1959年,意大利導(dǎo)演Pietro Francisci拍攝了影片Hercules Unchained,表現(xiàn)了一個(gè)希臘神話傳說中的英雄逃離奴役的故事。1966年,另一位意大利導(dǎo)演Sergio Corbucci拍攝了影片Django,據(jù)說是截至當(dāng)時(shí)最為暴力的影片之一,以至于1993年才獲準(zhǔn)在英國播放。2012年,一位美籍意大利導(dǎo)演從兩部電影中攫取靈感,創(chuàng)作了電影《被解救的姜戈》(Django Unchained),這位導(dǎo)演就是“電影鬼才”昆汀·塔倫蒂諾(Quentin Tarantino)。
影片《被解救的姜戈》講述了美國南北戰(zhàn)爭前,一位叫姜戈(Django)的黑人奴隸解救被奴役的妻子,最終兩人重獲自由的故事。對于這樣一部主旋律影片,展現(xiàn)道義的力量本應(yīng)是最主要的,但它的導(dǎo)演是塔倫蒂諾,一個(gè)拍攝出像《殺死比爾》(Kill Bill)這樣血腥影片的人。若要把這部影片拍得像《空軍一號》(Air Force One)或者《逃離德黑蘭》(Argo)那樣正兒八經(jīng)就好比剪掉了他靈感的翅膀。他和吳宇森一樣,都是為暴力美學(xué)而生的。在他的影片里,道義與血腥同飛。
據(jù)塔倫蒂諾自己說,這部影片要體現(xiàn)兩大特色,即spaghetti western (意大利人攝制的美國西部片)和deep south (美國南方腹地)。于是我們在影片中既能看到策馬揚(yáng)鞭、拔槍對射、私刑仇殺等典型西部片的標(biāo)簽式鏡頭,也能在莊稼園、棉花地以及語法混亂、口音古怪的英語中感受從蠻荒向文明過渡的美國南方特色。無論從聽覺還是視覺來說,這部片子都讓人感覺很刺激。
當(dāng)姜戈遇到Schultz
1858年某天夜里,得克薩斯州某處,黑人奴隸姜戈被奴隸販子Speck兄弟從格林維爾拍賣場買下,正被押往不知名的目的地。他們蹣跚的腳步和咣啷作響的鐵鏈突然停下,一個(gè)駕著馬車的人出現(xiàn)在陰森的黑夜里。這個(gè)人舉止古怪,說話帶著濃重的德國口音,馬車上竟然豎著一顆巨大的牙齒。他就是牙醫(yī)Dr. King Schultz,正是他后來解救了姜戈,并改變了姜戈,可謂姜戈的教父。但此刻他并不是為了姜戈而來,他不過是來找認(rèn)識Brittle三兄弟的人,而恰巧姜戈認(rèn)識他們。
Schultz想買走姜戈,但不識相的Speck兄弟拒絕放人。在那個(gè)無法無天的時(shí)代里,三兩句不合就用槍說話。俗話說“人不可貌相”,牙醫(yī)貌似文弱,實(shí)則深藏不露,三兩下便將Speck兄弟擺平,自己帶著姜戈揚(yáng)長而去。
第二天,Schultz帶著姜戈大搖大擺地來到了一個(gè)名叫Daughtrey的小鎮(zhèn)。在一個(gè)小酒館里,這個(gè)看似平凡的牙醫(yī)揭開了他不平凡的職業(yè)身份。
Django: What kinda dentist are you?
Schultz: Despite that cart, I havent practiced dentistry in five years. These days, I practice a new profession—bounty (賞金) hunter. Do you know what a bounty hunter is?
Django: No.
Schultz: Well, the way the slave trade deals in human lives for cash, a bounty hunter deals in corpses (死尸). The state places a bounty on a mans head. I track that man, I find that man, I kill that man. After Ive killed him, I transport that mans corpse back to the authorities. Sometimes thats easier said than done. I show that corpse to the authorities, proving yes indeed, I truly have killed him, at which point the authorities pay me the bounty. So, like slavery, its a flesh-for-cash business.
Django: Whats a bounty?
Schultz: Its like a reward.
Django: You kill people and they give you a reward?
Schultz: Certain people, yeah.
Django: Bad people?
