Django Unchained reviewed by Mark Kermode
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- čas přidán 17. 01. 2013
- Mark Kermode reviews Django Unchained. Jamie Foxx stars as a freed slave who attempts to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner. Also starring Christoph Waltz and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Please tell us what you think of the film -- or Mark's review of the film below. We love to include your views on the show every Friday.
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Fridays at 2pm on BBC 5 live. - Krátké a kreslené filmy
Kermode really is right to mention Sam Jackson's performance - it's a performance I've rarely seen mentioned in other reviews but is absolutely astonishing in it's gross servility and sycophantic energy. Amazing performance.
Jackson was acting as a house slave who’s acting front of house as the sycophantic slave to his master, when he’s really the brains behind the whole plantation who even the whites on the ranch have to listen to. A brilliant performance, just wish we saw even more of him
I saw it in a cinema in Australia, and there was a huge fit of laughter when QT's Australian accent was heard.
It was one of the worst Australian accents in cinema history, worse than Ernest Borgnine's in Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, worse than James Coburn's in The Great Escape. Just bad bad bad. But the thing that excuses QT's in Django is _where_ it appears in the movie. Had it been Act One it would have stuck out like dogs' balls. But by the time we hear it, we're through Tarantino's ludicrous looking glass, where anything is possible, including an Angeleno doing an Aussie.
Worst Aussie accent since Point Break.
I've always thought it was South African. I guess that's how bad it was.
..... herd.
.........
......
The accent was fine an Australian accent is one of the easiest ones to do bugguh
Completely out of character?? He kills the slave trader at the beginning, he shoots the sheriff in front of the whole town, who apparently is a crook anyway, watches Django basically assassinate a man right in front of his son, who is apparently also a crook. Then you see him shot Candy, who was a horrid shit and this was displayed through out the scenes involving him, and it's suddenly out of character??
No what’s so interesting about the scene where waltz kills Leo is that it was out of character! throughout the whole movie waltz character only killed people who attacked him first or has a bounty on them. When he killed Leo’s character, he said “sorry I couldn’t resist”, signifying that he broke his moral code because Leo was such a dick. That out of character moment was shocking and awesome!
@@aarongutierrez7705 I'm surprised people missed that.
michael hall right? That’s what I loved about it haha
Not to forget the fight between the slaves and setting the dogs on the other slave .
Not to mention the huge plantation shootout .
He did tbh almost get Django and Broomhilda killed after doing that.
I agree with this review. But I think I also understand why the extra act happens at the point at which the movie feels like it was going to end. Without the final ultra revenge once Waltz's character is dead, Django wouldn't have been his own master at all. The end is all him, doing things his way with no 'friendly white man' to help him. Tarantino should have found a better way of introducing this aspect earlier though without resorting to firing the movie back up again once it felt over.
I like your interpretation buddy, i see what your saying and think its a cool take on it 👍 i think its tongue and cheek comedy was on point, i like that style of dark humour he does really well.
You’re spot on
I absolutely loved django. It got me into westerns. The acting was incredible. The ending is one of my favourite scenes ever. Absolutely brilliantly stylish.
the 'ill discipline' mark talks about is the most fun part.
As much as I agree with Kermode in this I can't believe he didnt acknowledge Di Caprio who, along with Waltz & Jackson, was incredible in this film, to the degree that he managed to incorporate a seeminlgy rather serious injury when smashing a plate in to his performace without a hitch.
It was a glass (just to be pedantic) and interestingly, having seen Kill Bill again, more recently…i think it’s a set up, that makes good publicity
"I don't do stars, but.."
"Don't"
.......
"Sounds like 3 though"
Alex Johnson - “Three and a half”
Vintage Mayo
Makes me wonder, Kermode mentioned everybody having a great performance except Leo. I wonder what he thinks about Leo as an actor.
Kermode is pretty spot on. I felt when I was watching this movie that it was just brilliant. The moment Tarantino shows up or just before that moment is when the film just went down in quality and vision. You could have easily cut 20-25 minutes of the movie and made it much much better over all. As Kermode said, it just felt like it was dragging on for no real reason. Had the movie ended with the Dicaprio and Waltz showdown I would have called it Tarantino's best film.
Spot on.
I appreciate these reviews even more years later when you’ve seen the movie a few times
Me too, though I’ve never seen the movie 😳
I liked "Django Unchained", but it's waaaay too long. QT is an ambitious filmmaker with a novelistic strain. He loves words. He also knows where to place the camera. But he's no longer a good editor of his own material. When "Reservoir Dogs", "Pulp Fiction" and "Jackie Brown" ended they felt complete. I somehow get the sense that he wants to make epic movies, but he doesn't seem to understand (or, rather, hasn't yet mastered) the epic form like Griffith, Eisenstein, Kurosawa or David Lean did.
