Ocean wrote a fantastic ballad that was truly lovely and poetic in every way, there just wasn’t a scene for it. I could have thrown it in quickly just to have it, but that’s not why he wrote it and not his intention. So I didn’t want to cheapen his effort. But the song is fantastic, and when Frank decides to unleash it on the public, they’ll realize it then. –Quentin Tarantino via THR
Frank Ocean drops the track Wiseman, a song he recorded for Tarantino’s Django Unchained. The director left the song on the cutting room floor because it didn’t seem to fit with any scene within the film. Seems as if all parties are at peace with the decision as the crooner responded with, “django was ill without it,” when he dropped the track
By the way, I caught Django Unchained, with a friend yesterday, early evening on Christmas Day. Pretty much everything about the movie was great: the cast, the acting, story, tone, direction. Well played, QT. We continually marvel at Christoph Waltz, he’s just a lovely actor and it’s a mesmerizing, grand performance by the German-Austrian. What a find and discovery by Quentin Tarantino. Jamie Foxx, solid as always, brings spirit, pathos and charisma as the lead; he is a true cowboy and his titular character will go down as a film icon. The bromantic chemistry between the brotherly duo is magnetic and unrivaled.
Leonardo DiCaprio is a powerhouse; he organically delivers one of the best Tarantino-scripted monologues in film history. It is creepy and riveting all at once. Last, but not least, Tarantino staple, Samuel L. Jackson, as expected, heartily delivers as the hated and complex Uncle Tom villain, Stephen.
If I had a small gripe about Django, it would be that I found myself harboring mixed feelings concerning the soundtrack (previously featured). It seemed a bit too pastiche, even by Quentin Tarantino’s standards. Lacing moments with the cadence and tenor of Rick Ross and Tupac was, at times, übercool–but it was distracting enough to take me out of some scenes. I mean, if you’re going to make anachronistic choices like that, commit to it and do it from the start with consistency. But what do I know? He’s an artistic genius with an encyclopedic brain and I’m just a Tarantino fanboy.
And it is genius. The topical, “dumb” neophyte Tarantino fans gravitate towards his quip-y (but utterly entertaining) banter and shocking violence, the other side respects his attention to rich cultural subtext, social commentary and respect for film history. He is still one of our strongest filmmakers; he is both conscious and present as an auteur. He may heavily sample and borrow from his predecessors but he re-configures it in such an original way.
It’s the best dark comedy, slavery-era revenge pic, blaxploitation, spaghetti western you will ever see. It’s WAAAY better than Posse by Mario Van Peeples (that’s a sarcastic understatement/joke, Folks). So go see it immediately, Bagheads. Give QT and Miramax your money. Soft People, stay far away, as you won’t be able digest the thousand n-bombs or the relentless display of violence and viscera.
Seriously, go check this shit out and let it wash over your brain and soul. Django delivers. Ignore Spike Lee, as it is an almost-perfect film that should not be missed. See it with an audience.
Lyrics to the song by Frank are below, stream the ballad and download the song.
