Django Unchained (2012)
A freed slave, Django, partners with eccentric German bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz to hunt down wanted criminals across the antebellum South. Their true mission is to track down and liberate Django’s wife, Broomhilda, who is held as a prized possession by the vicious and wealthy Mississippi plantation owner, Calvin Candie, leading to a fiery showdown.
Length: 2h45m
Genre: Western, Action, Revisionist Western
This Title is: Revenge, Liberation, Justice
Cast
Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson
Parental Guidance
Maturity Rating: R – Strong Graphic Violence Throughout, Vicious Fight Scenes, Pervasive Language, and Some Nudity.
FAQ
- Is Django Unchained Based on a True Story?: No. It is a work of historical fiction, drawing heavily on the Spaghetti Western genre, particularly the 1966 Italian title *Django*.
- Where was Django Unchained filmed?: Filming took place across various locations, including California (Sierra Nevada, Alabama Hills), Wyoming (Grand Teton National Park), and Louisiana for plantation scenes.
- Who Wrote the Soundtrack?: The soundtrack features numerous artists and tracks, including new songs and existing scores. Key score contributors include Luis Bacalov and Ennio Morricone.
Filmmaker Profile
Director and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino brings his signature style—blending graphic violence, sharp dialogue, and historical revisionism—to the story. He crafted this as a “Southern” to confront the brutality of slavery through the stylized lens of the Spaghetti Western genre, earning him an Oscar for the screenplay.
Why It’s Worth Watching
The production is a stylized, intense, and wildly ambitious spectacle. Its tight direction elevates the premise into an explosive action epic, featuring Oscar-winning performances and a truly gripping premise centered on the emotional journey of vengeance and liberation against an unsettling historical backdrop.
Main Character Deep Dive
Django’s journey is one of incredible transformation, moving from a shackled, hopeless slave to a highly skilled, single-minded liberator. Jamie Foxx provides a powerful, stoic performance, conveying a quiet, burning resolve. His internal conflict is driven solely by love, making his righteous path of revenge deeply memorable and exceptional to witness.
Unforgettable Quote
“Gentlemen, you had my curiosity. But now you have my attention.”
Trivia
- Leonardo DiCaprio accidentally cut his hand during a pivotal dinner scene but kept acting, and the footage was deemed too powerful to cut.
- Jamie Foxx rode his personal horse, Cheetah, throughout much of the production.
- Franco Nero, the actor who played the original Django in the 1966 Italian Western, makes a cameo appearance in a bar scene.
Trailer
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Our Review
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I found this movie to be an astonishing display of creative energy and audacious storytelling. The technical quality of the production is impeccable, utilizing beautiful, sweeping visuals that contrast dramatically with the horrific subject matter. The acting performances are stellar across the board; I was particularly impressed by the sheer commitment to the deeply unsettling characters. The dialogue crackles with intelligence and wit, making even the longest scenes feel dynamic and captivating. It builds toward a cathartic and incredibly satisfying conclusion that delivers on all the established tension. It is a powerful exploration of a difficult topic, masterfully wrapped in the highly stylized aesthetic of an Italian Western. This movie is a fantastic cinematic achievement that successfully balances its intense dramatic weight with high-octane action.
Who Should Watch This?
Stream it if you appreciate bold, highly stylized revisionist history, sharp, extensive dialogue, and Oscar-caliber performances paired with cathartic, graphic action.
