Django Unchained
Dir: Quentin Tarantino
2012
***
Django Unchained is another example of QT reworking classic genres, in this case Spaghetti Westerns, Exploitation and Blaxploitation movies. It also sees him adding his own interpretation to the Django series, much like he did with Inglorious Basterds but with fewer changes. It's fine. Nowhere near as good as his last few films but fine. The problem for me was that it was way too long. It really didn't have enough content to warrant the length, it's pure self indulgence on QT's part. That's fine though, he's one of the few directors who can get away with that sort of thing but for me it just wasn't on the same level as his other work, it just wasn't particularly different or clever. We all knew the big QT scenes were coming, usually there is more to them, the journey to the bloodbath is usually more colourful, more playful. In Django Unchained it seems to be a case of 'Okay, enough of the story, an unnecessary violent scene is overdue!' The overall story and sub-plots end up forgotten about and ultimately pointless by the end. The performances are good but frankly any number of actors working today could have achieved the same, some maybe even better. If it was any other director people would admit that it was all a bit of a mess but there is enough to enjoy, I just never got particularly excited.