Django Unchained ***

Quentin Tarantino wrote, directed and acts in this Western. Watch Preview. Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Dennis Christopher, Laura Cayouette, M.C. Gainey, Don Johnson, Kerry Washington, Tom Wopat, James Remar, James Russo, Todd Allen, Jonah Hill. Rated R for strong graphic violence throughout, a vicious fight, language and some nudity. Running time is two hours and forty-five minutes.

A slave-turned-bounty hunter (Foxx) sets out to rescue his wife (Washington) from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner (DiCaprio) with the help of his mentor and partner (Waltz).

There's been a lot of buzz about this film but it's basically a homage to the Spaghetti Westerns of the 60-70s and is as brutal and bloody as they were. It's very well done with good pacing but it's unnecessarily long. There are two or three places where the film could have ended but the decision was made to continue extending the plot. There is extensive use of the N word altho it doesn't seem gratuitous and doesn't grate like you might think it would.Waltz is superb as usual and Foxx and DiCaprio are very good in their roles. Washington is an attractive addition but is on the screen so seldom it hardly seems worth her while, and her nudity is so slight it hardly seems worth mentioning in the rating. Samuel Jackson has a strong role but is almost unrecognizable. Western fans and men will like this most while the excessive, graphic violence may turn off many others.

There's one flash scene at the end of the credits but it's nothing to wait around for. A big screen will aid in your enjoyment. Theatres/Times.