At The Movies This Week, 25th January 2013

At The Movies

Django Unchained ★★★★

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Cast: Jamie Foxx, Christopher Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson

Freed slave Django (Jamie Foxx) and his mentor, the bounty hunter Dr King Schulz (Christopher Waltz) are on the hunt for three outlaw brothers. Together they also conspire to help save Django’s wife from plantation owner, Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio).

Christoph Waltz and Leonardo DiCaprio put on Oscar worthy performances. Sadly, when put up against Waltz, Foxx seems quite weak compared to him although he does put in a good
performance. He looks the part but falls flat when trying to deliver the lines. DiCaprio and Jackson however make quite a duo; it’s funny to see them interact with each other.

Nearly on for three hours, “Django Unchained” begins to feel overstretched towards the end. The length of the film is one of the main flaws. “Django Unchained” is moreover not for those who are easily squeamish or will find the “N” word upsetting. However, with a little over-the-top violence, it’s also exciting, funny and entertaining to watch.

The Last Stand ★★★

Director: Jee- woon Kim

Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Johnny Knoxville, Forest Whitaker, Jaimie Alexander, Eduardo Noriega

Mexican drug cartel leader (Eduardo Noriega) escapes custody during transport and heads to the Mexican border but the Sheriff of the sleepy town of Sommerton, Arizona stands in his way.

It’s an all-guns-blazing fest as Sheriff Owens gathers together a crew including Johnny Knoxville, Jaimie Alexander, Luis Guzmán, Rodrigo Santoro and Zach Gilford to help barricade the town and stop him for crossing into Mexico.

The movie is full of plenty of action, some exciting car chases and awful cheesy one liner’s. “The Last Stand” never takes itself too seriously and has some funny moments. Johnny Knoxville provides some comic relief but Arnold Schwarzenegger appears to be showing his age a bit in this movie. His acting is a little rusty around the edges, but he more than makes up for it in the action scenes.

About the Author

Jennifer S

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Jennifer is a writer/social media/ice cream enthusiast living in Birmingham. She can be found deep in a sugar-induced coma in front of her television most nights, spooning her laptop. She also enjoys drawing and playing with her gerbils.

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