Django Unchained (2012)

This is an extra long review than usual, so thanks for your patience if you get through it! Ultimate thanks go to MissNJ! for the edit.

Quentin Tarantino has never been shy about his love for the Spaghetti Western, nor his being influenced by the likes of Sam Peckinpah and Sergio Leone. A lot of that influence has crept into his previous films, including Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill and Inglorious Basterds. The director has also demonstrated his love for Blaxploitation-era cinema in the past with the likes of Jackie Brown. All these elements and genre styles make their way into his latest epic, Django Unchained. For all its expected whimsical dialogue, quirky visual nuances and clever edits, the film eventually becomes the closest thing to Tarantino (finally) producing his very own literal meld of Blaxploitation and Spaghetti Western; and to view it in any other way would be a mistake, doing one of the most recognizable and popular American directors a disservice. There is no need to be confused, take overly seriously or, god forbid, be offended by Django. A film of two distinct halves, if you do make it through the often brisk but occasionally gruelling 165 minutes to the post credits visual quip, the main thing you should be, is entertained.

UPCOMING: The Master; Django Unchained

THE MASTER

Paul Thomas Anderson is arguably one of the best American directors working today. His follow up to the masterpiece that was 2007’s There Will Be Blood, is called The Master. On paper, the synopsis of the film seems to represent the story of the birth of a cult, but speculation that the film’s plot is merely a thinly veiled interpretation of the beginnings of (sort-of cult) Scientology are often played down by Anderson and co. Friend and high profile Scientology advocate, Tom Cruise, was ironically rumored to have “had issues” with it after a private screening, which only serves to fuel such talk. Whatever it is or isn’t supposed to be, what we know is that acting powerhouse and P.T regular, Phillip Seymour Hoffman takes on the role of the titular “Master” (Lancaster Dodd) and I expect to see him bring Daniel Day-Lewis levels of performance, who scored an Oscar for his towering portrayal of Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood. He is a fairly diverse director, but The Master, judging by this brief teaser, is possibly taking it’s cues from that film in terms of style; a sparse dark score, stark cinematography and intense acting seem to be the order of the day.