Leonardo DiCaprio is harshly treated by some critics, who feel he lacks versatility in his roles, but his performances as Jordan Belfort and, in this case, Calvin Candie both oozed brilliance. Candie is an absolutely revolting character who runs his own plantation, Candyland, in mid-1800s Mississippi, having inherited it from his father. There is a charm and elegance about him bordering on the camp at times, but deep down he is a repulsive human being with a ruthless streak. He forces slaves to fight to the death for his own amusement, among various other vile pastimes, and his relationship with his sister is very unsettling. Samuel L. Jackson's performance as Stephen, Candie's horrible loyal house slave, is also worthy of a mention. When Christoph Waltz's bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz and Jamie Foxx's lead character Django Freeman arrive at Candyland, all hell breaks loose, and Candie becomes more and more of a loose cannon as the film progresses. DiCaprio didn't receive the huge amount of acclaim he deserved for his portrayal of the stylish Candie; it was another supreme performance in a terrific career to date.