Spot-on.
Exactly. Tarantino just recreates the same goofy characters. If the movies can't take themselves seriously, how can the audience.
Came to this clip after OUATIH. Spot on!
I agree about the length, and editing. But it only actually bothers me when i don't like the film to start with. I kind of wanted 'once upon a time..' and 'Kill Bill 2' to just keep on going, but 'Hateful 8' got long very quickly, i just didn't care for it. . Django and Kill BIll 1were the ones where he would have had great rather than frustrating films, if he'd edited more tightly... But I think the strength of his films is how in love with the world and the characters he creates is. And love can tend to be a bit indulgent of its object
Django IS too long, as is Hateful Eight and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, but my feeling on all three of these is that I love the characters and atmosphere of each so much that I want it to keep going. The obvious self-indulgence is fine for me because Tarantino is such a good writer that I’m ok living in his universes for long periods of time. If there is an extended cut of OUATIH, I’ll be first in line for a copy.
Must say I felt the same as soon as I saw Tarantino on screen, the most awkwardly looking cowboy ever! And when he opened his mouth and this odd sound came out I thought 'oh Jesus..'...But I think he quickly redeemed himself by the way he 'offed' himself! Like a very clever in joke, maybe Quentin is aware of what a terrible actor he is. Reminded me of the irony of the recent 'Go Compare' ads.
Enjoyed the rest.
I thought De Caprio deserves more credit for his excellent performance. Alright.
I saw this movie with my dad and my great grand uncle from Australia because he was visiting us when this movie was out and my family really likes movies, among other things.
So much fun. Incredibly moving and distressing film at times. This is what cinema is for this movie. Maybe my favourite of Tarantino's
Saw it today. Loved it! Currently ranked # 25 on my Flickchart. Excellent cinematography. Each shot looked like a piece of artwork. Very impressive.
He's so right about Tarantino's self-appearance in this movie. He must surely have known his performance was crap, why on earth does he insist on doing that??
I'm glad Mark mentioned the performances in this film, it's what really elevated it from good to great. Could the film have been 30 minutes shorter, probably. However, I still think it's the best of QT's recent works and has a very strong rewatch value
Kill Bill was wonderful. Part 1 and part 2. From its pop-culture touches and pastiches to the balletic OTT violence.
This is probably the most kindest and fair handed review that Mark has done for a Tarantino film of late. He really did enjoy the film, though it was a vast improvement from his last three films and got out some great performances. Of course his criticisms are Tarantino's indulgences which drag the film out, his need to insert himself into his film and his lack of discipline to keep the film to a appropriate timeframe or cut out some indulgence of his. It by all accounts is a good film,
It's funny, the major criticism here is something I found myself really enjoying about the movie. There's a serious anti-climax at the two hour mark, it feels very much as though the story could or should be over, and then it keeps going and appears to only be getting worse, and I appreciated this approach. I also consider making that choice to be, on a certain level, more controlled then simply truncating the narrative.
While he will never top Pulp Fiction, Django Unchained is a fantastic, rousing adventure film reminiscent of Dumas' adventure novels, but with a bite. Not a huge fan of most his films, but by God, I've seen this film thrice now with different sets of people, and all of them seem to absolutely love this one. I'd easily count this among one of the greatest Westerns of all time.
I think Jackie brown tops pulp fiction!
@@niamhm4109 absolutely not
I know exactly what Mark meant when he said about the section with QT in it. It just felt out of place.
I was wondering whether I was the only one who was most impressed by DiCaprio. Lots of people seem to think his performance was over-the-top, but they've obviously never seen a real Western. He was like Henry Fonda in OUATITW: a magnificent character that breathes evil in every syllable. There are lots of pretty boys out there, but DiCaprio has obtained in his late 30s what they all lack: a Presence, with a capital P. Once he appeared on screen, the warm-up was over.
encarsiaformosa ...He was bleeding after slamming his hand down on the table and kept in character by even smearing his blood on her face. Her reaction was 100% genuine in that it was comoletely unexpected and severe severely un-nerving.
No, Quentin wasn't booked on the show.
Damn!
I thought Django Unchained was a brilliant film. It was a revenge drama but more importantly, it made a very important point.
Black history began for Afro Americans at the end of the civil war.
Thus, it is no coincidence that the main characters have a Wagnerian arch to them. Every civilization has a foundation myth and this film claims this for Afro Americans. Thus the end represents the mythic hero overcoming evil and setting the next course of History,
I disagree with Marc here. The ending is Django was such a high for me.
