What Makes Calvin Candie One Of The Most Terrifying Villains In Film History

For decades, Quentin Tarantino has crafted some of the most ruthless villains in film history. The evil that dwells within these characters can truly be felt by audiences with every line they speak. But it wasn't until Django Unchained that Tarantino created a villain so horrible, that it him uncomfortable. Played by Leonardo DiCaprio, Calvin Candie in Django Unchained will forever be one of the most reprehensible characters ever put to film. And DiCaprio's performance in Django Unchained truly sells the horrific qualities of Calvin Candie.
#DjangoUnchained #CalvinCandie #Nerdstalgic
Written by Chris Teregis
Edited by David Sadvari

[@Nerdstalgic]

Which villain should we cover next?

[@Christopher-ms5ke]

Lorne Malvo from Fargo Season 1!

[@stephen9453]

Anton Chigurh

[@MAVJ]

Ozymandias from watchmen? Or just hearing your perspective on any topic related to watchmen would be interesting.

[@collinthomas9908]

The HBO show “Succession” needs a video from you!!!

[@BagoNickles]

What about Palpatine? His love of his own jovial evil is always fun on screen

[@senditcars]

Never in a million years would I have thought the kid from titanic would end up being one of the greatest actors of our life.

[@ems901]

How not? He performed incredibly well in that movie for how young he was.

[@ajcarr1965]

IMO Leo was the g.o.a.t. when he played Arnie in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape"

[@alyciamarie4163]

I ordered a poster of Leo in like 96 with change hahaha never got my poster from that teen magazine!!! Hahahaaah I loved Romeo and Juliet and titanic bc I was like 10 lol 😆

[@ghostland8646]

that movie was Leo biggest hit until today. was a big leading role in a James Cameron movie ( one of the best director ) call him a kid in that was a bit reach. Maybe Gilbert grape

[@thomasjefferson2676]

Or the kid from basketball diaries

[@hissingsid6854]

Fun fact, they gave Dicaprio an academy award for this performance which for some bizzare reason was delayed until he’d starred in The Revenant.

[@lifePaultheball]

Leo was great but Waltz is just too badass in this movie for Academy to not present him the Oscar a second time.

[@xcaluhbration]

Gotta get a bear peen forced onto you to get some respect around there.

[@bichiroloXP]

@@lifePaultheball Nah, DiCaprio was way above Waltz in Django.

[@soccermatrix]

This was that rare time two actors were great in the same movie...

[@HolyMith]

The Revenant is one of my favourite films of all time, but DiCaprio's role in it was much more reserved and stoic, so it's weird that he got the award over this performance here, where he really got the chance to shine.

[@filipvadas7602]

What I found most interesting about Candie is that he isn't Django's villain. That title goes to Stephen. Calvin Candie, although mainly seen interacting with Django, is Dr.Schultz's villain. Everything that Schultz is, Calvin is the opposite: Schultz is well-mannered, travelled and both empathetic and humble despite his profession Whereas Calvin is crude, maintains a facade of being a well-educated man when in reality he is wholy ignorant and an absolute monster to almost anyone that challenges his ego Plus, there's the irony of a man named Candie antagonising a dentist lol

[@AsMeh]

lmao didn't even realise the irony of Candie being the antagonist of a dentist lol

[@teamphashash]

Amazing. Hahaha didnt see that either. Pure genius!

[@jeremybowerman6482]

Omfg that is absolute genius

[@xxDOTH3DEWxx]

Nailed it.

[@gabe.29]

holy shit

[@JimC607]

This is hands down Leo's best performance. Definitely should have gotten an Oscar for this. He makes the 2nd half of the movie the best half.

[@sidarth632]

2nd best. Shutter island

[@kimporter1744]

Yes!❤

[@ajtaylor8750]

People might say Jordan Belfort from "The Wolf of Wall Street" is Leo's best performance, but I lean towards this one as the best. Seeing a guy in Leo who usually plays the hero take on a villain role in a slavery revenge tale, and for him to completely steal scenes alongside Sam Jackson, Christoph Waltz, and Jamie Foxx who's the main character speaks volumes to his talents as an actor. For him to actually cut his hand on glass during the dinner scene and CONTINUE ACTING while bleeding profusely is a different kind of dedication.

[@hellfish2309]

Leo is second-for-second better as Kandy than any other role IMO, but also not his best character IMO

[@thixiemattel]

I’d say his performance in The Revenant hits much harder for me but I agree that this was better than Belfort in Wolf of Wall Street.

[@j-rey-]

I honestly think his best role was as Arnie in What's Eating Gilbert Grape.

[@ericsugrue5880]

I wanna like this comment but it's at 100 exactly. Well said.

[@delix787]

Love it! Thank you for this! Leo love. 💙

[@jnwoodard8764]

What makes his character so scary is his ability to be incredibly charming while intimidating simultaneously. Similar to Hans Landa, he lures in his victims and lulls them through simple conversation and then attacks. It’s amazing.

[@NTWoo95]

Interestingly, Dicaprio was Tarantino’s first choice to play Landa

[@tjenadonn6158]

It's like Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal Lecter. You're told before you see a single frame of him precisely what he's capable of, and the people around him always treat him like the clear and present danger that he is, but he's so disarming and effective that you're still shocked by the escape scene. It's that ability to make people momentarily forget that they're dealing with a monster when pure evil is staring them down from point blank range.

[@santiagogarza8121]

Also at first it looks like he's kind of an idiot, but then he's outsmarting the heros

[@emdotrod]

Hans Landa's way of intimidating is subtle and covert. He strikes fear to his enemies with his position and his ability. People knew that they should be terrified to him. While Calvin is basically a sophisticated rich guy from Southern that runs one massive slave ring for his own fun.

