The characters in the movie are complex. Some are clearly more believable and more closely aligned with logic than others. Jamie Foxx plays Django, who is the lead character and former slave turned bounty hunter. His love interest, Broomhilda, is played by Kerry Washington. She is extremely talented and her popularity has blossomed as of late because of her role in the hit television show, Scandal. Leonardo DiCaprio plays a slave owner named Calvin Candie. Samuel L. Jackson plays the "head Negro" on Candie's plantation, Stephen.
"Django" has elicited a great deal of controversy. Spike Lee has called the movie "disrespectful" but also stated that he has not viewed the movie. He has taken issue with Tarantino's use of the racial epithet "nigger" in the past. However, in a movie set in the 1850's Antebellum south, the racial epithet is probably a reasonable choice. Though, its use over 100 times in the movie may be a little excessive. Other people are quite naturally sensitive about a movie that indirectly deals with slavery. But, again, "Django" is a love story that happens to be set in the Antebellum south. That said, you have to view the movie through the proper lens. If you are expecting a historically accurate account of slavery and a likewise serious tone throughout the movie, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. If you view the movie as a love story and not as a historically accurate account of slavery, I think you will be able to look past possible historical inaccuracies and humor filled, inappropriate moments.
I would not be surprised at all if multiple actors from the movie win an Oscar, or at least be nominated for the award. Jamie Foxx did an excellent job playing Django "the slave." He did an even better job playing Django the slave handler/bounty hunter. He looked the part and spoke the part. I also like how he let his true feelings about slavery and slave owners surface at certain times. He used his status as a free man to make remarks to Candie that would have otherwise led to his death.
Kerry Washington nailed her role as Broomhilda. She and Django were married before they were sold at a slave auction after attempting to flee. She wore the scar of an "r" on her face for "runaway" and the scars on her back from a vicious whipping she endured. The whipping scene was one of the most gut wrenching scenes in the movie. Her tears and screams during the scene are hard to capture in words. The look in her eyes during that scene captured the fear, pain, and despair that must have been shared by many slaves. The scene sent chills up my spine.
Leonardo DiCaprio's portrayal of Calvin Candie, the slave owner, was excellent. I hated what Calvin Candie represented. On the one hand, he had a slave mistress, but on the other hand, he ordered a runaway slave to be eaten alive by rabid dogs. What a character and I believe there were many just like him during slavery. To him, the slaves were nothing more than investments in his business of slave trade. His fascination with Mandingo fighting and his abuse of the racial epithet "nigger" only added to my disdain for his character.
Samuel L. Jackson's portrayal of Stephen was by far the most disgusting of all the characters. I hated his character and everything he represented. He was lower than Candie. Stephen was the head Negro at the "Big House." He was a slave but because Candie gave him a certain degree of control over the other slaves, he thought he was better than them. He reminded me of a court jester. When Candie laughed, he laughed louder. When he first met Django, he hated him more than his master hated slaves. He represented the lowest of the low. But, unfortunately, his character was likely a true depiction of many head house negros. As much as I hated his character, he had some of the funniest lines in the movie. I almost felt bad for laughing because I hated him so much. Of all the roles in the movie, Stephen's may have been the most difficult to portray. I cannot imagine how Samuel Jackson was able to get into that character, but he nailed it because I hated him!!!!
I recommend this movie. It is a different spin on a love story and its hero is a former slave who becomes a bounty hunter.
Peace
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