Django Unchained

Tali: Django Unchained is the latest from writer/director Quentin Tarantino - so you know right off the hop, that amongst the blood and guts (and there is a TON of blood and guts), that you will be subjected to treated to three hours (!!!) of a revenge fantasy based on a historical and colonial subject. Though there is lots of violence, the spaghetti western genre allows for such parody to take place that for most of the movie, you are able to stare excitedly as violence ensues. Because of the parody, however, lots of people are concerned/upset/uppity regarding the historical background (which may or may not be fairly accurate) portrayed in this way. A complete 180 from Zero Dark Thirty (which is facing similar criticism), Django can be pulled off because people need their revenge fantasies, and people need it to be accessible. That being said, if you are looking for a very informed and important discussion on race, violence, power and cinematic theory in Django (which you should be), than I highly suggest you read the Feminist Wire.

Leo: This was an amazing movie. Tarantino is unmatched in creating movies that really hit their mark in terms of intention and entertainment in perfect balance. If you come into this movie thinking you are going to get an informed and historically accurate slave movie and then did not like the movie because of that, then I pity you. Tarantino is an artist who tells the truth through untruths. He shows how stupid racism is by parodying the KKK. He shows how terrible slavery is through graphic torture and the attitudes of the characters (whether it's accurate or not is irrelevant). And he shows how amazing it would be to get revenge on those sons of bitches who caused so much harm to so many innocent people. None of the things in this movie actually happened, yet you feel an underlying appreciation for the situation and a sense of justice when he kills all of those murderous slave-owners. Unlike Zero Dark Thirty, this movie does not start with a sweeping statement saying "this is based on a true story". Zero Dark Thirty's credibility lies on the truth of their facts and accuracy, however; Django's does not. Apart from the crazy story, the acting was incredible. It is a shame that all three of Sam Jackson, Leo Decaprio, and Christof Waltz will not get nominated and win, because all of their performances were amazing. See this movie.