What a great movie. I thought this was so much more entertaining than Basterds.
Every scene was the right length. The acting was amazing (I’m still not a big Waltz fan and his over-the-top theatrics and mannerisms, but I enjoyed here more than IB - only really liked him in the opening scene of that). The soundtrack was amazing. I disagree with what Seb said regarding how it’s used in the film etc. and he wasn’t the only one to say that so I was worried, but that was amazing. Again, beats Basterds any day in that aspect too. Every song was brilliant, the right amount used, and played perfectly over every scene.
I did have a few problems with it of course - I agree with Seb here for the main one that some of the supporting characters could have been giving more to do. Especially Kerry who was amazing and Walton Goggins - one of my favourites scenes in the script got cut at the final hurdle. Also, he should never have cut the scene of Django putting Stephen in his place in the bedroom, another scene that was in until the last minute. Also, he could have pushed the envelope more, been more violent. Every time Schultz questions Django about the Brittle Bros there was another horrific flashback each time (the rape scene etc. which was glimpsed at in the first trailers) but now it’s just cut down to the one - the whipping just before Django kills the Brittle. As well as the uncut versions of the Mandingo fight, dog scene and torture scene.
A few things could have been trimmed. The training/bounty hunting montage could have had a little more footage to smooth out Django’s transition from slave to bounty hunter. I’m glad a lot of the scene were tightened up a lot to keep things moving (scene like the opening, the first town, Big Daddy’s house etc. you can tell were all shortened but I wouldn’t want them any longer). It’s not quite the masterpiece it could have been with those faults in there. I think a 3 hour version with a couple of trims in some parts and those flashbacks, more Billy Crash and the Django-Stephen scenes added would be just amazing. Also QT should never have put himself in that scene, he ruined it and took everyone out of the film, thankfully it was only around 5 minutes.
I only saw it last night so will have to see it again to get a better idea how good I think it is and where it should end up in QT’s rankings…but as of now I think it could be his best since Pulp. I love a lot of Kill Bill (especially Vol. 2 - which scenes that I think may be even better than what’s in Django) but it should have been one 3 hour movie like this.
After first viewing definitely 4/5.
