Django -
Django, a B-movie riff on
Yojimbo, is as fun as spaghetti Westerns get. Granted, I'm no expert on the genre since I haven't even seen that other
Yojimbo riff,
A Fistful of Dollars, but how could it possibly be more fun than this one? For starters, it does not merely ape the movie that inspired it and swap feudal Japan for the Old West. Besides defying my expectations as to what would happen next on many occasions, this version has a hooker with a heart of gold, two tense heist scenes and a very deadly weapon. Franco Nero, taking a break from ninja lessons to play Django, is just as much if not more of an action star and as charismatic as Clint Eastwood. What's more, he manages to do this while carrying a giant coffin around for most of the movie. If action is what you love about Westerns, look no further. It's excessive in the best way and it has a spontaneous, short burst style that always surprises and excites. As you would expect, there is plenty of cheese to be found, especially in the dialogue. Even so, the cheese is grade A parmesan, and what goes better with…sorry, I’m getting to be too cheesy myself. Oh, and it features what may be the dingiest, most decrepit and muddiest Western town in movie history.
Mildly interesting tidbit: while I actually wanted to watch this, I chose to out of superstition because I saw three movies from 1966 in a row (
Torn Curtain,
Dracula: Prince of Darkness and
Persona). Barring
Torn Curtain, which I didn’t like, what a great year for movies, huh?