I'm from Northern Ireland and I must say I would be very interested to see a Tarantino film made about Northern Ireland lol
IRA Pulp Fiction would be the greatest movie of all time
Director Quentin Tarantino yet again proves his terrific direction in this terrifically acted, well casted, violent, stylish & A thrilling western. (87%) (4.5/5 stars) (positive)
i liked the bit with his cameo actually, maybe an australian working in the usa in 19th century would actually have a bad ozzie accent? as accents are pretty fluid in people. he couldn't resist appearing i know, but its a great scene there nonetheless. didn't have a prob with the length. its become my second fave western (at the moment) and maybe my third fave film. certainly had me riveted and wanting to know more at every turn. 10/10 or 5/5 for me, but i get what you mean as well.
I just wached it and I loved it. Every single scene on it. The actors are spectacular. Leo Dicaprio is just outstanding, when he cuts his hands and goes on like nothing happened... So great. It´s true that with 20-30 minutes less, the movie would be perfect cos 3 hours are always a little too much no matter what. But the theatre was packed and it really seemed everybody enjoyed the film big time. Every single scene is amazing. I give it a 9/10. I already loved Inglorious but this one is better
True. Quite a few mistakes in the review.
First clip was introduced as taking place "at Candieland". The clip actually takes place at a Gentlemans Club before they travel for 5 hours to the Candie Plantation. If your going to critique a film effectively it's best to pay close attention. Loved the movie. Didn't seem long at all.
The flashback with the Briddle brothers and Brumhilda is one of the best scenes I have ever seen in any movie.
A few things,
discipline when referring to film is about, it's length and how well all of the scenes characters and themes hang together.
The reason Kermode has a problem with Django, is because the first 3 quarters of it feels so different to watching the last quarter (which descends into Post Kill Bill Tarantino) and the film should have ended with the first candyland shoot out. The build up to the second shoot out didn't add anything thematically and didn't serve a purpose.
Not every day I see an insightful post in a YT comment section, but when I do I acknowledge it even if it's seven years old.
@@Hannibal082 god I don't even remember posting it but kudos for the acknowledgement 😊
You just didn’t get it thematically then
Funnily enough I thought the movie flew by and couldn't believe it was almost 3 hours long, as for Quentin showing up honestly I just thought of it as a light hearted break from the action. I think critics read to much much into this stuff but I suppose it's their job.
Great review. Good input from Mr. Mayo too. He should definitely contribute more, he's great.
Anyway, I should see this soon, and I'll probably agree with the good doctor. I felt exactly like this after watching Inglorious.
I really enjoyed this film, im not a massive QT fan but Christoph Walt's character steals the show, ive never been so captivated by an actor in a film as this. Its a little bit too long, but its one of the best films ive seen in along time.
Dear Dr Kermode - I am surprised that you have not mentioned Leonardo DiCaprio's performance, or indeed Mr DiCaprio at all other than the fact that he is in the film. I fully agree with your assessment of all the other performances but feel that DiCaprio was up there with the rest of them. In particular, and in common with Samuel L. Jackson, he played completely against type (I believe this is the first villain he is ever played, if one discounts Shutter Island). Any particular reason for this?
In the same way I felt repelled by the gratuitous violence of Death Proof, I was repelled by Django Unchained. In Inglorious and pretty much all QT's previous, the violence was sparing and cathartic or mounted within a non-serious exploitation genre (ie. House of Blue Leaves scene). This time he showed images of attacks by wild dogs, whippings and lethal wrestling for the singular purpose of putting such unpleasantness on film.
Not 100 minutes, Mark. I've watched it three times now and It's the last 35 minutes which can be cut out. Pretty much the final act can be cut out but not 65 minutes! Also, I feel a lot of people lost some interest when Dicaprio and Waltz died. I'm certain Tarantino could have concluded the story there but he felt the need to drag it out.
Sam L Jackson should of been nominated for best supporting actor
DiCaprio's always great in his movies.
Hamilton7776 Everyone always is.
I think i will be waiting for the DVD or TV on that one .
The Good Doctor hit the nail right on the head...I had the same feeling watching D'jango. two thirds through, i felt exhausted that the film hadnt finished yet..i was completely satisfied by the "handshake" scene...and it turns out there is another half hour after that and that was a huge detriment to the film
Ok, the film is 165 minutes, and I admit that 15 or even 20 minutes can be thrown out of it more or less harmlessly, even to the benefir of the viewers. But to cut a whole hour? Come on, Mark, if you say it should be 100 min long, then which parts you would cut? As I watched Django, it didn't feel heavy or strained like Hobbit, and I wasn't tired or bored by the end of it.
he's condescending on Di Caprio, on Inception, he said something like he's growing up to be a rather good actor. In his Shutter Island review, he's like he's started to play more grown-up roles.....
