negative press, Django Unchained was thoroughly enjoyable and surprisingly good. I was astonished by the beauty of the photography and the music. Despite a slurry of f-, mf- and n-bombs, the film was less exploitative or sleazy than I had anticipated. Cartoonish grotesque violence is the rule, but not in the repulsive manner of his earlier films like Reservoir Dogs or even Inglorious Basterds.

Great cameos. Outstanding set design and cinematography. Music, especially the Morricone sendups and Morricone-actual contributions. A star turn by German actor Christoph Waltz.

That being said, the stereotyping of southerners as either the genteel wealthy or ignorant hillbillies may offend some, so be warned. But seen in the light of "Duck you sucker", "Django", or "The Big Gundown", where violence rules the day and nobody is a "good guy", it works, in an amoral way. The slavery issue is central to the film, but resolves in the man's rising to his own level of excellence, regardless of race or past, in an interesting spin on the "shades of grey" morality of Leone's epics.

Back to the music. If you're a fan of the Morricone/Tevis style songs like "A gringo like me" or "Lonesome Billy", you will be pleased. Also, an interesting mix of Jim Croce, James Brown, Johnny Cash, Beethoven, and Ritchie Havens. Unsurprisingly, the commercial soundtrack omits most of the good stuff.

Before my old radio shows, I used to play an objectionable material cart. Same disclaimer here.

I am not suggesting this film holds a candle to anything by Leone. But I enjoyed and recommend it. One of the more entertaining new westerns I've watched in several years.