[@basslin3r]

As someone who grew up in a truly destructive and abusive environment I was half raised by an absolute true psychopath... and I can tell you now it was common place for them to switch from completely deranged to incredibly charming sweet and well mannered.... the most seemingly calm and collected nice person you can imagine... this was the most terrifying component of being in the company of a psychopath.. you had no idea how they would be, in fact they would take the time and effort to make sure you were calm and comfortable before they tore you to shreds.

[@ericthetuber]

I think something that wasn't commented on was the idea that Candy has a fragile ego. He uses his rage and power to intimate the people around him into silence about his deficiencies. Calvin loves French and the air of exotic superiority he feels when indulging it, but can't speak it. Yet he doesn't welcome speaking opportunities in the language because they would expose a deficiency. Similarly, upon finding out he's being tricked, he uses rage to regain power over the his guests. Anyone who's got a parent like this, for me its my dad, knows what I'm talking about.

[@maryamshaaban74]

Oh yeah, I totally get it. My dad is like that and he's even caused my mom to yell at any situations. He says: right or wrong, necessary or not, hurts your feelings or not, we're your parents. WE are allowed to yell all we want, you don't, not even as a reaction to us yelling and shouting and screaming, no matter what we do. Which to me exposes just how stupid and wrong the man KNOWS he is. If his only justification for any action is "because I'm in power" then he doesn't have an argument and is aware of it so he reinforces it using anger.

[@AlphaQHard]

@@maryamshaaban74 “Because Im in power” should always be answered with “Nice argument, Fuhrer dickhead”

[@GlutenEruption]

⁠@@maryamshaaban74 how old are you btw? I get the feeling that you’re in your teens but that is the type of incredibly astute and intelligent analysis with a level of clarity that’s rare for people of any age. You should go into psychology

[@maryamshaaban74]

@@GlutenEruption are you sure you mean me? I think you're referring to OP

[@GlutenEruption]

No, you! That last sentence especially was incredibly insightful and it just struck me as something most people wouldn’t come to understand until much later in life if at all.

[@jubayarahmed342]

This movie has no dull moments, it could've been 5 hours long and still captivating.

[@ilon7799]

But if film would’ve been 5 hours long, it perhaps could had a dull moments.

[@ThighErda]

@@ilon7799 If it was a 5 hour long series of Django & Schultz going to various plantations & being jackasses it would've still been fucking amazing at all times.

[@MrVG-qt8ob]

@@ThighErdaI’d be down for a spin-off show that is just that lol

[@benwasserman8223]

The fact that Calvin Candy treats slavery like a game is what makes him truly despicable. Even Schultz couldn’t stand him for long, let along his perverse admiration for European culture.

[@NTWoo95]

I love the exchange about the meaning of auf Wiedersehen, “since it actually means ‘until I see you again’, and since I never WANT to see you again, to you I simply say goodbye.” He just wants to leave as quickly as possible now that his game is discovered

[@angryanakin]

I think Calvin Candie was so stupid that he didn’t even understand the atrocities he was committing he was used to that way of life obviously I’m not trying to defend him but I’m saying he sees it as a way of life

[@Tangerine3712]

@@angryanakin He understood very well

[@domovoibutler42]

@@Tangerine3712 Indeed, hence, the subspecies justification!

[@ethanm68944]

@@angryanakin it was different time and different beliefs. All this “worst baddie ever” is contrived virtue signalling and makes me wonder if these ppl feel guilty and are overcompensating

[@Hey-Its-Dingo]

I think the fact that DeCaprio would often cry inbetween takes, and had a few emotional breakdowns on set, while playing THIS character is proof that you do NOT have to be a raging cumstain to your costars behind the cameras to play amazing villains. (Looking at you, Jared Leto)

[@TedMerc]

This role took alot from Dicaprio. He refused to say the n word until Jamie Foxx and Samuel L. Jackson coaxed him to.

[@user-qn1zp5bi2h]

@@TedMerc That is so cringe.

[@user-bt8xr5si9y]

@@user-qn1zp5bi2h That is called decency and respecting others.

[@user-qn1zp5bi2h]

@@user-bt8xr5si9y It's called being a virtue-signaling pussy.

[@aviphyt]

@@TedMerc so they gave him the nword pass? sweet

[@matjakobs8612]

Best performance ever. It feels 100% real. No Oscar for that is a joke.

[@nasis18]

Indeed.

[@marc-antoinemarcoux697]

how could he have won when Chris Waltz won for that ?

[@antman6707]

Well, the Oscar has been nothing more than a joke for the past 50 years Plus the man who plays Django didn't bow before the hollywood cult and on top of that, said that he greatly enjoys spending time with people on every political side

[@Mastermindyoung14]

When Val didn't get one for Tombstone, they forfeited their relevance

[@ingy421]

​@@marc-antoinemarcoux697 That's the crazy part of Quentin and his unparalleled skills writing or directing but more importantly, casting. Chris Waltz became one of my favorite actors from his role as Hans Landa in Inglorious Basterds. No one on earth could have done that role better. Impossible. He deserved both Oscars but Leo for sure was the most perfect casted character in Djano. Everyone was pretty damn perfect, but it's Leo.

[@alice20001]

Samuel L. Jackson’s interpretation of “Stephen” was very unexpected to see. He’s an amazing actor, and the way he played the “house slave” was like being transported into a different reality. All I knew is that he was going to be in the movie, but when I watched I just could not believe my eyes!

[@Addiict429]

I've watched that movie probably 5x and never realized that was Sam L Jackson. Seriously impressive

[@Jordan-iw1ih]

A year or two ago, someone pointed out to me that one of the protagonists (Schultz) was a dentist and quite appropriately, the villain was named Candy. I had seen this movie like 5 times and never connected those dots. It blew my mind lol.

