8 Good Films One Crippling Flaw Away From Being Awesome

6. Django Unchained

The Flaw: Quentin Tarantino Tarantino is somewhat of a troublesome enigma. There is no doubting his talent - Reservoir Dogs is brilliant, Pulp Fiction a masterpiece and Jackie Brown an underrated gem - but recently his self-indulgence has undone his visual flair, his scorching dialogue and natural disposition as a great storyteller and filmmaker. Like Inglorious Basterds before it Django Unchained was almost perfect; as far as slavery-based blaxploitation films go, anyhow. For the first hour and 20 minutes this was up there with the best of the western genre. Visceral, violent and undeniably cool, the film romped along revelling in its own extremity. The well-documented problem with Tarantino's most recent efforts are that they are too flabby; there is just too much fat on the cut and that ruins the enjoyment of the delicious red meat. Django is no exception. There is simply not enough character development and narrative expansion to justify its 180 minute running time. This story of redemption could easily be condensed into two hours, which would serve to maintain the first act's swagger and bravado throughout the whole film. As responsible as he is for the moments of triumph, Tarantino is equally as responsible for the film wandering off into the wilderness half way through the second act, like some gunslinger after too many Bourbons. His brilliant track-record has perhaps allowed him too much freedom and what he now needs is a producer that is willing to tell Hollywood's Wunderkind, "No." And if Harvey Weinstein can't do it, I don't know who can. Django is 45 minutes too long for the title of 'Awesome'... and don't get me started on that ludicrous cameo.