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Wednesday 6 February 2013

Wreck-It Ralph: The W is Silent

Wow it's almost been a month since the last post.

Hope you're all doing well and making the most of 2013. It's only February and it's been great for me! New house, new games, new music. Not to mention Ravens won the Superbowl and I saw an awesome film by the name of Django Unchained. It features Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L Jackson so it already had my seal of approval from the time of it's announcement.

Jamie Foxx is an incredible talent. You just can't knock the guy. Whether he's acting, doing stand-up  or singing all his performances are undeniably brilliant. His starring role as Django in Quentin Tarantino's latest work has sparked controversy. Many prominent figures within the African-American community have complained about the alleged glamourization of slavery and frequent use of the n-word throughout the film. 

Recently, Jamie Foxx gave a response in defense of the film and to explain his attachment to the role:

"They knee-jerked to slavery, they knee-jerked towards the n-word. But I come from the south and that’s where the word grew. And I think that gave me an upper hand on the material. I know people like Stephen. I know people like Calvin Candie. I played cheese-and-wine parties for men who called us niggers. But my grandmother worked as a housemaid all her life and she taught me some truths. I learned those lessons and I learned them in the south, and I did a pretty good job of it too."

Personally, I think Tarantino's depiction of slavery was harsh enough. If a guy being ripped apart by dogs doesn't meet your requirements of a graphic film then consider registering as a full-time sadist.
Moreover, it is a Quentin Tarantino film. Did you really expect him to dumb it down? I know I didn't.
Regardless of the ongoing embroilment, Jamie Foxx delivers an amazing and charismatic performance. Highly recommended!



On the topic of films I literally cannot wait to see Wreck-It Ralph. Our American cousins have had it since late October and I frequently hear comparisons with Toy Story in terms of it being one the best ever animated films. That is a VERY big claim which some die-hard Toy Story fans such as myself would even consider blasphemous. Still, the fact that Wreck-It Ralph has been nominated for several awards including Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film and Academy Award for Best Animated Feature speaks volumes. Nevertheless, I'll have to wait and see if my anticipation is valid as I endure another Ralph-less week (Orange Wednesdays people, harsh economic times!). 

Over and Out