[@Christopher-ms5ke]

Fantastic!

[@thesouthernvikingr5919]

Well now, I gotta chew on that one.

[@nickhighland799]

Woah, never noticed that. Candy's teeth are quite rotten too if you look close, which I guess plays into that even more.

[@theoutlook55]

Now you've blown my mind. Wow.

[@benmontero36]

To quote Django, “I’ll be damned.”

[@joe94c]

Django is genuinely one of my favourite all time films. DiCaprio and Jackson as the villain duo are phenomenal. Genuinely terrifying and unpredictable

[@fmcdomer]

foxx' acting reminded me of the one with tom cruise and hes a cab driver.. really bad

[@nahor88]

@@fmcdomer How was it bad? He played the role of a humble slave turned badass perfectly. Right around when Schultz frees him, he's soft-spoken and fumbles with his words. By the end of the film he's speaking with confidence and controls whatever room he's in.

[@nahor88]

I honestly didn't find Candy "terrifying" at all, more despicable. Stephen was the truly terrifying villain, as he's clearly super intelligent but hiding it very well from everyone, and doesn't mind throwing his own race under the bus to get what he wants.

[@fmcdomer]

@@nahor88 the way he delivered lines was the same as collateral. theres a reason why people never talk about his acting in this movie and only talk about Leos acting when he had a smaller part

[@nahor88]

@@fmcdomer You're missing the point; his role didn't require any serious acting. Humble slave turned sharp, calculating Bounty Hunter. He has an Oscar for peets sake.

[@clarissawestbrook2203]

Everyone was phenomenal in this film. Jamie Foxx, Samuel L Jackson, Kerry Washington, Don Johnson and Leonardo DiCaprio. Quentin Tarantino direction is impeccable. This movie is definitely one of the best films of the 2010s.

[@kingthlayerl.7349]

Don't forget Christoph Waltz

[@clarissawestbrook2203]

@@kingthlayerl.7349 Yes he was phenomenal in his role too.

[@anthonytaylor7949]

One of my favorite movies EVER!

[@norrisdillahuntjr4570]

​@anthonytaylor7949 Mine as well, but the more I watched The Hateful Eight I realized it was equally as good 👍

[@Manuel-qu3tc]

Everyone was good but DiCaprio was off the charts good. There's no comparison and I don't get how the Academy isn't ashamed for not awarding him an Oscar.

[@sarasilva9599]

Part of what's so impactful in this performance is not only who Dicaprio is portraying but also the fact that his face has a gentle, innocent look. So the dichotomy between his looks and his actions is what makes it even more shocking

[@polkhigh_33]

Agreed. But it makes perfect sense, since Candy is not the true villain of the movie. He IS innocent, since he believes his actions are tight from the bottom of his heart. He was raised to be that monster and doesnt recognize that Stephen basically played him more than Schulz ever could, basically since the day he was born. Django Unchained was not a battle between Candy and Schulz, but one between melding into a flawed system and leaning up against it. And if you think about it, this makes Candy a pretty good metaphor for many of our present's political representatives. People tend to demonize dictators, presidents and chancellors, while reality is, that those are just shiny charismatic puppets and you should be worried about the ones controlling them instead.

[@jbshaver829]

DiCaprio is one of the best actors in the world. It's wild he's been straight up snubbed for so many years awards wise

[@wuzi7049]

The awards across the media landscapes are not actually for actual performance, or skill, or accomplishment. It is almost always motivated by other things. That is why there are so many technical awards not given to the film that actually deserved it. Like objectively deserved it in many cases.

[@thesouthernvikingr5919]

@@wuzi7049 There's a singular word for that. Bias.

[@arthas640]

Most of the awards are a joke. Often people are chosen not for the movie they played when chosen but based off past performances or because of politics or just the genre of the film. Comedies, animated films, and horror movies never get awards and axtion movies win relatively rarely regardless of quality but get a mediocre film about the holocaust and the judges will start drooling all over it.

[@TheHuckeberrie]

hes a kiddie toucher

[@arthas640]

@@TheHuckeberrie no u

[@fallendevonish1869]

Stephen is the real evil the very first shot we see of him, he's filling in a check in Candie's name and with perfect penmanship. No ordinary slave would have such power or access, and write so well. He's the one running the plantation and controlling Candie, but he plays an old fool/clown to keep up appearances then at the end he drops it and walks normally like he didnt need to pretend no more. I loved that detail so much. He was a calculated despicable character.. Candie treats him like an amusing pet around others but in private they're equals. I don't believe he truly cared for Candie, he needed him to survive. He said to Django when he was hanging upside down, "White folks ain't ever had an original thought in their head" and implies he steered the conversation so Miss Lowell believed it was her own idea. Something tells me he's done that a lot with Candie as well.

[@arcturus4295]

Candie is a moron, only thing he knows is the slave trade and that's it.

[@boxydoo22]

great take

[@bbtfan7957]

Imagine if Stephen had been a different sort of person, but with the same intelligence and ability to manipulate the white people around him. He could have molded Calvin into a more decent type master and made sure the slaves were at least treated like human beings while keeping Candyland a profitable enterprise.

[@daniellesimone7939]

I just know yall white 🤣

[@sleepylion9788]

He truly cared for Calvin, evil people are many and they can become a community as well.

[@omz31]

I knew that scene was real the 1st time I saw it in the theater! I even leaned over to my buddy and said “dude, that looks way too real!” The light trembling both in his voice and his hand was too real! And the way he still delivered the performance while picking the glass out of his hand is movie GOLD!