Schultz: Ah! Badder they are, bigger the reward! Which brings me to you. And I must admit that Im at a bit of a quandary (左右為難的窘境) when it comes to you. On one hand, I despise slavery. On the other hand, I need your help. If youre not in a position to refuse, all the better. So for the time being, Im gonna make this slavery malarkey (蠢話) work to my benefit. Still, having said that, I feel guilty. So, I would like the two of us to enter into an agreement. Im looking for the Brittle Brothers. However Ive had this endeavor, Im at a slight disadvantage, in so far as I dont know what they look like. But you do, dont ya?
Django: I know what they look like, all right.
Schultz: Good. So heres my agreement. You travel with me until we find them.
Django: Where we goin?
Schultz: I hear at least two of them are overseeing up in Gatlinburg, but I dont know where. That means we visit every plantation in Gatlinburg till we find em. And when we find them, you point them out, and I kill them. You do that, I agree to give you your freedom, $25 per Brittle Brother. Thats $75.
Schultz確實(shí)深藏不露,牙醫(yī)的身份不過是個(gè)幌子,他的真實(shí)身份是bounty hunter。Bounty hunter是一個(gè)極其特殊的職業(yè),是指靠追捕逃犯而獲得賞金的人,因此叫做“賞金獵人”。要想干這票flesh-for-cash的生意,沒兩把刷子是不可能在這個(gè)圈里混的。但Schultz不僅僅是一個(gè)冷血的殺手和生意人,他在骨子里還是一個(gè)堅(jiān)定的廢奴主義者。以他的身份,他完全沒有必要和姜戈講條件做生意,但他卻把姜戈當(dāng)成了自己的生意伙伴,并且答應(yīng)給他自由。
Schultz給予姜戈的不僅僅是一單殺人的生意以及可以贖回他人身自由的契約。他教會(huì)了姜戈作為一名合格獵手的基本技能,使他從一個(gè)平凡的奴隸成長為一個(gè)高級的賞金獵人。更重要的是,當(dāng)他得知姜戈的妻子Broomhilda被賣到了Candyland莊園時(shí),他又兩肋插刀,為姜戈鋌而走險(xiǎn)。要知道,在那個(gè)時(shí)代的那個(gè)地方,黑人奴隸是沒有結(jié)婚權(quán)利這一說的。強(qiáng)壯的奴隸只有生殖的權(quán)利,而這種繁衍后代的權(quán)利只是為奴隸販子的黑奴生意服務(wù)。但在Schultz眼里,姜戈是一個(gè)有獨(dú)立人格的人,一個(gè)完整的人,一個(gè)直立行走的人。
完美計(jì)劃
Schultz混跡江湖多年,他深知要從殺人不眨眼的莊園主Calvin Candie那里順利地買走Broomhilda幾乎是不可能的。于是老謀深算的Schultz設(shè)計(jì)了一個(gè)“明修棧道,暗度陳倉”的計(jì)劃。
Schultz: So, say, a man wants to buy a horse, needs to buy a horse. He walks up to the farmers farm, and he knocks on the farmers door and asks the farmer to buy his horse. And you know what the farmer says? The farmer says no.
Django: Well, I say fuck that farmer, and Im stealin that horse.
Schultz: Fair enough. But now youre a horse thief, and they hang horse thieves. Not to mention the horse goes back to its original owner, because the horse is still his property. We need her and we need a bill of sale.
Django: Well, if we aint gonna try to buy her, then how we gonna get her?
Schultz: May I offer an alternative plan of action?
Django: Go ahead.
Schultz: The man walks up to the farmers farm. he knocks on the farmers door and asks not to buy the horse, but the farm, and makes an offer so ridiculous, the farmer is forced to say yes.
Django: We gonna offer to buy Candyland?
Schultz: No, its far too big. But apparently this farmer aint all about the farm. How much do you know about Mandingo fighting (一項(xiàng)為了主人的娛樂和斂財(cái)而讓奴隸搏斗致死的賭博活動(dòng))?
Django: What?
Schultz: Can you convincingly masquerade (偽裝) as someone who is an expert on Mandingo fighting?
Django: Why?
Schultz: Because my character is that of a big money buyer from Dusseldorf (杜塞爾多夫,德國城市), here in Greenville to buy my way into the Mandingo fight game. And your character is a Mandingo expert I hired to help me do it.
