Movies With Butter

Django Unchained is another Tarantino violent film laced with dark humor and dressed loosely as a Western. The trailer shows plenty of gun slinging action, sharp wit one-liner conversations and actors having fun with their characters.

Each character in the trailer is unique and not typical of a Western. Christopher Waltz created an engaging character with an unidentifiable staccato accent that resembles nothing close to any Western I’ve seen. Jamie Foxx is just Jamie Foxx, with his scary wide eye stares and arrogant smirks. He does a passable job as an unemotional killer, but he could at least try harder to work towards the Western time period with a little sum’in of a twang, murmured slur or Southern drawl.

Leonard DiCaprio often chooses period pieces where he is the hero. Although his character is supposed to be brutal, the trailer depicts a loose cannon plantation owner having a grand time seeking nothing more than to be entertained.

The opening scene with chained slaves and Johnny Cash playing in the background are excellent choices. Johnny Cash’s “there ain’t no grave can hold my body down” predicated the nonchalant violence ahead and in many scenes to come – it starts with Christopher Waltz’s brief, to the point exchanges and fast-hands, and continues with more fast gun shots and unfiltered comments like, killing “White folks and they pay you for it? What’s not to like.”

Django Unchained adds a bit of art to the gore, which reminds me of the violent, cheesy yet beautifully staged 70’s Japanese movies, such as bright red blood splatters painting the snow white cotton plants. In fact, white and snow seem to be reoccurring themes in the trailer – clear steam emerging from warm spring water, snow backgrounds highlighting the monochromatic brown horses, trees and cowboys. And, what can be funkier than Jamie Foxx’s disgustingly almost fluorescent blue suit, with a gigantic white bow collar suited for a 70’s stage show?

Django Unchained is Quentin Tarantino showing his cult followers his usual inconsequential slayings and sharp tongue dialogue by talented actors doing their silly best to be serious. It’s nothing new but still entertaining.

Django Unchained is scheduled to open on December 25, 2012 – not just violence on Christmas Day, Tarantino’s stylized graphic and slow dramatic violence. The film stars Jamie Foxx as Django, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Jonah Hill, Don Johnson, Amber Tamblyn and others.

Django Unchained Trailer: