Was ‘Django Unchained’ inspired by the boardgame ‘Candyland’?: A complete breakdown and review of the Tarantino’s polarizing ode to Spaghetti Westerns
This is Quentin Tarantino's official ode to Spaghetti Westerns. He had previously explored elements of the genre in 'Kill Bill: Volume 2', but here he goes full boar.
He uses the historic travesty that was the American slave trade as his backdrop. It is with this subject matter that he can showcase the grit, horror and gore that was synonymous with spaghetti western films.
That "post apocalyptic" wasteland feel of a world in disrepair. Packed to the rim with power mad heathens who lack compassion for their fellow man. And then the most terrifying truth being that it's those very lunatics who run this particular Asylum.
Enter "Django". A recently freed slave turned bounty hunter on a quest to save his beloved bride from the clutches of a spoiled rich boy with rotten teeth.
His bride is being held in a castle of sorts located at the center of a realm called "Candyland". So needless to say, Tarantino isn’t trying to hide the fact that 'Django Unchained" is a fairytale. And I’m not 100% unconvinced that this entire idea didn’t come to Tarantino while playing a round of the board game 'Candyland’.
There are more hidden cameos in this film than in the rest of Tarantino's filmography combined. You have to stay to the end credits to find out who was all on board though. A lot of them are unrecognizable due to the use of muck filled makeup jobs, hobo-esque beard hair or mask covered faces.
When it comes to this particular 'Django' film one thing is for certain, and that thing is as follows. Sam Jackson derserved an Oscar for his performance as Calvin Candie’s righthand devil in disguise "Stephen".
True, some of his performance was the result of a Pitch Perfect makeup job but most of it was due to the way that Jackson wore that makeup. The way that he would scrunch his face into a hate-filled suspicious scowl, sureveying the room and each of its occupants.
Almost as if his face was it's own unpredictable character. It is through this brilliant inaudible acting choice that the viewer can hear every word the actor is saying by facial expressions alone. Now that's acting.
Plot wise the movie loses me a bit in its third act with the decision to have Schultz kill Calvin Candie. I just didn't buy it. It didn't make sense to me that such a rational and compassionate character would put Django and his bride in that position.
Not to mention the rest of the slaves in the house. They were almost out the door. Free and clear with everything they had gone to "Candyland" for. And then out of a foolishly prideful act of refusing to shake hands, he dooms his friend to a fate worse than death? Sorry, that kind of logic is a no-go for me.
Fortunately, they use old school Squibs in this film and they are the squishiest squibs I ever did see. It’s almost like everybody bleeds Hawaiian Punch in this world. Every time somebody was shot all I could hear was "How bout' a nice Hawaiian punch!". I half expected the punch bowl guy to break through the wall during the Candyland Castle shootout. Which was by the way potentially the most blood drenched scene I’ve ever witnessed. Right up there with the lawn mower sequence at the end of Peter Jackson’s 'Dead Alive’.
Tarantino pops up in two separate cameos this time around. In the first one he is unrecognizable wearing a bag on his head. But the one where he plays an Australian mercenary of sorts is the most awkward and unnecessary. So much so that it is a welcomed treat to see that particular character explode before our very eyes leaving nothing but a flaming hole of regret.
The story goes that the actor who was supposed to play the Australian mercenary didn’t show up that day (or something) so Tarantino had no choice but to play the role himself. While I do believe that story to be true, I would also throw in the possibility that Tarantino saw an opportunity to show off his kooky Australian accent and being his hammy self couldn’t resist to jump at the chance.
This film is also a bit top heavy. That is to say that it's first act would have benefitted from a trimming. That is where you really feel the film's massive running time. Especially given that the true movie doesn't start until Django and Schultz arrive at "Candyland". RIP Sally Menke.