不得不說姜還是老的辣,和Schultz相比,姜戈顯得太嫩了。在有了自由和槍之后,姜戈也只是一個(gè)草莽英雄。實(shí)際上姜戈與Schultz亦師亦友亦同伙,只不過在最初階段Schultz一直是主導(dǎo)者。隨著情節(jié)的深入,我們慢慢會(huì)在姜戈的身上找到Schultz的影子,看到這個(gè)黑人奴隸逐漸變成有勇有謀的“黑版”Schultz。不過在這之前,姜戈還有很多要學(xué)。
懷揣完美計(jì)劃,兩人來到了Calvin Candie的俱樂部。在那里,他們首先目睹了一場殘忍的Mandingo fight。Mandingo fight類似于古羅馬的角斗,是黑奴之間的殘殺游戲,但歷史上并沒有確鑿的證據(jù)證明它的存在。無論如何,這種虛構(gòu)的游戲完成了Schultz與Candie初次見面的“血腥”布景。Schultz借此向Candie提出要購買善于角斗的黑奴,但Candie開始并不買賬,直到Schultz開出“天價(jià)”。
Candie: So, Bright Boy (指姜戈), Moguy (Candie的律師) tells me you looked over my African flesh, and you was none too impressed, huh?
Django: Not for top dollar.
Candie: Well, then we got nothin more to talk about. You see, you wanna buy a beat-ass nigger from me. Those are the beat-ass niggers I wanna sell, so …
Django: He dont wanna buy the niggers you wanna sell. He wants the nigger you dont wanna sell.
Candie: Well, I dont sell the niggers I dont wanna sell.
Schultz: Well, you wont sell your best. You wont even sell your second best. But your third best? You dont want to sell him either. but if I made you an offer so ridiculous youd be forced to consider it, who knows what could happen?
Candie: And what do you consider ridiculous?
Schultz: For a truly talented specimen, the right nigger? How much would you say, Django?
Django: Twelve thousand dollars.
Candie: Well, gentlemen, you had my curiosity, but now you have my attention.
在Schultz的精心布置和設(shè)計(jì)下,外表虛榮、內(nèi)心殘忍但頭腦簡單的Candie正一步一步走進(jìn)Schultz的圈套。而在這場戲當(dāng)中,姜戈扮演了一位極其合格的配角,一個(gè)Mandingo fight的專家。他雖出身卑賤,但似乎與生俱來有一種類似Schultz的商人氣質(zhì)。在和白人莊園主Candie的討價(jià)還價(jià)中,姜戈表演得天衣無縫,事情正朝著Schultz設(shè)計(jì)的情節(jié)按部就班地往下發(fā)展。
一波三折的較量
第二天,兩人和Candie一起前往他的莊園Candyland。然而在路上,魯莽的姜戈與Candie的白人仆從發(fā)生了沖突,對Candie的黑奴也表現(xiàn)得異常粗暴。Schultz不得不出面制止,并提醒姜戈不要因小失大。
Schultz: I confirmed that Broomhildas at Candyland.… Point being, dont get so carried away with your retribution (懲罰,報(bào)應(yīng)). You lose sight of why were here.
Django: You think I lost sight, did I?
Schultz: Yes, I do. Stop antagonizing Candie. Youre going to blow this whole charade (偽裝), or more than likely get us both killed. And I, for one, dont intend to die in Chickasaw County, Mississippi, USA.
Django: Im not antagonizing. Im intriguing him.
Schultz: Youre yelling abuse at these poor slaves.
Django: I recall the man (指Shultz) who had me kill another man in front of his son and he didnt bat an eye. Remember that?
Schultz: Yeah, of course I remember.
Django: What you said was … You said this is my world, and in my world you gotta get dirty. So thats what Im doing. Im gettin dirty.
Schultz: Well, youre paraphrasing a tad (略微,少量), but that was the general gist (要旨). See you at Candyland.
