Quentin Tarantino can be safely called one of the most brilliant and extraordinary directors of our time. Each of his films makes a lasting impression on the audience and makes him review it again and again. The 2012 film “Django Unchained” was no exception. The actors, as always with Tarantino, were perfectly matched, so the roles turned out spectacular and memorable.
The revival of the genre
The outrageous director decided to revive the dying spaghetti western genre, and he succeeded, but, of course, in his own inimitable Tarantino style. The film "Django Unchained" was received both by spectators and critics with a bang, as evidenced by the excellent box office revenues of almost one and a half billion dollars, as well as numerous nominations and awards of various film awards, including the Oscar. Some elements of the plot, as well as the name of his film, Quentin Tarantino took from the Italian western of 1966 "Django" directed by Sergio Corbucci. It is also interesting that the protagonist of the first film, Franco Nero, played a small role as the owner of the mandigo Amerigo Waseppi in the film "Django Unchained". Actors who played both major and minor roles deserve special attention.
The ups and downs in search of Django
In the role of the former slave, Django Quentin Tarantino initially saw Will Smith and even negotiated with him on this subject. But the actor and the director did not agree on the scene of the killing of Kelvin Candy, and Smith refused the role. After that, such candidates as Chris Tucker, Idris Elba and Terrence Howard were considered, but in the end the actor Jamie Foxx, known for such works as Law Abiding Citizen and Ray, got the role. The director was bribed by Fox's ability to ride perfectly. By the way, Jamie brought his horse Chita to the set, and it was her viewers who saw on the screen. The wife of the protagonist, Broomhilda, was played by Kerry Washington. Due to the fact that Fox and Washington played the spouses for the second time (the first was in the musical drama "Ray"), the couple looked very organically on the screen. According to many viewers, Jamie was too serious on the screen, because for a rather comedy film Tarantino he lacked irony, but in general, the image of Django succeeded him.
Oscar-worthy role
The role of Dr. King Schultz was written by Quentin specifically for Christoph Waltz. Tarantino has already worked with this actor on the film Inglourious Basterds. In addition to this tape, Christoph Waltz is also known for such projects as “Massacre”, “Musketeers” and “Water for Elephants!” A reference to the latter is mentioned in an interesting way in The Django Unchained. In "Water for Elephants!" Waltz was the owner of a traveling circus, and his hero King Schulz mentioned that he had experience managing such a circus. Christophe was so devoted to work on the set that he even managed to get injured. But his efforts were definitely not in vain, because for the role of Schultz, the actor received the main award for any representative of the cinema - the Oscar.
Landlord Candyland
The movie "Django Unchained" was the first experience for Leonardo DiCaprio in the embodiment of villains. Until that moment, he had no such roles. But it is noteworthy that the role of Calvin Cand Tarantino wrote specifically under DiCaprio. And the character really turned out to be an excellent, a kind of bastard slave owner, and even a racist, which upset the actor. However, according to the director, such an ominous Candy was supposed to succeed. During one of the scenes, Leonardo accidentally broke a glass and cut his hand to the blood, but continued to play. Tarantino found the moment fascinating and very realistic, so that the shot material was on the screens. It is surprising that the name Leonardo DiCaprio was not the first on the posters and advertising posters for the film for the first time in 16 years.
Django Unchained: Supporting Actors
In addition to the three main characters, the film also had other colorful roles. Creepy black butler Stephen - this role Tarantino made specifically for the stunning Samuel L. Jackson. The game of this actor is a real masterpiece. Undoubtedly, Stephen is one of the most memorable characters in this western.
Participation in the project of some world-famous stars was announced even before the release of the film "Django Unchained". Actors who failed to take part in the film due to inconsistencies in the shooting schedules with other projects: Kevin Costner, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sasha Baron Cohen, Michael K. Wilms and Kurt Russell. The characters Levitt, Cohen and Williams, the director even removed from the script. But Tarantino has a real talent for revealing actors. So even the unknown or out-of-print actors begin to shine with him, like real stars. So the rest of the actors also showed themselves at their best. Don Johnson made the wonderful Spencer Big Dad Bennett, Walton Goggins played Billy Crash perfectly, and James Remar and James Russo - the Speck brothers. Another interesting fact: initially the director wanted to invite the shocking Lady Gaga to the role of Calvin Lara’s sister, but changed his mind and gave this role to Laura Cayote, who had previously starred in his film “Kill Bill 2”. Tarantino himself, as usual in his films, appeared in the episodic role of an employee of the Leckint company.