Before I talk about the movie as a whole, let me dissect some of its pieces.
First up Christoph Waltz... I know he probably won't win, but I wish with all my heart that he would. His performance in this movie is a true original, derivative of nothing. What a wonderful complex and loveable character her created here. He is slyly subversive, unfalteringly polite and florid with his language. I really enjoyed that he was so much more "civilized" outwardly than the unsavory Americans...He’s the Old World instructing the New in the fine points of etiquette and speech while enjoying the savage opportunities of the day. The way Dr. Schultz uses his way with words and his ability to hide behind the law are just played to perfection by Waltz. And as an aside, I wanted to bang the hell out of him the whole time :-)
Leo DiCaprio - What a tricky role he had. Of course we must hate him and do, but I feel like he really played the duality of cruel slave owner and impeccable gentlemen perfectly. Leo was able to shift very quickly from the hateful glint in his eye to the warm open expression of a good host. I love his performance and thought that he really went for it.
Kerry Washington - Like most poor damsels in distress, she had the most thankless role. She was always either, in danger, preparing to be in danger or having her hopes dashed. Unfortunately for poor Kerry, I didn't see a character there just a plot device to get Django where he needed to be, getting the revenge he needed to get.
Jamie Foxx - He played Django in a way I didn’t expect. All quiet and steely. While he was very good, I can't help but think that Christoph and Leo outshined him in their scenes together.
Sam Jackson - Awesome, perfect and wonderful! Sam Jackson's eyes are so capable of conveying menace and hatred...they are much scarier than the words that come out of his mouth.
As a whole, this movie plays to Tarantino's best themes.... Revenge, violence, flowery dialogue and just enough absurdity. LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS- The horse tricks Django performed at the very end of the movie were such a hysterical surprise... I could have watched 5 mroe minites of just that!
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ReplyDeletesorry about the typos in the last sentence... I added it AFTER I spell checked. Dummy!
ReplyDeleteI have so much work to do right now, but I can't think of anything more important than commenting on this.
ReplyDeleteI'm so thrilled that you loved this. As difficult as it was to watch, it was impossible to look away. Throughout this film, I do not think I fully sat down in my seat for a minute.. my breath was partially held throughout. I honestly feel like any number of fantasies played out during this ride - again, and again.
Personally, although I agree that Foxx may have been out-acted in many scenes, I so commend him for his performance. The "dog scene", for me, demonstrated the depth of character - such restraint in the face of such evil - I was appalled and yet so convinced that the man had a plan - and he would stop at nothing, nothing to execute (and execute he did.)
I'm also in love with Waltz - and I hold out hope that the Academy is, as well. I marveled at his calm, deliberate poise in the saloon earlier in the film. That contrast with the rugged ugliness of his surroundings was magnifique! love love love him.
Basically, I want the lifetime achievement award for Tarantino. And I want a Tarantino film festival. And, I want to hear his interview with Howard again.
Oh my gosh, we are all going to be cat fighting over Christoph Waltz come Oscar night!
ReplyDeleteGreat review Miss Elizabeth. This is absolutely Tarantino at his best including his goofily acted cameo.
What I most adored about Waltz is that you got to see him as the reverse negative of his role in Inglorious Basterds. He was charming as a villainous Nazi and he's down right heartthrob-worthy as the educated bounty hunter who is a man of ideas, tastes and manners.
I was ready to hate Leo. I did not for all of the reasons that Elizabeth so succinctly put down.
You know, my wife spent a lot of time making 30 hoods.
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