Quentin Tarantino - Ranking His Films From Worst To Best
7. Django Unchained
Tarantinos most successful ever film at the box office, Django Unchained really is a film of moments. The directors own attempt at presenting a slave narrative (cum-Southern Western), Django sees QT infuse his standard tropes with something more approaching historical commentary, a feat hed previously attempted with the superior Inglourious Basterds. The film, which won Tarantino his second screenplay Oscar - as well as Christoph Waltz his second acting Oscar under the director - stars a Jamie Foxx on blistering form as the titular Django, a freed slave turned bounty hunter, with Waltz playing his mentor.
The aforementioned moments are semi-frequent, especially in the films strong opening hour, the highlights including an Unforgiven-esque exchange between Waltzs Dr. King Schultz and the sheriff of a small town, and the montage of Django shedding his slave image to become a dapper, resplendent killer.
Elsewhere, there are problems, and the appearance of Tarantino himself (playing an Australian) is the distinct point where you can say yes, this is where the film loses it. Moreover, Waltz is basically playing an inferior version of his Inglourious Basterds character (though as a hero and not a villain) and a late appearance by Leonardo DiCaprio as a psychotic plantation owner feels overwrought. The climatic shootout is fairly impressive, but overall Django, despite its grand themes (or attempt at them), ends up as only a minor Tarantino concerto.