1) Django Unchained.
Once again, Tarantino has produced another cocktail of black comedy and hard violence. This time set in the style of western exploitation. Like Inglorious Basterds, he plays loose and fast with history. E.g. the titular Django and his partner Christoph Waltz are ambushed by klansmen......the film is set in 1858. While not as revisionist as the murder of Hitler, its more than enough to tic off a few history buffs. Tonally, the film bounces back and forth between gritty violence and slapsticky humor. Its not bad, but it can be a little jarring to see Waltz toy with a few slave owners and then seeing huge squibs of blood fly across the screen no less than five seconds after. Also, the film drags in the third act, I half expected the film to conclude but then it continued for another 20 minutes. But regardless, the film had some excellent performances from Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz and espescially Leonardo Di Caprio as the head of Candy Land (watch the movie). If you like Tarantino's output post Jackie Brown, this movie will not disappoint.
Once again, Tarantino has produced another cocktail of black comedy and hard violence. This time set in the style of western exploitation. Like Inglorious Basterds, he plays loose and fast with history. E.g. the titular Django and his partner Christoph Waltz are ambushed by klansmen......the film is set in 1858. While not as revisionist as the murder of Hitler, its more than enough to tic off a few history buffs. Tonally, the film bounces back and forth between gritty violence and slapsticky humor. Its not bad, but it can be a little jarring to see Waltz toy with a few slave owners and then seeing huge squibs of blood fly across the screen no less than five seconds after. Also, the film drags in the third act, I half expected the film to conclude but then it continued for another 20 minutes. But regardless, the film had some excellent performances from Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz and espescially Leonardo Di Caprio as the head of Candy Land (watch the movie). If you like Tarantino's output post Jackie Brown, this movie will not disappoint.
2) Zero Dark Thirty
My Kathrin Biegolow Cherry was popped and damn was it done right. A thriller that didn't move too fast or plod- it was just right. Jessica Chastain is a compelling protagonist and the heft of Boal's script get you enraptuered in this woman's quest to find Bin Laden. A personal highlight are the interrogation scenes, CIA operatives do not play when it comes to retrieving information. I will never put my child in a box ever again, or will I? Though what everyone is waiting for is of course the assassination. I won't divulge too much, but its a great example of an action film that gets the viewer excited, but doesn't treat him like an idiot. Go see it.