I went in with low expectations as my friends (who usually like Tarantino films) said it was very boring and came out with those expectations shattered, I then watched the shards of these expectations fall into the gutter and down the sewers. I later found the expectations at the bottom of the Manchester Ship Canal. They knew I would pay them no remark so I left them there, where, for a while they would not harm anybody. Did I like this film? Do people like The Shaggs?
I dunno... Django for me gets better every time i watch it... putting Jamie fox and waltz together was a masterstroke of casting...i thought di caprio and Jackson absolutely nail their parts and i think the cinematography and soundtrack are georgous... I'm a western fanboy a tarantino fanboy so obviously i was always going to like it but still nobody can deny Django is a quality piece of filmmaking whether you think it's tarantinos best work that's a different matter
Excellent review.
only bit i don't like is the deus ex machina in regards to his testes, and the last part just not flowing with the rest of the film.
I agree entirely with Kermode's review of 'Django Unchained', and his opinion on Tarantino's cinema overall -- obviously a talented and original auteur, but his works are often blighted by self indulgence. 'Jackie Brown''s my favourite one too.
I was wrapped up in the story... Enjoying the movie.... & then Tarintino's "cameo" & Aussie accent killed the movie for me, dead.
I figured Mark wouldn't like this movie, obviously it being a Tarantino movie but the length too. I for one loved the movie start to finish.
Django Unchained may be overlong but the home stretch does contain some of the best laughs and Tarantino has said himself that he had his climax 25mins before the end of the film but he wanted it to have a kind of epoligue, so he wrote the ending while he was shooting the film. As for all the other matters concerning racism and slavery, the whole thing is a trashy revenge fantasy much like Kill Bill and Inglorious xxxxx that uses the southern slavery as a backdrop.
Honestly, I think Kermode was way too hard on this film. I mean the 'undiciplined' feel of the film, was hardly a flaw; it made the film less predictable, it added substance (showing Django's wit), and it made it feel more like a Sergio Corbucci film, which Trantino said inspired him. I get the feeling Mark is the sort of critic that enjoys more cohesive films; with more evenly-paced oments, while Tarantino films are not all that, the mess is what gives it character.
Wasn't Quentin supposed to talk on the program before this review? I thought he was supposed to talk to Kermode and Mayo for this. I wouldn't be suprised if Quentin backed out. Kermode said he'd ask why his recent films haven't lived up to the promise demonstrated in his early films.
he needed to be in the film. he addresses his own relation to the material, in a way, his intentions. blowing himself up was just... fantastic. it not a british thing to fell this way, its a 'frontier sentiment'.
Anyone who calls Jackie Brown Tarantino's weakest doesn't understand Tarantino.
It is weak. I couldn't care less what happens to any of the characters, that is really bad in a movie.
Think it’s one of his best
or maybe- now bear with me on this- film is subjective?
it is his weakest movie. Death Proof is better.
It is as good as the Godfather!
Simon actually nails it in one sentence. QT is incapable of addressing serious issues seriously. He's just not that Director.
Yep. The most brutal scenes in Kill Bill were done as anime. In OUATIH, he re-writes history to avoid the truth. QT is a great director, but he's intellectually and emotionally immature.
he did say "contemporary" too but at the same time slavery does have contemporary relevance
This scene actually isn’t at Candyland. It’s a scene in the city before they leave.
I thought it was absolutely amazing up until the shootout, and then it drops to 'pretty good' afterwards. Having watched it once, it feels like it could have ended there.
And yeah, Quentin's cameo is almost unbearable.
Some of these comments make me cringe
Whats wrong with kill bill?
it was a crappy movie
Way. Too. Long.
A lot
Too self indulgent, the 1st movie relies too much on exposition.
have you seen fear and desire?
I don't know if Mark hates Leo Dicaprio or there is some other reason ... but he often does not even mention him in his reviews ... also IMO Leo did a wonderful job in Django .... at least as good as Samuel Jackson if not better .....
I haven't seen this film yet but i have a gut feeling it will have the same great performances and problems QT has been doing for years.
I think he's spot on with this one. I found it really emotionally gripping at points, but the film takes so long to wrap up. When Tarantino pops up you think ahhh here we go. Would argue that the overuse of the N word is perfectly justified in its intent to grate at the viewer though.
