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DJANGO UNCHAINED PAU L B E R R I N GTO N Once the coolest writer in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino seemed to get a little flabby around the edges after Kill Bill, losing the knack for slick dialogue and the brilliant use of character that made his earlier films so addictive. While still indulging in the blatant sampling of other films, and managing to confuse the past with pure fantasy, Django Unchained is an incredibly entertaining film that easily bounces from spaghetti western to historical drama within the space of a scene. It’s 1858, and a group of slaves is interrupted by one Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), a German dentist and bounty hunter on the trail of the Brittle brothers. One of the slaves, Django ( Jamie Foxx), reluctantly admits that he knows the men, and after an altercation with his keepers, is freed by Schultz. The two men form a bond and soon Django is helping Schultz take out his duties while being trained as a gunfighter, tracker and gentlemen. Eventually they are led to brutal plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), who holds Django’s wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), and show interest in Candie’s Mandingo fighting trade as a disguise to win her back at any cost. Candie’s sadistic and loyal house slave, Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson), suspects the men aren’t what they seem, bringing about a climax as over the top as you’d expect from a Tarantino film.
The ensemble cast, and in particular the class of DiCaprio and Waltz help the film remain incredibly tense and thrilling even in the most absurd moments. Dr. Schultz is in many ways a contrived character, yet Waltz brings an authenticity to the role, allowing his ‘buddy’ relationship with Django to stay believable and entertaining. It is also great to see DiCaprio in a supporting role, given the freedom to indulge in a little overacting, and bringing the malevolent yet charming, Calvin Candie to the screen with some flair. If anything the character of Django is a little underwritten, yet Foxx does all he can with the role, and in the end it is this understatement that allows the final scenes to function, as Django gets his revenge. The real star of the show here though is Tarantino - whose only crime is to cast himself - and the sheer energy he brings to the screen. It’s like watching a bunch of tremendously entertaining ‘B’ movie scripts thrown in the blender to create one epic freak out. The violence is intense, some of the ideas even more so, and around every corner lays a new plot strain or character, recalling the set pieces of Sergio Leone, and the emotional realism of William Faulkner’s writing. Django Unchained is thrill ride from start to finish, a crowd favourite that deserves to be, and easily the best film Tarantino has made in the last decade.
DJANGO UNCHAINED ( 2012 ) 4/5 Director Quentin Tarantino Starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz,
Leonardo DiCaprio, and Samuel L. Jackson.
LANEWAYS FESTIVAL SOPHIE FR ANCIS Laneway Festival on Monday 28 January 2013 was held at Auckland’s Silo Park. A mostly whole-day festival, it kicked off at midday until its completion at 10.30pm. A better day couldn’t have been had, with picture perfect weather to roll out the summer vibe. Getting through the gates was a breeze compared to 2013, where an hour had been spent lining up and waiting in the scorching sun . Soon after entry the beautiful sounds of Policia could be heard, but unfortunately due to the standard admin one must complete when arriving at a festival;
going to the toilet, lining up to get a coupon to buy a drink, having a quick look through the markets etc. I didn’t get to see Policia’s set. Laneway Festival was bigger than past year. Attendance was at 6000 compared to 5000 in 2012, but it felt like more in the blistering heat. Luckily, there was also considerably more shade this year to shelter. The music for the day really started with Of Monsters & Men, who played a really powerful set in the blazing sun on the main Mysterex Stage. Alt-J came on a bit later and delivered an amazing live show. They played most of their tunes off their debut album An Awesome Wave and really showed why they are one of the most unique bands of recent times, being described by a few critics as the next Radiohead. Their incredible sound resonated from the stage and the crowds love was apparent when they sung their hits ‘Breezeblocks’ and ‘Fitzpleasure’. Shortly after Alt-J finished, there was a bit of an issue with the bars running out of beers and cider. This then eventuated to only bourbon sales, to running out of alcohol completely. It was ridiculous & pretty embarrassing for the organisers & frustrating for us attendees. It was a H2O affair after that. The food options (pizza, hotdogs, Thai and Turkish) were extremely varietal and were a real highlight of the festival. Back into the music and next up was Flume who were playing in the same spot as SBTRKT last year, the playground stage at the
very back of the festival. SBTRKT were a standout last year, so there were high hopes for Flume to replicate that memory. Flume delivers the kind of music expected from a seasoned music professional, not a 22 year old newbie from Australia. His electronic sound mixed with hip hop with a range of different vocalists creates a dance floor that you want to be a part of. Half way through his set the sun began to set behind the stage, which was visually incredible to be a part of. It’s safe to say he didn’t disappoint. The headline of the festival, Tame Impala’s psychedelic rock sound reminded us all why we brought our tickets. Jay Watson on drums was the standout with his intense solos which seemed to be the centre of the band’s performance, which really showcased his talent. “Half Glass Full of Wine” was a highlight of their set. Nicolas Jaar ended the night with his electronic, deep house sound which included a live saxophonist & drummer. It was a good way to end the day with his changeup of slow then fast beats, although his downbeat music was a bit too heavy for the crowd at times. Nevertheless, you can’t deny his talent at using a bunch of different sounds to create music that delivers with intensity. Laneway 2013 - apart from the lack of alcohol after 6pm, I give you a tu meke & a thumbs up. It’s the kind of festival where you know you’re in the presence of watching the next big thing in music and that’s not something to take for granted.
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