[@whitneybaxter3299]

Calvin is a great villain no denying that but Stephan’s character was the most chilling to me.. it’s always interesting to me on how much a human being is capable of when it comes to self preservation.

[@polkhigh_33]

It might have been self preservation at the start of his ownership, but at some point it became self elevation. Stephen was even more condescending and power-drunk than Candy was, guess who taught him that. He was proud being the supreme house slave and just as proud about manipulating his owner because to some degree, it hade HIM the head of the candyland ranch. And he just couldnt stand another black dude entering his home and playing with the puppet he created.

[@Frixon_]

It still amazes me that Leonardo DiCaprio did not win an Oscar for this performance, it was by far one of his best performances.

[@gthetree1]

It's because they wouldn't be able to play any clips from it because the character was so reprehensible lol, and I'm sure the kind of character and racial themes in the film played into it. Woke hollywood can't be seen giving awards to someone who played an evil white slave owner.

[@natturner2681]

Yeah, I think all the Brilliant best talent available actors in the movie should of absolutely won oscars...

[@Frixon_]

@Eddard Tyrsson how to say you've never seen a Tarenteno film without saying you've never seen a Tarenteno film in a single comment.

[@natturner2681]

@@VicenzoV Agreed... I was just mainly focusing on the FACT that a lot of talent was in the Film..but your comment was understood.

[@robertsutton1295]

Calvin Candie is one of the few movie villains who genuinely scared me. No scary monsters, no supernatural spooks, haunts, or poltergeists, have moved me the way Calvin Candie did, and you nailed it with one word: Normalcy. There ARE real-life Calvin Candies running around in this world. Maybe not as overt or over-the-top as their screen counterpart, but no less violent, no less sadistic.

[@BodyslamMediaProductions]

Couldn’t have said it better myself. I can understand monsters, spooks, haunts, poltergeists, etc. but Calvin Candie is a simple sick and twisted human being. I think of when we were first introduced to Negan on The Walking Dead.

[@plexyglass429]

There were people at his level back then. And it's fucking terrifying

[@ladeene06]

Humans ARE the real life monsters. It's a life altering epiphany (for some)once realized.

[@glenneric1]

That's why I see movies like Aliens or The Ring as scary, because they are just fantasy. Movies like Saw aren't scary, they're just sad, because people really do terrible things.

[@dies3156]

The fact that Candie is looked at as a terrifying villain despite getting clapped in his seventh scene is a real testament to Tarantinos writing and Leo's performance

[@Zeikier]

What I like about the power dynamics at play in Candyland is that while Calvin has Marsha and the rest of his pack of attack dogs, Calvin himself is effectively Stephen's attack dog.

[@AW-sh1ce]

I've always loved the duality between the two German characters that Christoph Waltz plays in Django Unchained and Inglorious Basterds. You could honestly do an entire essay just on the comparison of the two films/characters.

[@user-qn1zp5bi2h]

He just plays a goofy asshole in both roles. Another overrated actor, like Leo.

[@grapeshot]

In a way Samuel Jackson's character was actually the person running the plantation. Candy didn't even know he was being duped until Samuel Jackson told him. Samuel Jackson survive all those years on the plantation by staying in the background, observing.

[@ehhhhhhh6141]

I agree, outside of that plantation he’d be considered another “colored person”. Inside that plantation he’s second in command but really #1.

[@Kainzo]

Dumb.

[@sayjinpat4life]

When they first approach candyland Samuel was shown writing a check.

[@gamecokben]

Y'all are some ignorant ass racists

[@gamecokben]

@@ehhhhhhh6141 colored person? Fuck you. This was the height of slavery. The education system has failed you if you're using 1950's terms to describe 1850's events. Read a book dumbass.

[@tastefullynerdy1161]

Leo's rizz to be able to portray such a disgusting human being in such a charming and engrossing manner is.... frightening, honestly. It's fascinating and insanely amazing to see how Leo went from Hollywood's pretty boy in Titanic to this Titan (eh? :D) of acting serious roles he is nowadays. And honestly, Django is just an absolute MASTERPIECE on all levels.

[@pheddupp]

I worked as a first unit Grip on "Django Unchained", and I was on set when Leo smashed the glass on the table. He is not normal. He takes his job very seriously, and like a drummer dropping a stick during a performance he just keeps going until he could get his composure then nail the part.

[@thomasredden4263]

I watch this movie a lot, and every. Single. Time... DiCaprio blows me away with the subtlety in his eyes, in his glances, his expressiveness with his eyes is truly a skill he has mastered. He can say everything without saying anything and it makes all of his performances significantly more powerful for it

[@jakuth99]

Tbh I always saw Calvin as someone who tries to project power, sophistication and intelligence when he’s actually just a pawn of Steven. It was Steven that figured out the protagonists’ true goals, and Candy tried to play it off as though he discovered it. Steven was the final threat of the movie. So I really think that Calvin is more pathetic than anything, trying to portray himself as a worldly intelligent man when he has to be guided and directed by one of the very people he considered below him

[@NobodyC13]

It's even more egregious in Candie's pretentious Francophilia and love for The Three Musketeers, enough to name several things after it, that he was dumbfounded to learn its author Alexandre Dumas is biracial (i.e. Black).

[@avking2440]

They kind of show that when he says don't speak French to him he'll get upset

[@NTWoo95]

@@NobodyC13 he claims to be a Francophile but King Schultz is warned not to speak French in the room because Candie himself doesn’t speak French

[@gamecokben]

Pawn of Steven? Give me a break. He's not a pawn. He's the one with the power but he lacks vision. Steven isn't calling the shots, he's just reading the room in a way that Calvin can't.

