Django Unchained (4/16/2013)

Rated R for strong graphic violence throughout, a vicious fight, language and some nudity.

Starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson and Walton Goggins

Directed by Quentin Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill)

Django Unchained is the “good,” the “bad,” and the “ugly” of movies.

Set in the South two years before the Civil War, Django Unchained stars Academy Award-winner Jamie Foxx as Django, a slave whose brutal history with his former owners lands him face-to-face with German-born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Academy Award-winner Christoph Waltz). Schultz is on the trail of the murderous Brittle brothers, and only Django can lead him to his bounty. The unorthodox Schultz acquires Django with a promise to free him upon the capture of the Brittles – dead or alive. Success leads Schultz to free Django, though the two men choose not to go their separate ways. Instead, Schultz seeks out the South’s most wanted criminals with Django by his side.

Some films are relatively easy to review. That’s because for me, films are either “good” or “bad.” But what do you do when the film is both “good” and “bad”? (Rhetorical question.)

Let’s jump in and talk about the “good,” the “bad,” and the “ugly” (for all of you Sergio Leone fans).

Let’s start with the good. The cast truly is amazing. Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Samuel L. Jackson are some of the most talented and recognizable actors in Hollywood today. I could literally listen to Christoph Waltz describe paint drying for hours.

The story itself falls into both the good and the bad category. It’s good because it’s well written, smart and clever. At the same time it is uncomfortable, disturbing and a very rough subject matter. Need I remind you… it is written and directed by Quentin Tarantino.

Let’s talk more “bad.” Two words… violence and language. I was about halfway through the film and thought to myself, “boy this really isn’t that violent.” Moments later all hell broke loose. There was literally more blood in a 10 minute scene than in the entire Jack Reacher film. There are also graphic scenes involving slaves fighting and being abused. Then there is the language. With over 35 f-words, 20 s-words, and some other infrequent uses of milder profanities. But that’s not all; the film contains over 100 uses of the “N” word, and even more other racial slurs.

And finally the ugly… Quentin Tarantino makes a cameo. Enough said.

So how to score it? Critics will call it brilliant, but it’s hard for me to mark “art” brilliant when it has me cringing through violence and language. Many of you will want to just skip this film. But considering the “good,” the “bad,”… and even the “ugly”… I’ll score it a mere “Rental.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
Definitely not. I don’t think kids should see any Quentin Tarantino films. There is way too much violence, language, nudity and adult subject matter.

CONVERSATION STARTER
Even though we might not show this film to our own kids, some of the young people we know will definitely go see this one. Here’s some conversation starters you can use to dialogue about this film.

1. How did you respond seeing the graphic images of slavery and how slaves were treated?


2. How did Dr. Schultz respond?


3. What could or should he have done?


4. Have you ever witnessed someone being mistreated? Tell me what happened.


5. How did you respond?


6. Read James 4:17
   
   Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
   
   How can you do the “right thing” this week?