Quentin Tarantino is one of the few filmmakers with the same bold style and inventiveness level. He is well-known for his innovative storytelling, and his films never fail to fascinate and unnerve fans. Django Unchained, a Western movie released in 2012, is one such film that is unmistakably Tarantino.
The casting of Leonardo DiCaprio as Calvin Candie was a brilliant stroke of genius by director Quentin Tarantino. Candie was originally supposed to be a “real cotton man.” However, after Leonardo DiCaprio expressed interest in the project, the director recast him as a figure reminiscent of Caligula and Louis XIV in that he is wealthy and powerful but completely unaware of the sources of his privilege.
Leonardo DiCaprio: From Cotton Man to Boy Emperor
Originally, Calvin J. Candie was a more senior character in Tarantino’s Django Unchained screenplay, representing the wealthy elites of the cotton business. But then DiCaprio’s interest in the part became clear, and everything changed.
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After the actor expressed an interest in the role, Tarantino delved further into Candie’s psychology and had the epiphany that Candie was a “bored, petulant boy emperor.” Instead, he was a decadent aristocrat who had acquired his position by birthright rather than merit.
“All of a sudden I thought about a bored, petulant boy emperor: Caligula, Louis XIV. Where his daddy’s daddy’s daddy was the cotton man. He’s the idle, decadent rich.”
Because of this change, the character took on characteristics more analogous to those of historical kings who, despite their power, were oblivious to the daily struggles of the people under their authority.
One of the most memorable parts of Django Unchained is a scene in which Calvin Candie delivers a scathing monologue, spilling poisonous language at Django and Dr. Schultz. Since Tarantino insisted on total sincerity from his cast, they had to shoot the sequence many times to get it right.
The Injured Hand in the Final Cut
DiCaprio, who seemed to be living and breathing his character, delivered the speech with such intensity that it set the screen on fire. On the sixth try, though, something unexpected happened. In the moment’s intensity, Leonardo DiCaprio smashed his palm on the table, breaking glass and injuring his hand so badly that blood began to stream.
Amazingly, the actor didn’t quiver, keeping his cool to deliver the monologue’s devastating last line. Despite the setback, DiCaprio’s dedication to his profession was evident. The actor did not break character as his bleeding hand created a gruesome image on the table.
With nearly $425 million in box office earnings, Django Unchained has become Tarantino’s highest-grossing film, thanks to his bold reimagining of the Western genre. Tarantino won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
Meanwhile, Christoph Waltz won the Best Supporting Actor award for his depiction of Dr. Schultz, adding to the film’s critical praise. DiCaprio unexpectedly did not get an Oscar nod for his depiction of Candie, despite his outstanding performance and unwavering dedication.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