[@everythingdivine]

@@NobodyC13 biracial doesnt mean black. Why do whites think biracial erases white blood? They are not black. They are simply biracial

[@gaylewinds4808]

I firmly believe that the only reason Di Caprio didn't win an Oscar for this amazing performance is because they felt that they couldn't reward such an abhorrent character. But he deserved that win for the glass alone.

[@user-vc7kt6yi3w]

My thoughts exactly

[@Corzappy]

Candie’s charm seemed to work on me when I was watching the movie because the word smithing mastery of Dr. Schultz made me feel like he could talk his way out of almost anything. It wasn’t until a scene right near the end where Candie insists he shakes his hand that really got my heart going, it felt like he was planning something, and no amount of talking was gonna get him out of that situation. Thankfully it was resolved without words.

[@caseymckenzie3951]

Naw candie was just wanting to rub it in his face by making him shake his hand had the German dude shook his hand candie was going to let them leave Calvin felt disrespected and to be honest Calvin was right to be mad they tryed to hustle him an they got caught had waltz and Django went and proposed a deal for hildy or however u spell her name I’m sure he could have worked something out she wasn’t nothing to Calvin but they tryed to play him for a fool and as much as Calvin isn’t a good person he treated them with hospitality even Django until he found out what they was doing

[@uteriel282]

@@caseymckenzie3951 the entire farce was needed to even get to talk to candie in the first place. calvin is the type of guy who unless you present value wont even bother to look in your general direction. thats why they had to pretend for so long as well cause they needed to keep his interest or the whole thing would have been over the moment calvin got bored of them. and calvin was only nice to them because he saw a large investment in schultz and amusement in django.

[@anthonytaylor7949]

@@caseymckenzie3951 tried*

[@Batchall_Accepted]

You're absolutely right about the tension his whole friendly charade creates, Quentin gradually builds it up so much you're almost relieved when the shooting starts

[@AndreJNick]

I'm pretty sure it wasn't Calvin that gave Brunhilda the scars. I'm pretty sure it was Django's last master. I remember a scene where Django was begging the man not to whip her

[@sayjinpat4life]

You're right

[@idiotsandwich1045]

thank you

[@wanderinghistorian]

What might make Candie even more evil is that his treatment of his slaves was actually against the law even in the ruthless American Antebellum South. You weren't allowed to just torture and murder your slaves. These laws weren't in place, of course, out of any pity or humanism towards the slaves - but a self-preserving measure to prevent outrage in the North and the potential for slave insurrections. Additionally, by murdering his slaves, Candie is showing that money doesn't really matter to him since murdering a slave would be like setting many hundreds of thousands of dollars on fire.

[@mrmicro22]

There were no slaves in the Antebellum South. That is after the war.

[@BekeroParyin]

@@mrmicro22 No, antebellum means "before the war".

[@calcaleb7041]

@@mrmicro22 🤣🤣 yikes

[@ezakustam]

@@mrmicro22 You really going to keep that up and say nothing?

[@melindaroop1346]

@@mrmicro22 I bet you were the smartest one in your class.

[@pablocarranza4644]

This man has deserved so many Oscar’s it’s insane.

[@alyssa01825]

we should change the name of the oscar’s to the dicaprio’s lol he deserves ir

[@darlenejohnson3529]

I agree with you so many Oscars he should have won he should have one more than Jack Nicholson has everyone perhaps his Cavalier lifestyle has something to do with it

[@ZeyTheIncubus]

I had no idea that Leo actually cut his hand on the glass in that scene. The fact that he did it by accident but just rolled with it is dedication to the role for sure. Just helped fuel it.

[@ArcherSuh4721]

Great video! And I'm not trying to be "that guy," but Django Unchained wasn't loosely based on Django. When Django, a western made by an Italian studio in 1966, was released, it became a surprise hit. So Italian movie studios took advantage of legal loopholes in that country that applied at the time to films. One of these was that while a studio couldn't release a movie with the same title as another, there weren't any laws that prohibited adding a number or other word to an already-existing title, even if the movie in question had no association with it. (For example, Night of the Living Dead's Italian title was Zombi, so another zombie film that came out later went by the title Zombi 2, even though it was completely unrelated to the George Romero movie.) So after the success of Django, Italian movie studios started giving other westerns they were producing Django-related titles to ride the coattails of the original's success as unofficial sequels with titles like Django Kills, W. Django and countless others. They even started doing that with non-westerns that starred Franco Nero, the actor that played Django. Nero would star as a cop fighting crime in modern-day Miami and it'd get the title Django vs. The Mafia. There are over fifty of these unofficial sequels and Tarantino was paying an homage to this tradition by using the name and the title, as well as a cameo from Franco Nero as the Italian slave owner. (The joke being that he knows that the D is silent.) So this was Quentin Tarantino making his own unofficial Django sequel. There's actually even more to this whole Django story, but this comment is already way too TL;DR. So thanks for reading all of it!

[@Neion8]

Cheers for sharing that bit of pop history!

[@gudduentertains]

Apt, apt analysis.

[@dustingrimmmagic1067]

It's still despicable, but you mentioned how he let someone get eaten for "a few hundred dollars". Back around the time the movie plays (1858) 500 dollars is equal to the buying Power of almost 20.000$ today. Not that it's not still horrible, but back in the day that was a REALLY serious amount of money

[@wanderinghistorian]

What's interesting though is that killing a slave was like setting even more money on fire. The fact that he regularly murders his own slaves proves Candie doesn't really care about the money. Real slave owners mistreated their slaves but were very careful about preserving their lives until they'd gotten their money's worth because they were so expensive - especially physically fit males.

