After killing off Hitler in gruesome fashion in his history-tweaking World War II epic Inglourious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino created his next hero, Django Freeman, to give the white slavers of the antebellum era some brutal comeuppance on the big screen. In Tarantino’s first western, Django Unchained (although he’s dubbed it a “Southern” due to its unconventional setting), Jamie Foxx brought Django to life as the hero of a spaghetti western, a historical revenge fantasy, a love story, and a fairy tale.
Opposite Foxx’s iconic turn as Django, Leonardo DiCaprio brought a sinister edge to his adversary, sadistic plantation owner Calvin Candie, the only character Tarantino has ever created that he truly hated. Django gives this unique story its perfect hero, while Candie gives it its perfect villain.
Django: He Has To Convince The Bad Guys He’s A Bad Guy
In order to infiltrate Candyland, Django and Dr. Schultz take on the roles of slavers in an undercover ruse to get Broomhilda out of there. Many of Tarantino’s characters have gone undercover, like Mr. Orange in Reservoir Dogs and the Allied spies in Inglourious Basterds.
So, Django has to convince the bad guys that he’s one of them. He can’t be openly standoffish with the people he hates the most in the world or he’ll give himself away. It’s a fascinating dramatic setup.
Candie: He’s Truly Reprehensible
Quentin Tarantino has said that Calvin Candie is the only character he’s ever created that he truly hates. He could even see Inglourious Basterds’ Col. Hans Landa as a guy who was given a job and wanted to do it well. But Candie is just the worst.
While a lot of villains end up being unintentionally lovable, Candie is really hatable. Leonardo DiCaprio leans into this in his performance, ensuring that the audience loves to hate Django’s adversary.
Django: Jamie Foxx Has Both Dramatic Nuance And Comic Wit
Will Smith was reportedly Tarantino’s first choice for the role of Django, but Jamie Foxx proved to be the perfect actor for the part. The role required both dramatic nuance in scenes like the harrowing flashbacks and comic wit for one-liners like, “The D is silent,” and “I like the way you die, boy.”
As both one of the greatest actors working today and a hysterical comedian on the standup circuit, Foxx had the required dramatic and comedic chops in spades.
Candie: Leonardo DiCaprio’s Performance Is Suitably Intense
Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance as Calvin Candie in Django Unchained is suitably intense. When he goes on a tirade over dinner, it’s impossible to look away. DiCaprio is utterly captivating, even when the character he’s playing is deplorable.
When Calvin cuts his hand and smears his blood all over Broomhilda’s face, DiCaprio genuinely started bleeding in the middle of the scene and decided to play it off and keep acting.
Django: He Fights Real Evil
While Tony Stark takes on a cosmic warlord bent on wiping out half of all life in the universe and Luke Skywalker takes on an evil wizard’s far-right space militia, Django takes on an evil that’s shockingly real.
After being trained to be a bounty hunter by Dr. Schultz, Django marches onto plantations with his gun drawn and exacts brutal vigilante justice against vicious white slavers.
Candie: His Campiness Makes His Sinister Turns More Effective
When Calvin Candie is introduced, for all intents and purposes, he’s perfectly friendly to Django and Dr. Schultz. Initially, Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance as Calvin is hilariously camp, bringing a theatrical flair to each of his line deliveries, like “Where is my beautiful sister?”
This campiness proves to be devilishly deceptive, as it makes Calvin’s sinister turns — like when he brings out a skull and a hammer at dinner — even more shocking.
Django: He Has A Lovable Dynamic With Dr. Schultz
In the opening moments of Django Unchained, the title character is freed by Dr. Schultz, who needs his help identifying a couple of bounties. After that, Schultz becomes Django's mentor, training him in the art of gunplay and chasing bounties. The two develop a lovable dynamic, mostly thanks to Jamie Foxx’s on-screen chemistry with Christoph Waltz.
Like many hero’s mentors — Ben Kenobi, the Ancient One, Antiope etc. — Dr. Schultz dies long before his time. Schultz’s untimely death forces Django to become an independent hero.
Candie: He Has A Loyal Right-Hand Man In House Slave Stephen
Calvin’s house slave Stephen is his loyal right-hand man. Samuel L. Jackson’s turn as Stephen would be the most frightening performance in the movie if it wasn’t for Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance as Calvin himself.
Django and Dr. Schultz’s plan would’ve gone off without a hitch if Stephen hadn’t noticed the look that Broomhilda gave Django and deduced that they know each other.
Django: His Journey Is Believable
Over the course of Django Unchained, the title character is freed from slavery, learns how to shoot, becomes a formidable bounty hunter, and infiltrates a plantation to liberate his wife.
This journey feels believable. In Jamie Foxx’s hands, Django convincingly transforms from a shackled member of a chain gang into a gun-toting badass capable of taking on any villain.
Candie: His Threat Outlasts His Death
Most villains cease to be a threat after they’re killed. But Calvin Candie continues to haunt Django and Broomhilda long after he’s killed. Dr. Schultz shoots him dead when Calvin offers his hand for a handshake to commemorate the sale of Broomhilda and the dentist refuses to do it.
Calvin’s death puts Django in a tough spot, as he’s captured on the plantation and sold off to an Australian mining company. He has to free himself for a second time, then charge across America to find where his wife is being kept before returning to Candyland for the final showdown.