Dumb Dad and I went to see Django: Unchained a few days before New Year’s.
We’d been wanting to go since Christmas, and finally begged asked Mimi to watch the Dudes to give us a chance to catch it.
Initial reaction: FANTASTIC!
Delayed reaction: fantastic!
What we think about it today: fan-freaking-tastic!
Everything from the classic vulgarity and blood-soaked violence that is Quentin Tarantino, to the soundtrack was pleasing to us.
We immensely enjoyed both the film and the opportunity to see it together in the movie theater like a couple of grown ups.
And then I heard about the controversy surrounding it.
Which made me recall the older white lady who walked out in the middle of it (who was arguably maybe just leaving because her bladder couldn’t handle the action, or the blood, or the language).
Which got me to thinking that people are crazy maybe I should learn more about this controversy business after all.
After spending a strong 30 minutes of my alone time with Google, I decided a Real Talk was in order. Here’s what you need to know…
What is Django: Unchained?
Django: Unchained (the D is silent) is a Quentin Tarantino western released December 25th, 2012. It has grossed over $112 million dollars since it’s release. The film follows a slave (Jamie ‘Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol’ Fox), freed by a bounty hunter (Chris Waltz, the bad guy from Water for Elephants) who trains him in the fine art of cold blood killing bounty hunting. The two form an unlikely, but very likable partnership to track down and then rescue Django’s wife, the German-named slave, Bromhilda (Kerry nothing-clever-to-say-here Washington) who had been sold away from Django after the two tried to escape. Multiple times. Thereby completely pissing off their owners. Lots of people die dramatic deaths, some more brutally than others, Jamie Fox shows his junk (Google doesn’t prove it’s real, but maybe?), and Leonard DiCaprio is in it looking fly while also being pretty freaking evil (I will never eat white cake again). The film takes place in 1858, when slavery was still getting buck in America.
What is the controversy?
People don’t like hearing the word n*gger, particularly not when it’s said over a hundred times in the course of a 180 minute film. Never mind that the film was about slavery and set during a time period when owning slaves and calling them n*ggers was a common and widely accepted practice in the American south. The fact that people where treated as property, handled inhumanely, and called vicious names just because doesn’t go away just because people don’t like it. It’s an ugly part of our history that really just happened. Feel uncomfy with if you must, but one’s personal discomfort with it won’t change the fact that it occurred. That being said, some critics feel as though Quentin Tarantino’s light approach to film making in general and this film specifically (it’s been called a spaghetti western, which doesn’t mean just that it was tasty), make his use (and arguable overuse) of the word and the topic both offensive and disrespectful. It’s not so much that the word is used in a film about slavery that’s making people’s panties twist, it’s more the fact that the movie had other unsavory and fun elements that detract from the significance of the topic of slavery and human debasement as it lived in the South in the 1800s.
Oh, and the dolls. Possibly the Django dolls were a bad idea.
Why should you just see the movie anyway?
Because it is good dammit! Really, really good. Entertaining. Intriguing. Even, somewhat educational. The music is killer. The acting is phenomenal. The plot is enthralling. And, if you already enjoy the film making of Mr. Tarantino, you will likely think this film is more of his good work. Don’t believe me? You should, but you don’t have to. The people who actually know actual stuff about actually critiquing films tend to agree. Django has been nominated for 5 Golden Globes and 4 Academy Awards. It was named one of AFI’s best movies of 2012. Even the NAACP has given Django some love (in yo face with a can of mace Spike Lee).
My official opinion: Django: Unchained was my second favorite movie of 2012. Right behind Breaking Dawn. Nothing comes before Twilight. Nothing.
love tarantino films!
Totally off subject but you did you cancel book club? I logged in but never found a current discussion….. And didn’t know that you picked a book earlier either lol. I can’t keep up!! Toddler is killing me!!
No! We had it! Were you there at 8:30 EST? We have it again this Sunday if you want to join! The book is spectacular! http://www.thecopia.com/conversations/topic.html?topicId=3402&postId=13185&p=p12000028588
You almost had me, until you admitted that your fav movie of the year was Breaking Dawn. All movie-related advice from you is now taken with a grain of salt. Sorry, but you know it’s true!
But seriously, I like Tarantino. He always pushes the envelope, especially with what is considered “tasteful”. I’ll see the movie and judge for myself!
As a diehard Twi-hard I just have to stay loyal to my crew. Aside from that, Django was better. It just was.