[@ezakustam]

@@wanderinghistorian I'm right there with you in the social criticism of the mentality of killing slaves, but do you have any idea how many of them died on the slave ships? It shows a hubris and brutality that's completely self-defeating.

[@Leto85]

I just watched this movie today because KZbin recommended me your video essay on this character, and thank you for that. He is terrifying indeed, especially because of his will to do everything he need in order to get what he wants and he enjoys every cruel act in between. That he is powerful, in control and can hide all that behind his charming good looks makes him all the more terrifying and a very interesting villain to watch. I have laughed with the characters when they joked, I have cried during the torture scenes and I have enjoyed every dialogue in this movie because to me dialogue in a Tarantino movie is simply just delicious.

[@Tty27]

Leonardo dicaprio transcends all his rolls, I aways look foward to watching his movies.

[@xardas149]

Django Unchained is one of the few films who left me with this feeling "what now" you get when you finished a very long series. This feeling of having witnessed something amazing that leaves you a bit stunned for a moment, not knowing what to do next.

[@ardnp]

I love Nerdstalgic but this is the first time they got something horribly wrong. And I'm not talking about the breakdown, it's the details. Candi didn't admimister the beating to Broomhylda, and he didn't allowed the dogs to eat D'artagnan for underperforming. It was for trying to run away and not wanting to go back to fighting.

[@djones6211]

Ya, I was looking for this comment. The video creator did not watch the movie closely. Hildi was new(ish) to the plantation. Those scars are old. More likely from one of the flashbacks Django brings up regarding the Brittle Brothers.

[@smokeyman1121]

Yeah also they weren't trying to defraud him out of thousands of dollars, correct? It was to pay a fair price for the fighter and get Broomhilda as a sweetener with that deal.

[@djones6211]

They were going to pay for and take Hildi and then not pay for the fighter. I don't think they would have taken the fighter before payment. So no fraud, you're correct.

[@gamecokben]

What are you talking about...the moron who reads the script constantly pronounces words wrong and uses phrases wrong. They get shit constantly wrong.

[@carlosdangerjr.7935]

Didn’t wanna be the one who had to make the point that he fed D’Artagnan to Marsha and the bitches bc of a lost fight I mean, it was a fight to the death, as narrator even pointed out. Kinda hard to kill a man who lost a fight to the death.

[@earlwashington8104]

What I absolutely love about Quentin Tarantino films, all of them, is that he never forgets the purpose of a film. And that is it should be interesting, entertaining and hopefully riveting. I have never seen a Quentin Tarantino film that I could get up and walk away from. He is the quintessential filmmaker of our time and I am lucky to be alive while he makes films. Thank you Quentin Tarantino for making my life very, very interesting. I absolutely love your movies because it feels like you are making films just for me. Also, without this brilliant script and masterful directing , Leonardo DiCaprio would be just another pretty face on the screen. Earl Marshawn Washington, artist. born 1962.

[@LobbeWOW]

His exceptional calm can only be rivaled by his explosive cruelty, both equally intimidating. An absolutely amazing performance which leaves you feeling uncomfortable yet somehow unable to look away.

[@mariyatakeuchi9009]

As wicked as Calvin was Stephen was even more sinister

[@allahuakbar3639]

No, maybe more of a threat but he was NOT more sinister or evil than Calvin. Stephan was a slave bro, not defending his actions but he clearly did that so he wouldn’t have to be a slave. While Calvin was just evil

[@anthonygilbert5138]

​@@allahuakbar3639Stephen was the true villain Calvin was an idiot

[@jameslancefield9810]

I find this film incredibly rewatchable which, in my opinion, is the mark of a great film. I also enjoyed the hateful eight but i think Django might be up there as one of my favourite Tarantino films. I rewatch this film and pulp fiction alot but it might just be my favourite. I also think it is underrated.

[@phamgiaanhhoang9767]

Hans Landa still the scariest villain for me, he literally sent chills down my spine everytime he's on screen

[@SevenPhotonsFilms]

Great video, as always but...really what blew my mind the most were those amazing transitions you put in the video. 🤯....where can I find something like that? Amazing.

[@JoshAbridged]

Samuel L Jackson was robbed of an Oscar for his performance

[@mrrkkii]

It's sad that you think that

[@dustingrimmmagic1067]

While he did great, I dont think he comes close to dicaprio or waltz in this

[@JoshAbridged]

@@dustingrimmmagic1067 waltz was good but his performance in inglorious bastards is much better. Samuel was legit special in this role

[@dustingrimmmagic1067]

@@JoshAbridged I agree on his role in inglorious Bastards being better! I guess I have to rewatch django, maybe ill reconsider!

[@jobowisheshewasnomo4171]

he was vile in this movie to be sure.

[@Eralen00]

major respect to leo for staying in character and finishing the shot despite injuring himself and watching his own real blood pouring from his hand. That takes real dedication

[@MR-mb5kt]

Wouldn’t you for millions of dollars

[@elduchie68]

When I first saw Django Unchained, I was really surprised to see Dicaprio in it. I never thought Tarentino would use him in one of his movies. However Dicaprio did nail it. He was brilliant in this.

[@josephshulberg326]

He was actually the original choice for Hans landa in bastards but terrintto changed his mind when he met waltz

[@CountryMusicMann]

I will say, I just recently watched Django Unchained since it was on Netflix, and I was mostly fine with it, the gore, the swearing, the violence. Until this scene came up. Watching those two men fight to the death just for two men's amusement was horrible in a way I've never seen before, as if they're just animals there to please their masters. Intellectually I knew that's how a lot of white slaveowners in the antebellum south felt about their slaves, but this scene really made me feel it. And when the film got to part where Candie has a slave eaten alive, it was actually difficult for me to watch.

