Best Pictures Nominees — 'Django Unchained'

My look at the Best Picture nominees continues with a film by Quentin Tarantino.

Django Unchained
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, and Kerry Washington
Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay (Tarantino), Best Supporting Actor (Waltz), Best Cinematography, and Best Sound Editing
Synopsis: Tarantino is no stranger to controversy or to Best Picture nominations. "Django Unchained" represents his third film nominated for Best Picture. Some think "Pulp Fiction," which earned the honor in 1994, is his best film. Personally, I think his greatest masterpiece was "Inglorious Basterds," which earned a nomination in 2009 and earned an Academy Award for Waltz. That was a genius film on a number of levels and could easily have earned the top prize. "Django Unchained" is a great film, but it's not as good as either of Tarantino's other Best Picture contenders. In a weaker year, you could see this film contending for the top prize, but in this loaded year I think the best shot at an award is for Waltz, again, in the Best Supporting Actor category. He won the award at the Golden Globes, where Tarantino also won a writing award for "Django." It's possible that could happen again here, but it's hard to tell how Academy voters will feel about this film, it's controversial subject matter and the way Tarantino has conducted himself in interviews the past six weeks. You'd like to think these awards are about the work, but the Academy Awards has always been a highly political process. This is a violent, politically incorrect film that comes out at a time when the political climate is highly charged. That's unfortunate. It has little to do with the film itself, but it does seem to have an impact on its chances. In terms of the work, "Django Unchained" is a fascinating film. The writing is strong, the characters are interesting and it's a very engrossing film — at least until the final act. That's where it breaks down a bit and becomes a hyper-violent revenge fantasy. That doesn't dissuade me from liking it, but I think it weakens the overall presentation a bit. In terms of performances, while Waltz earned the nod it's hard to separate his work from that of Jackson and DiCaprio, except to say that Waltz plays a more noble character. That, in the end, may have been the difference in voting. Waltz is exceptional, don't get me wrong, I just think some of the other performances — especially when considering they were playing against type — were equally good. This is the kind of film that isn't for everyone, but Tarantino knows his audience, knows his skills, and has worked hard the past few years to hone his craft. It's all on display here with yet another fascinating and challenging film.
Rating: R for strong graphic violence throughout, a vicious fight, language and some nudity.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.