I still haven’t seen it but my SIL and I plan to this week (knock all the wood so that we can make it happen.) I knew there’d be controversy during whatever awards show it was last year when Jamie announced the trailer. All I can say to the people angry about Tarantino telling the story (look up the story!) is that if you’re looking at anyone in Hollywood, man/woman/black OR WHITE to tell a 100% actual account of slavery, it ain’t gonna happen and you probably just need to read some books.
Yeah, getting accuracy on any subject in film form is unlikely. No one would sit in a theater for 8 hours while they bring The Hobbit to life. And, it wouldn’t even be interesting!
Django was pure genius. The man and I totally digged it. And did you really place it second to Breaking Dawn?!?! I’m a little disappointed at that, but I will let it slide since we share mutual love for Justin Timberlake.
I will say that I was mostly joking about the Breaking Dawn thing. As a lifelong Twi-Hard, no movie will ever be ranked above a Twilight franchise film despite the facts of the matter:).
I like Tarantino, he’s always about the controversy. I hope to see it at some point, before it comes out on Dvd. Quick trivia info for you the term “Spaghetti Western” actually comes from the fact that Westerns were filmed in Italy. But the number one film on my list to see is Les Miserable.
I had no clue what the movie was about and what the controversy over it was.
100+ times is a bit excessive for any word, right? There are certain movies where I think I should start counting f-words just out of curiosity.
Twilight? Really, girl? Hunger Games was so much better.
Hunger Games was awesome. I am a Twi-Hard, it comes first, always. :)
And I think part of it was to show that they didn’t even think of them as individual people with names. The word itself was used instead of he, she, they, etc.
I never (ok, rarely) get to see movies in the theater anymore (just too expensive), but I’ve had Django on my Netflix que since I read about it in Entertainment Weekly last fall. Love QT and all his horribly over-the-top and inappropriate everything. That’s why he’s great. He doesn’t edit. For nobody. Can’t wait to see it!
Oh, and before you put Twighlight at the top of your list, see Beasts of the Southern Wild. That little 5-year-old can out-act Kristen Stewart’s left tit.
Beasts of the Southern Wild?! Why haven’t I heard of this.
I remember ever single detail of where I was when I saw Pulp Fiction the first time. It’s one of my all-time favorites. The dance scene w/ Uma Thurman and John Travolta…genius. I just don’t know if I can handle Django! Everyone says its good. I think I’ll give it a try. Gotta support Jamie Fox!
Yes! And, he does an amazing job just like so many of the other actors in the film. I’m so disappointed DiCaprio and Jackson didn’t get a nomination from the Academy this year; I thought they both did excellent.
Thanks for sharing this. I had no idea what the movie was about but heard a little about the controversy. I agree that a story about slaves will include that word because that was part of life back then. My family and I (mostly I) watched Roots over the holidays and I heard the n word more in an hour than I had heard it in a year!
Roots was controversial when it came out too. It’s so good though.
Mickey is probably going to go alone, because my kids aren’t watching Tarantino. I can’t stand to watch people get beat up. It makes me throw up.
Did you see Jamie on the cover of Men’s Fitness? wow.
I’m glad you wrote this. It sounds to me like it’s an important film and I totally agree. Just because it makes her uncomfortable doesn’t mean it’s not accurate. The reason she’s uncomfortable is because she can’t convince herself it isn’t.
Yeah, there are some disturbing images related to slavery in the film. Like with dogs and whips. Probably don’t want to watch.
I thought I had heard the other reason that the film was “controversial” was because it was a release of a film with lots of gun violence (I know, I know…. it fits the era) right after Newtown. At least that’s what I heard here….
But okay- now that you’ve given it the DumbMom thumbs up- I’m sure I’ll being adding it to my Netflix Queue!
Hmmm, I actually hadn’t heard that. I mean they were shooting with period guns to it’s not at all comparative. I didn’t draw any relation or similarity to that at all and I haven’t heard that comparison. Either way, it was a highly entertaining piece of work.
Get Beasts of the Southern Wild in Netflix. It’s beautiful. Indie film. Little girl who stars in it is the youngest actor ever to be nominated for an Oscar (she was 5 when it was filmed). You’ll be seeing a lot of her as Oscar approaches.
I also saw this film with my husband and a group of friends. I absolutely loved it! Being a negro myself i went in being prepared to have to throw some elbows but all went well. I do live in Montreal after all. My husband stayed awake the ENTIRE movie which is his threshold for judging how good a film is! Nothin’ but love for Django!!