[@haleydoe644]

This is Tarantino's genius.

[@happalula]

it just shows the exceptional talent Leo possesses how well he acts the characters out. even during the cruel and psychopathic moments you are just taken aback by his charisma

[@lyonspell]

Who would have thought that the kid from Titanic would become one of the best actors of this generation? Hell, one of the best actors EVER!

[@rogeliogarcia-cavazos3715]

Even going back to “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” you can see he was already an extraordinary actor.

[@brianclingenpeel5123]

Very interesting. I was shaken by these scenes like every other viewer when i first saw them, but the way he breaks down the performance of DeCaprio is impressive

[@nateds7326]

It is insane that Leo actually finished that take. I wonder if the adrenaline helped or hurt his performance.

[@northerncrozz8449]

the 'silver tongued devil' line is my fav of ALL time

[@SuperDrake85]

I like the description of Candie as more of Roman emperor drunk with power. I don't know why I never noticed it before, but he gives off Caligula vibes for sure, especially with the interactions with his sister. The scene in the parlor where he's having drinks and casual conversation while a man is brutally murdered a few feet away is reminiscent of the decapitation machine scene in the old 1970s Caligula flick.

[@evilbug555to666]

This movie is a complete masterpiece...not even a single bad scene..🔥🔥

[@landonmiles97]

DiCaprio is one of the greatest actors of all time in my opinion.

[@bogib8113]

Don’t know if anyone else noticed this but James reemer played two characters in this movie. Man shot in beginning and Calvin’s bodyguard. I call him dexters dad but still funny he played two guys who die in the same movie. And my favorite camera work of the movie is the zoom in on Calvin’s face after introducing himself. Love it.

[@cooperdemarcus44]

i noticed too

[@Arialous_2022]

I need to see this movie now. Just watching this explanation railed me up a lot. I’m one for villains more than for the hero’s. A good underdog story is amazing and it’s always a breeze, but the villains always attract me more. Especially the ones that are so ruthless. It’s an amazing display of not just power, but what the person is capable of doing. The villains are the highlight, when performed correctly and when you can connect with them.

[@blackhammer5797]

I’m a black man and this was the greatest acting performance I have ever seen in my life 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@joshmcgootermier2301]

Amazing what this man was considered when we were younger and what he he he has become. Glad that he actually turned out to be a great actor unlike so many of his fellow former teen hearthrobs. Edit: just seeing the clip again makes me sick. This movie...well, time for a rewatch with the wife and kids out of town.

[@gamecokben]

What are you talking about? He was always amazing. If you lacked the foresight to see it, that's on you

[@joshmcgootermier2301]

@@gamecokben too young to have the foresight at the time. Yeah, was on me. Edit: Yeah, and you are right. I think the way i should have phrased it was that for a time he was viewed as someone that would cater to young girls... even though gilbert grape and basketball diaries clearly arent this. Thanks for making have a rethink.

[@lazytommy0]

I loved his performance in this film. They all did well actually. A legendary film!

[@GhostStealth590]

Did I just see CC Balls used as a transition at 1:24?... the editing in these videos never ceases to amaze me.

[@adithyamenon5207]

im in love with the transitions he uses in his videos to go from one clip to another

[@delix787]

This is my favorite Leonardo DiCaprio performance and character! I also love character design. Everything about candy was perfect for Django! Leo killed it. 💙🖤💙

[@Yoshimitsu4prez]

Absolutely an Oscar-worthy performance but I can see how the academy may have been apprehensive with the subject matter

[@Sesi_angel_india1000]

Exactly what I was thinking! The optics of a white man receiving an Oscar for being a great slave owner aren’t good!

[@playablue]

Because they don’t Ike awarding white people in slave “massa” roles the same as they award black people playing “thugs”…. It’s called w….e supremacy

[@MerchantIvoryfilms]

Ramsey Bolton is the most terrifying villain ever. His twister tormented smile alone is enough to send shivers down anyone's spin.

[@RashtaEinthisB]

2:22 personally, my favourite villain ever. Waltz played that to another level.

[@bz7661]

I'm bewildered as to why Leo didn't won an Oscar for his role as Calvin Candie.

[@theoutlook55]

Or at least be nominated.

[@playablue]

Because they don’t Ike awarding white people in slave “massa” roles the same as they award black people playing “thugs”…. It’s called w….e supremacy

[@MissBlueEyeliner]

Django Unchained is the only Tarantino that I never rewatched. It was amazing and I was _sick._ I couldn’t handle it. Even this short video has me on edge.

[@djdeemz7651]

I have a theory about him - when he does the deal with shultz he insists on a hand shake , now shultz has the sleeve gun and the way he insists on the handshake would raise suspicion within shultz as he is very familiar with that weapon and usually deploys it when going for a handshake , shultz knew calvin was gonna shoot him so he shot first

[@tavarasjordan]

Good point

[@scramble7673]

You forgot True Romance, which was his 1st main stream film directed by Tony Scott. And an absolute masterpiece that many are not aware of. I highly recommend this film as the characters portrayed set the tone for the rest of Tarantinos films.

[@Bradbssargdons]

Incredibly well explained. This is top 10 movie of mine and seen it prob 30 times. Tarantino is by far my fav.

[@theoutlook55]

Such great acting by Leo, I thought the acting for this villain was at the level as for Hans Landa in Inglorious Bastards. Personally, I was surprised Leo didn't get an Oscar nomination for this.

[@42k78]

DiCaprio is among the best in Hollywood. He made everyone hate and fear him in this film. You also can't take your eyes off of him. You don't know what he's going to do next.

[@johnny2handss432]

I love, and very much that particular character. Thanks for the content, enjoyed it very much.

