7. Stephen- Django Unchained
A lot of Tarantinos greatest characters are people who are actually very dislikeable, but it is the quality of the performance of the actor behind the character, as well as the depth of character that Tarantino creates with their eccentricities and sometimes humorous aspects that makes them so good. Although he doesnt make us like them, he nevertheless makes them fascinating and interesting characters to watch. Stephen is a prime example of a Tarantino character, much like Calvin Candie and Hans Landa, that though despicable and downright evil, is still a very entertaining character. What makes Stephen so dislikeable is that he is probably the worst example of an Uncle Tom I have ever seen in a film. An Uncle Tom is an insult that came about at the time of slavery because of Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel of the same name. It was used to describe a slave that though treated as badly as every other slave, would regardless show a lot of respect and love towards their masters and other white people, and would willingly be subservient and accept that the place of an African American in the United States at the time as that of being under the rule and ownership of white people. Stephens extreme love and subservience towards Leonardo DiCaprios evil and sadistic plantation owner makes him a prime example of an Uncle Tom. However it is Stephens role as the unsuspecting villain and ultimate threat to the escape of Broomhilda with Django that makes Stephen so sinister and evil. Regardless of how much hate Stephen can stir in an audience while they watch the film, there is no doubt we feel for him when he holds a dead and bullet ridden Calvin Candie in his arms like a baby. It is at this moment that we realise that the intense love Stephen has for Calvin will not cease even in death, and therefore makes this old, mean yet incredibly eccentric and sometimes funny character one of the best Samuel L. Jackson has ever played in his long and illustrious career.