Quentin Tarantino

In Django Unchained, Quentin Tarantino mines the Western genre and a chapter of painful American history for a violent story of revenge and a tale of one of the most enjoyable friendships seen on the big screen. Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz play title character Django and bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz, respectively, who meet when Schultz frees and recruits the enslaved Django to help him track down his latest targets. The two team up, and when Django confesses his plan to find his enslaved wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), Schultz takes an interest in his tragic love story and decides to help Django find her. It's a surprisingly tender setup for the murderous adventures to come, and that juxtaposition is just one of the many crazy delights of Django Unchained.

Leonardo DiCaprio also stars as Calvin Candie, who owns a grand plantation called Candyland and who happens to be the current owner of Broomhilda. With his flamboyant dress, love of French culture, and charisma, Calvin is full of personality and is completely unpredictable. Calvin's far from the only dynamic character, though; each of Django's major players make this film as exciting as it is brutal. In exploring a new genre, Tarantino has created yet another mind-blowing, distinctive film. Find out what else makes this movie a must see after the jump.

Quentin Tarantino doesn't seem like the most likely director to take on a Western, but in the trailer for Django Unchained, it's clear that this movie is no traditional Western. Sure, everything seems conventional when we meet Django (Jamie Foxx), trudging in chains while a mournful Johnny Cash tune plays. But when he's recruited by bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) to help find outlaws, things get decidedly Tarantinian. Cue the soul music as Schultz and Django's journey leads them to plantation owner Calvin Candie, who's played by a curly-haired, Southern-drawling Leonardo DiCaprio.

DiCaprio is pretty cartoonish as what we suspect is the movie's villain, and his performance is my main reason for wanting to see this movie — which is saying a lot since I love Tarantino's work. I don't know whether this will top his last effort, the incredible Inglourious Basterds, but I'm excited to find out when the movie comes out in Australia on Jan. 24, 2013. Watch the trailer and let me know what you think after the jump.

Elle magazine took over LA last night to host its 17th annual Women in Hollywood event. The grey carpet was full of colour, with both Diane Kruger and Gwyneth Paltrow opting for bright numbers. Kate Hudson, meanwhile, went with a black dress and a daring side-swept hairstyle. Rachel Zoe covered up her supposed baby bump with one of her favourite flowing gowns, while Jake Gyllenhaal went classic in his suit. Ppo US were able to grab a minute with Kate as she headed inside to her waiting boyfriend, Matt Bellamy. Stay tuned later for video from the party to see what Diane had to say about her new movie and the best piece of style advice she's ever received! Kate and Matt were seated side by side at their table, where they sipped champagne and kept the PDA coming. Both Kate and Gwyneth are featured in Elle's November issue, and they were each honoured at the bash along with Diane. Kate took the stage to say a few words after being introduced by her mother, Goldie Hawn. Jake had kind words to share about his Proof co-star Gwyneth, saying, "Bottom line, she is not a mere mortal like the rest of us. She is an Internet-savvy, award-winning lifestyle guru, making all of us look lazy."

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The Venice Film Festival got under way last night starting with a Vogue party celebrating director Quentin Tarantino, where Jessica Alba joined Naomi Campbell, Stephen Dorff and more. She was up early this morning wearing a bold floral print dress to a Machete photocall. Her co-star Lindsay Lohan has to stay in California for the time being, and in an interview with David Letterman that aired Monday, Jessica got visibly uncomfortable when he grilled her on her trouble-prone castmate. Natalie Portman also travelled to Italy for the glamorous festival and was out to start promoting Black Swan today. She wore short purple dress to her photocall before slipping into a dramatic red gown for this evening's premiere. Her boyfriend, Benjamin Millepied, came along on the trip, but the press-shy couple avoided cuddling up on the red carpet for the movie that brought them together.

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Lots of funny people hit the red carpet in LA last night for the premiere of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Michael Cera and Jason Schwartzman posed for photos solo, and Anna Kendrick turned a few heads in her strapless gown and high heels. Anna, Michael, and Jason were happy to keep showing off their film after spending last weekend together at Comic-Con.

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Breaking Dawn, Oscar nominee? That sounds like the goal Summit has for Twilight's final, show-stopping chapter—the studio is reportedly eyeing a few Academy Award-nominated directors to take on Breaking Dawn. On the short list: Sofia Coppola, Gus Van Sant and Bill Condon. New Moon's Chris Weitz may not be the studio's first choice (though he had distinctive ideas for the film), but I'm all atwitter thinking about what a talented helmer could do with the sometimes-outrageous book (which is said to be two movies). Allow me then, to imagine, with my tongue firmly in my cheek, what Breaking Dawn could be like with five very well known, very distinctive directors.

• Quentin Tarantino: The already-violent birth scene would become several times more graphic, with more blood than Kill Bill Volumes 1 and 2 combined. The script would be altered to fit in upwards of fifty F-bombs. Obviously, the rating would ratchet up to an R immediately.
• Tim Burton: The dark material would suit the director just fine, while the visuals would become trippy and the colours saturated. Johnny Depp would play Renesmee.

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Diane Kruger was without her boyfriend Joshua Jackson as she posed for photos on the Oscars. The red carpet style star looked gorgeous, as usual, in her glamourous gown—make sure to check in with all of Fab and Bella's live love it or hate it polls for the details!

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