Django Unchained - Blu-Ray

Film: When Quentin Tarantino released his grindhouse homage Death Proof in theaters in 2007, some critics were already murmuring that he had already reached the zenith of his success and was nothing more than a weak copy of himself. But just two years later, the eccentric filmmaker proved all his critics wrong with Inglourious Basterds, a work that thrilled fans and critics alike and won over 70 film awards. A success, many were sure, that Tarantino would not be able to repeat anytime soon. But the director surprised again and delivered a small masterpiece with his latest film Django Unchained, which is his most successful film to date.

And there's a reason for that, as Tarantino once again manages to illuminate an inherently serious background with tremendous entertainment value while still telling a really good story. In the center of the story set two years before the outbreak of the American Civil War in the southern states of the United States is the slave Django (Jamie Foxx). The latter receives an enticing offer from German bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz): since Djagno knows what the murderous Brittle brothers, whom Schultz is currently hunting, look like, he should help the bounty hunter track them down. If successful, Schultz would give him his freedom. The collaboration between the disparate men is indeed successful and after a bloody confrontation with the Brittle brothers, Schultz makes good on his promise. But instead of going his own way now, Django settles on a new deal. Realizing that as a duo they are unbeatable, Schultz asks the now free slave to assist him in hunting down outlaws. In return, he will help Django free his wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) from the hands of ruthless plantation owner Clavin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). It is the beginning of an unusual friendship that threatens to end in a very big bloodbath...

In 1966, Franco Nero had made the character of Django an absolute cult and the epitome of the spaghetti western. Many films used the name Django purely for marketing reasons, without the character even appearing in them. But despite the over-inflated use of the name, it did nothing to change the cult character of Django, who has long fascinated Quentin Tarantino as well. For over a decade, he's been working to bring his very own spaghetti western to theaters. And those who know Tarantino know that no classic Western could come out of this.

Because in his latest film Tarantino once again mixes genres in a masterful way, telling the story of a slave in the best Western manner, filled with blood, humor and wonderful dialogue scenes. The fact that Tarantino is a great film lover can be seen in Django Unchained not only in the fact that he relies primarily on classic effects and does without CGI gimmicks or the currently so popular 3D optics. He also uses locations that make every Western fan's heart beat faster with joy and quotes directly or indirectly from various classics of different genres. And also the music plays again a very central role, whereby it seems at first sight no clear line with the selection of the pieces to give. Because besides classic soundtrack sounds (Ennio Morricone) Tarantino also spices up his film with 70s folk (Jim Croce), modern soul (John Legend) and contemporary hip hop (RZA). But what seems like a very strange mix actually works first-rate. Tarantino knows how to find the perfect musical background for every scene like no other. And with him, like the whole film, it has to be eclectic and a little crazy.

But what works even better than the music and the superb camerawork is the interplay between the actors and the script. Tarantino has penned a great script, which his perfectly chosen actors bring to life brilliantly. Christoph Waltz, who received his second Oscar for this role, does a particularly wonderful job. That there is a very special bond between Tarantino and the Austrian can be felt in almost every moment of the film in which King Schultz is seen. The way Waltz delivers Tarantino's words is a true revelation, worth every penny of the ticket price alone. But it's not just Christoph Waltz, his co-stars deliver nothing but first-rate here as well. Jamie Foxx, for instance, gives Django with an engaging mix of anger, desperation and coolness. Miami Vice beau Don Johnson is just as good as a racist big landowner, as is Samuel L. Jackson, aged very well by the makeup artists. But the real acting highlight of the film, alongside Christoph Waltz, is delivered by Leonardo DiCaprio. As the smarmy Calvin Candie with yellow teeth and an irascible temper, DiCaprio is simply mercilessly good. That there was no Oscar nomination for this is a real shame, as this performance would have been the perfect opportunity to finally honor DiCaprio's talent with a long overdue Oscar.

Often, long dialogue scenes aren't the strongest moments in a film, and can also contribute to awkward lengths. Tarantion's Death Proof is a perfect example of this. But here, it's a very different story. Even though there is some action, which also has a very high entertainment value due to its completely over the top brutality, it's the long dialogues that make up the quality of the movie. Because it doesn't get really exciting when the air becomes leaded, but when the protagonists duel with their words. The big climax is a dinner at Candie's, where both Waltz and DiCaprio are at their acting best.

Humor that is never flat, but in its best moments extremely biting (a scene with completely stupid Ku Klux Klan members is undoubtedly the highlight here), wonderful dialogue, first-class actors and a perfect symbiosis of images and music make Django Unchained, despite its considerable running time, an extremely entertaining, amusing but also exciting film that is certainly one of Tarantino's best works. A very big cinema highlight of 2013, which should not be missing in any good home cinema collection. Not only for Western and Tarantino fans absolutely recommendable!!!

Picture + Sound: From a technical point of view, the Blu-Ray implementation can fully convince. The excellent sharpness of the picture allows many small details of the wonderful set and costumes to come into their own well, the film blood splashes across the screen very powerfully thanks to the good colour scheme and the contrast and black levels have also been implemented very well. The DTS-HD Master Audio mix makes for a very atmospheric soundscape, with a great surround feel especially during the leaden finale. Very good!

Extras: In terms of bonus material, however, the Blu-ray disappoints a little. Only three short documentaries and two promos are offered to the viewer here. In addition to an insight into the work of costume designer Sharen Davis (approx. 12 min.) and the horse and stunt trainers (approx. 14 min.), there is also a tribute to the set designer J. Michael Riva (approx. 13 min.), who died during filming, which also features the last interview with Marlene Dietrich's grandson. These short documentaries are all interesting and worth seeing, but for a film like this, about the making of which there is certainly much more worth knowing, just 40 minutes of bonus footage are simply too little. In addition, it is noticeable that there is hardly anything to hear and see from Quentin Tarantino himself, which leaves a somewhat strange aftertaste, especially in the featurette about J. Michael Riva.

Two promos on the Tarantino XX Blu-ray Collection (approx. 1:25 min.) and on the soundtrack (approx. 0:22 min.) then already conclude the additional offer.

Conclusion: Django Unchained is Quentin Tarantino's most commercially successful film to date, which has also been awarded two Oscars, two Golden Globes and many other awards - and quite rightly so. Wonderful dialogue, great acting and fantastic imagery make this homage to the spaghetti western quite a treat that still works extremely well in home theaters. This disc is an absolute must-have despite the rather weak additional features!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp