Recently viewing the much controversial film "DJANGO", I must admit, it wasn't what I thought it would be. I imagined a "ROOTS" like slave storyline, but with the character named DJANGO, fighting to find the love of his life. What I got was "the revenge of the black slave" like storyline -- which I'm not mad at lol!
The film was almost 3 hours long, just about as long as the film "Malcolm X", but what both films have in common is -- the storyline never slowed down and both equally had much drama, excitement, and laughter with jaw dropping moments!
Actor Jaime Foxx did an excellent job playing the lead role, and actor Samuel L. Jackson couldn't have been a better "uncle Tom". Mr. Jackson made you HATE him, and that's usually the sign of a great actor who plays a villainous role.
Mr. Jackson was so impressive in his role, that I almost felt he played the part on purpose to prove a point. Actor Christoph Waltz played a German bounty hunter who helped DJANGO find his wife. Waltz and Foxx, were the perfect "ebony and ivory" team who worked cohesively to bring about justice.
Actress Kerry Washington (who played Broomhilda and DJANGO's wife) was the prize to find throughout the film; had limited appearances, however, when she did act her scenes were very emotional and dramatically strong.
Before viewing the film I read a few previews that actor Leonardo DiCaprio (who plays plantation owner Calvin Candie), had many emotional hang ups over the usage of the word "nigg*@".
If that were the case you couldn't tell in the movie because Mr. DiCaprio, did an excellent job playing a slave master. He was barbaric enough, evil enough, dirty enough and corrupt enough to give you the full imagery of what slave masters were like back in those days.
Understandably DiCaprio would be upset to speak such a word because he deems Foxx and Jackson to be friends, but as actor Jaime Foxx honestly stated, "It's supposed to, it's supposed to bother you. Those horrific things that happened to us, is supposed to bother you."
I've never in my life seen a slave movie quite like this, but I must say, it did give me great pleasure to watch DJANGO get revenge on the slave masters and overseers, is that bad?
I felt as if I were watching an awesome cowboys and Indians film, but with the slaves finally being victorious in the end! There was much more blood and guts then I expected, and I was most surprised when Jaime Foxx went bald eagle while an overseer attempted to castrate him!
Actor/director Spike Lee, was livid about the usage of the degrading n-word in this film, and publicly stated he wouldn't go see it as it "is disrespectful to his ancestors."
I understand Spikes' view on the disrespect part, however, the word usage in the film is absolutely reminiscent of slavery no matter how much it hurts to hear it. Is Mr. Lee so upset over the word usage because the director of the film is white, or because he didn't think to do the film first? Just wondering. Love you Mr. Lee!
All
in all this film didn't depict exactly how slavery was, but it gave
you just enough to understand the climate in which African Americans
lived.
Much kudos to director/writer Quentin Tarantino, for
having the cojones to publicize such a film.
I recommend anyone (except children) to go see this movie!
2013 LA
