Django Unchained

With the help of a German bounty-hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner in Mississippi.

Why it stayed with me

It was my first strong encounter with Tarantino as pure cinematic energy: revenge, style, historical brutality, and a heroic arc that keeps changing shape.

Key points

• The film turns genre excess into momentum.
• Christoph Waltz gives the story an elegant moral counterweight.
• The hero shift halfway through keeps the adventure alive.

Film details

• Director: Quentin Tarantino
• Year: 2012
• Genres: Comedy, Drama, Western
• Runtime: 165 min
• Personal rating: 9/10
• IMDb: tt1853728

Cast notes

Main cast: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio.