There are few filmmakers quite as acclaimed as Quentin Tarantino. Specializing in highly stylized and often extremely violent stories across time, Tarantino has made a name for himself, and managed to work with some of the biggest names in film history. One of his collaborators is Jamie Foxx, who played the title character in Django Unchained. The 2012 western was critically acclaimed, accruing five Oscar nominations and box office success in the process. But there is a point of contention surrounding Django: the liberal use of the n-word. With slavery and race at the center of the film's plot, many thought it was insensitive for Tarantino to have his actors throwing around the slur so often. But Foxx has recently defended this script choice, saying:
When when Django came around, I understood the text. The N-word was said 100 times, but I understood the text --- that's the way it was back in that time.
Well, that's that. While Jamie Foxx admits that the use of the N-word was alarming at fist, he uses Django Unchained's time period and historical background as the reason for its utterance. Considering that so much of the plot revolves around a deeply racist plantation owner refusing to free his slave, Foxx and the rest of the cast seem to have made peace with hearing such a hateful word so often in the film.
Jamie Foxx's comment to Yahoo also acknowledges the controversy that is still surrounding Django Unchained's script. Because it was written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, a white man, some critics felt dissonance with the film's message and it's script. Still, Django Unchained was full of already iconic performances, and is on the list of mega successful movies to come from the mind of Tarantino.
The language in Django Unchained actually isn't the only potential scandal to come from the set. Leonardo DiCaprio, who played the evil Calvin J. Candie, actually cut his hand on glass in the middle of a stirring third act monologue. While using it to inform his anger, he rubbed his bleeding hand all over the face of Kerry Washington, who played Broomhilda. But there's also something powerful about the finished product, and Django Unchained has been listed in many top film lists.
As for what's next for Quentin Tarantino, he's currently filming his next drama, Once Upon a Time In Hollywood. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt as Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth, the project will follow an actor and stunt double attempting to make it in Hollywood in the 50's and 60's. The movie will also at least partly focus on the infamous Sharon Tate murder, with Margot Robbie playing the ill-fated actress.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will arrive in theaters on August 9, 2019. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
