Django Unchained: Unchaining Your Expectations

Movie: Django Unchained

Release Date: 12/25/2012

Viewed: 1/12/2013

Genre: Southern, Action, Violent

Length: 165 minutes

Rated: R

Cast: Jamie Fox, Christopher Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Samuel L Jackson

Writer/ Director: Quentin Tarantino

Calvin: Your boss looks a little green around the gills.

Django: He just ain't used to seein' a man ripped apart by dogs is all.

Calvin: But you are used to it?

Django: I'm just a little more used to Americans than he is.

Friday night had found me inebriated at a local dive and dance club, Bubba's Sulky Lounge. Friday nights at Bubba's are reliably the same: DJ Jon mixing 80's beats, music videos on the big screen, luminous floor, tons of eighties clad dancers. Expectations at Bubba's are widely met and often exceeded making it a solid choice to kick off any 'rockstar weekend.'

The next morning provides an ample opportunity to assess (piece together) the prior evening's tomfoolery (intoxication) with a relatively clear head (sober headache). Did I expect to dress up like looney tunes and dance my ass off on a multicolored floor drinking cheap PBR tallboys? Yes. Did I expect to nearly arrive at second base with a random girl while dancing. No. Did I expect her to thank me for a fun dance and walk off at the conclusion of the song never to be see again? No. Did I meet or beat my expectations for the night? Yes.

Based upon the prior expectations set the night was judged to be a success, enough so that I needed to sleep until noon the next day. Looking for a reason not to drink on a Saturday night is a conundrum for the single twenty-something male. To succeed a concrete plan is required. Django Unchained was to be my concrete plan.

My concrete plan.

Expectations can make or break movies, or dive bars for that matter. When American viewers expect one thing and get another they tend to be disappointed regardless of the quality of the movie. The Good Shepard was one such movie for me. Anticipating a faster paced Bourne like plot left me yawning in my seat. Further reflection finds The Good Shepard back on my list of movie to reconsider. My generalization of expectation may be incorrect but it may also explain the state of theatrical previews now. When I say 'state of theatrical previews' I am referring to the general formula utilized by the movie industry for trailers: condense the entire movie into two minutes, include the three wittiest lines with one being a catch phrase, include all major action sequences or dramatic events, mash and mix the segments within the trailer. The majority of the audience at any movie has seen the preview, probably multiple times. The audience sits in anticipation of the before mentioned specific lines or situations highlighted by the preview.

My Dad's standard comment after watching annoyingly long previews for exceptionally shitty movies: "Well I guess we don't need to see that one!"

The beginning of a new year is primetime for movies. Yet my decision was an easy one, when Quentin Tarantino makes a movie you go see it. Based on the cast, the budget and (oh yes) the previews my expectations were high going in.

There are some arguable parallels of Django Unchained and Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds. Both films are inspired by prior movies of similar plot and title: Django (1966) and The Inglorious Bastards (1978). Both Django Unchained and Inglourious Basterds are set in distinct historical periods of gross class inequality. Tarantino has championed the under privileged group (Blacks and Jews) in two stories of vengeance. All the traditional elements of a Tarantino films are present against the historical backdrop of the slave plantation controlled South and Nazi controlled Europe: gruesome violence that borders on absurdity, particular dialogue, and characters that epitomize the forces of good and evil (the latter being present in Tarantino's more recent works). Antagonizing the viewer with the well established evils of the ruling class the audience may rationalize the violence which unfolds.

Django! Django have you always been alone? Django. Django have you never loved again?

My favorite scenes of the movie (maybe no surprise) are both featured in the trailers: Dr. Schultz propositions Django to track the Brittle brothers in exchange for his freedom, and the introduction of Calvin Candie in the private bar. If you are a movie junkie there is plenty of trivia and hidden meaning to track down. For those of you hoping this flick is more than just a meat filled shooting gallery don't fret! There are plenty of layers to the characters and plot (for example house servant Stephen and the hierarchy among black slaves). While violence is never at a premium for those seeking maximum carnage put your blood lust on the back burner. The finale will certainly have enough blown knee caps, gut busters and groin shots to appease even the darkest of appetites.

In my opinion the acting was for the most part solid. My concern that the notoriety of Fox and DiCaprio would take away from their performances was unfounded. It was refreshing for me to see DiCaprio nail the part of the villain and to do so as a supporting actor. The cinematography was excellence, the scenes of post Civil War South gritty and bold. Tarantino left an interesting finger print on the movie in both the soundtrack and the dress of Django. Where does one get those sunglasses in 2013, let alone 1858? Well I am sure the Internet can tell me.

A common pitfall in the industry has been the diminished quality of the writing and acting in bigger budget movies to that of their predecessors (Matrix 2 & 3, the second Star Wars trilogy, Indiana Jones 4, etc). Unlike some writers and directors I believe Tarantino has maintained his unique style and spirit despite a $100 million budget at his disposal. So, did I find Django Unchained just as entertaining, gruesome and ridiculously awesome as Inglourious Basterds? Yes. Did Django Unchained exceed my expectations? Yes. Do I recommend getting off your ass to see it in the theaters? Yes. Worth a second view? Of course.