Fantastic film, gripping, witty and beautifully portrayed baddies, Samuel L Jackson is awesome,
The Jonah Hill scene was excellent; and if it was a 2 hour film it would have been miles better.
What about QT's cameo performance?
Why did the film keep cutting to a mysterious character wearing a bandana on candy land? The character looked like a woman and it seemed like the film was hinting a climax involving her. She is shown looking at an old picture at some point? The film never revealed her!
I was thinking the same thing yesterday, as I was re-watching it. That character didn´t serve any purpose at all. She was simply a background.
After Tarantino comes on Screen there is only really the wrap-up... and also we wanna know how he gets out of the whole thing...
I'm a big QT fan, but even I get tired of the self importance he thinks he has. Kermode was bang on with his comments on the 'putting slavery up for debate' statement. Jesus, when was it Roots was made?
There was 20 minutes left when Tarantino showed up. It wasn't 2/3 into the movie.
I agree that Waltz is a great, but I feel like I'm just seing Hans Landa in a western. He speaks in the same manor and soforth.
The way he spliced in a clip of Django's snowman target practice right at the end of the film...Totally incongruous.
Samuel L J's character was challenging but I found myself wincing at gratitious use of 'N' word and was uncomfortable laughing at times.
I'd be interested to hear the opinions of African Americans on this point..
Little or no character development of Django who I found to be quite effete for a gunslinger!
Big Tarantino fan, Django is great but the last 30 mins do sumwat drag. Fox, Waltz, Dicaprio are excellent, Sam Jackson is also sublime
spot on
Excellent review by Kermode...
I completely agree with Mark Kermode.
Listen to di caprios accent. Perfection.
I love Tarantino, Pulp Fiction is one of my favorite films. Django Unchained suffered from uneven pacing and a deflated (even perfunctory) ending. The last 15 minutes just don't amount to a satisfying resolution to the narrative.
Did Mayo imply slavery doesn't matter or have contemporary relevance at the end there?
agree with Kermode a lot, but he definetly has a problem with Tarantino, he is very harsh when reviewing his movies,(for many reasons, that he expects better, that he fell out of love and etc) but QT is making exciting movies, films that bring the true meaning of a cinematic experience, also 2/3s of the way in, it was like 10 mins left of a 3hr movie, maths is taking a beating there...
I loved it (as you may have guessed) there was 10 mins that could have been shaved off perhaps.
really enjoyed it could cut maybe 15mins but that didnt ruin it in anyway for me. Was a really good movie
"Turns out there'd be a good reason for them both to go". No there isn't? It's just that if Django didn't go straight away and instead became part of a 2 team with Schultz then they'd both make big profit AND Schultz would help him getting his wife back.
spot on.
umm, have you seen fear and desire?
I enjoyed the movie but I totally agree with Kermode. Just before QT's cameo, Waltz, Di Caprio are dead and Django has been captured. And then from Tarantino's cameo through to rescuing his wife and killing Sam Jackson is rushed. There's hardly time to think. I love the KKK scene about the holes in the hoods though.
it hasn't been discussed enough on screen
The scene with the horse tricks?
I seriously don't understand how critics can drool over this movie.
Sure the film gets a bit saggy towards the end but I can always forgive it for that. No other film I've ever watched had me laughing as hard or recoiling with horror as Django unchained. Will always be one of my favourite films.
Everything that Mark said here makes perfect sense. However, I think he just needs to take a deep breath, lighten up and enjoy the ride. It's time to stop expecting profound masterpieces out of Tarantino.
"Something that matters..." f*ckin hell.
3.5 stars by Kermode. I think what would have given this film a 5 star rating, was if I cared for the characters that get killed in this movie.
I honestly thought it was brilliant. Christoph Waltz is the best thing to happen to the world of cinema in a good while. Also Samuel L Jackson showing want an amazing actor he really is. Jamie Foxx was perfect as Django and DiCaprio is a brilliant as the sinister villain. I thought it was a great film I really did and dare say it's Tarantino's best since Pulp Fiction. Perhaps could of been 20 minutes shorter but not much more. Tarantino's own performance was the only really negative.
This is exactly how I feel about his career. Jackie Brown is truly is best work to date.
It's not a film about slavery, it's about revenge.
Needlessly overlong with a tiresome third act? I think you are mistaken Django Unchained with Christopher Nolan's third Batman film, which you praised to the hills by the way.
Anyone else find it very emasculating to see basically Hans Landa being out villain-ed by DiCaprio. I still thought of Waltz as the fantastically dangerous Landa right up until DiCaprio starts getting the best of him.
Am I going insane or have they swapped offices again?