[@Mu3azOsman]

amazing analysis👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@gamefreak2016]

9:30 this scene honesty proves how incredible Leonardo is as an actor. He is truly a legendary actor

[@NelsonStJames]

I'm really going to miss Tarantino as a filmmaker. While I'm hoping that he will eventually break his word and not make his next film his last, as a fan of his work I really look forward to what this film will be. He has brought out some of the best performances in all the actors he works with. Also, i'm glad you cleared up the fact that he did not smear actual blood on Washington's face as some people have tried to claim.

[@probablyapomegranate3896]

Im usually good at suspending disbelief or for serious movies not reading into too much detail but this is one of the few movies that have been ingrained into my mind. Leonardo's Calvin made me feel uncomfortable and it speaks volumes for him as an actor. Jamie Fox and Leo had fantastic performances but it's still hard now for me to watch it again. Fuckin Tarantino man

[@sandmanzcommin08]

Leo didn't need to nearly kill himself in The Revenant, he should've got his Oscar for Django!

[@nbaallday8391]

how???

[@feixie5196]

I didn’t find him scary, I found the situation they put themselves in terrifying

[@mankytoes]

Yeah, I definitely disagree with the title here, I think Stephen is scarier one here. Candie is a great character but too dumb to be "terrifying".

[@pseudonymous9153]

There's literally no non racist non slavery supporter explanation for your comment.

[@feixie5196]

@@pseudonymous9153 what are you talking about? They’re trying to scam a violent slave owner at his turf, surrounded by enemies, that’s a terrifying situation, how is that racist?

[@WhiteManOnCampus]

@@pseudonymous9153 A translation that might be palatable for someone looking to see hatred and bigotry in everything: Candie wasn't a frightening man, but the protagonists placed themselves in an incredibly dangerous situation with a number of armed psychopaths who could kill them at any time. Candie was a buffoon and a manchild who just wanted to play with his "toys" regardless of the fact that those toys were human lives.

[@jasonboisseau409]

But it’s only really terrifying because of Leo’s Calvin. It’s what drives the suspense and gives you that sense of dreed

[@sirderpington7704]

the part that gets me everytime was after this scene. when they are eating said cake. the sound of his teeth scraping against the fork is the sound of a knife sharpening and I just oh my god that's such a good sound design choice.

[@speedracer2008]

Nerdstalgic, you had my curiosity. Now, you have my attention.

[@azziyhightmen5866]

Now I can see why this character is a prime example of an unsympathetic villain. DiCaprio literally inflicted immense bodily harm to himself to sell the hell out of this performance Intentional branding his own hand with the wrath of a hateful character that they work to manifest into the culture Amazing what you can do when you merge talent and dedication on everyone’s part.

[@leahrucks238]

Can we just just acknowledge the talent of DiCaprio he is one of my favorite actors, who transcends into every role he plays.

[@fitforfreelance]

Great analysis of an intense, well-delivered role

[@justadrum]

I was in film school when I got my hands on a copy of this script; probably 2-3 years before the it came out. I heard Leo and Jamie were set to play characters but I didn’t know which ones. When I finally seen it, it didn’t disappoint at all. Brilliant work for Tarantino and team. Definitely a classic ❤💯

[@uosdwiSrdewoH]

DiCaprio is incredible. I love Django Unchained. It's one of my favourite films. Everything leading up to the introduction of Calvin is fantastic but when he turns around and we get right up close there's a tension that doesn't let up. Even when Django is at the first plantation and he just opens fire on the Brittle brothers it feels like things will work out for them. With this guy that's never guaranteed. Especially once they enter his home and have to keep up the act the entire time. You know that this thing will blow up in their faces at any moment and you're just waiting for the inevitable.

[@JonathanRodriguez-nz9nw]

Never thought he was especially intimidating with how easily he was dispatched, of course the acting was incredible, Leo always is. But i just found that he was inept, not truly capable of causing any damage without an army of help. I almost felt the same way about Le Chiffre upon first watching Bond because he was about to be killed by angry criminals, but he was incredibly cunning and could handle his own even against Bond on an individual level. Even with the first viewing i was satisfied with him as a villain, ranking second, only behind Sean Bean's 006. But this guy is not cunning

[@americanpaisareturns9051]

0:07 😂 That look. You know exactly what he’s thinking at that moment.

[@ramonsanchez4751]

It's crazy how deep he went into the role. He was so in character he wouldn't even look at or even talk to Jaime fox prior to recording. Prompting asking dicaprio if something is wrong lol

[@kingetzel2755]

As terrifying as this is, I think it's potentially more terrifying to realize the horrors seemingly average people are capable of when they dehumanize any group of peoples, regardless of the time period and group being dehumanized.

[@yagodaghendrik9664]

Ok but this isn't a real portrayal of actualy people that lives in the mid 19th century

[@kingetzel2755]

@@yagodaghendrik9664 I'm not sure what your point is. Of course these specific characters are fictional.

[@loneranger2648]

This type of movie gives us a glimpse of what happened in the past and also provides us a message about how much nasty can a human become if given such materialistic power

[@caseymckenzie3951]

Calvin had a right to be mad they tryed to hustle him. And there’s worse or just as bad of things going on right now in the world sex trafficking is slavery theres alot of evil going on in the world right now being put in the hot box for a week is nothing compared to being put in prison solitary confinement for years at a time

[@1zxtv]

I love this movie so much I got through 6 minutes before I realized this channel is Nerdstalgic and im listening to the 2nd string narrator.

[@adamalmshref3130]

Calvin Candie horrified me. It was just everything about him. When it came to how he talked, his expressions, his false friendliness, or even just his overall appearance. He’s like the devil.