第一次,面對姜戈,巧舌如簧的Schultz竟然啞口無言。姜戈正慢慢學(xué)會(huì)他的生意精髓:在對手面前冷酷、狡詐、卑鄙。面對姜戈的轉(zhuǎn)變,Schultz不知是該欣喜還是無奈。
在Candyland,姜戈終于找到了他失散的妻子Broomhilda。于是姜戈和Schultz又多了一個(gè)幫手,三人聯(lián)手把Candie哄得團(tuán)團(tuán)轉(zhuǎn),而愚蠢的Candie毫無戒備,準(zhǔn)備把Broomhilda低價(jià)賣給Schultz。然而他們?nèi)f萬沒有想到,Candie也有一個(gè)幫手——他的黑人管家Steven。正是因?yàn)樯畈夭宦兜腟teven敏銳地嗅到了三人之間不尋常的關(guān)系并及時(shí)提醒Candie,Schultz的整個(gè)計(jì)劃在成功的曙光到來前被逆轉(zhuǎn)了。
Candie: What is the matter?
Steven: Them motherfuckers aint here to buy no Mandingos. They wants that girl.
Candie: Steven, what the hell are you talking about, hm?
Steven: They playing your ass for a fool is what Im talking about. They aint here for no muscle-bound Jimmie. They here for that girl.
Candie: Where you gettin all this? Why would they go through all that trouble for a nigger with a chewed-up back, aint worth $300?
Steven: They doin it cause that nigger Djangos in love with Hildi. She probably his wife. Now, why that German gives a fuck who that uppity son of a bitch is in love with, Im sure I dont know.
Candie: If shes who they want, why this whole snake oil pitch about Mandingos in?
Steven: You wouldnt pay no never mind to no $300. But that 12,000? That made you real friendly, now, didnt it?
正所謂螳螂捕蟬,黃雀在后。Schultz和姜戈也許萬萬沒有想到讓他們的計(jì)劃破產(chǎn)的會(huì)是一個(gè)黑人。實(shí)際上Steven的出場就與眾不同。在白人主子面前,普通的黑人奴隸要么桀驁不馴,時(shí)刻準(zhǔn)備反抗;要么謹(jǐn)小慎微,像一個(gè)個(gè)驚慌失措的小鹿。但Steven不同,他在主子面前如同一只溫順的狗,人前馬后,阿諛奉承,甚至為了維護(hù)白人主子的利益向黑人兄弟的尊嚴(yán)使刀。當(dāng)他與Candie獨(dú)處一室,向其告發(fā)Schultz的陰謀時(shí),他竟然手持一杯紅酒,端坐在沙發(fā)上,和主人平起平坐。種種跡象表明,這不是一個(gè)一般意義上的黑奴,他是一個(gè)高級奴才。有趣的是,他的出現(xiàn)不僅和代表反抗階層的黑人姜戈形成對比,更和白人Schultz形成強(qiáng)烈反差。他與Schultz的差異不僅僅體現(xiàn)在膚色、種族和階級上,更體現(xiàn)在價(jià)值觀上:Schultz是一個(gè)痛恨奴隸制的白人,而Steven是一個(gè)“倒戈”的黑奴。
行百里者半九十。Steven的出現(xiàn)使Schultz的計(jì)劃功虧一簣。Candie得知自己被愚弄后惱羞成怒,他以Broomhilda的生命相脅,逼Schultz以12,000美元的高價(jià)買下了Broomhilda。Candie以暴力和生命為籌碼,完成了這筆不道德的交易,他成了金錢的贏家。雖然Schultz輸?shù)袅诉@場賭局,但他的道義優(yōu)勢使Candie喪失了所有優(yōu)越感,使他有怒無處發(fā)泄。于是Candie向Schultz提出了最后一個(gè)挑釁的要求。
Candie: Its a custom here in the South, once a business deal is concluded, that the two parties shake hands. It implies good faith.
Schultz: Im not from the South.
Candie: But you are in my house, doctor. So Im afraid I must insist.
Schultz: Insist? On what? That I shake your hand? Oh, then Im afraid I must insist in the opposite direction.
Candie: You know what I think you are?
Schultz: What you think I am? No, I dont.
Candie: I think you are a bad loser.
Schultz: And I think youre an abysmal (糟透的) winner.
Candie: Nevertheless, here in Chickasaw County, a deal aint done until the two parties have shook hands. Even after all that paper signin, dont mean shit. You dont shake my hand.
Schultz: If I dont shake your hand, youre gonna throw away $12,000? I dont think so.
Candie: Mr. Pooch (Candie的侍從), if she (指Broomhilda) tries to leave here before this nigger-loving German shakes my hand, you cut her ass down.
Schultz: You really want me to shake your hand?
Candie: I insist.
Schultz: If you insist.
說著,Schultz走向Candie,然后突然像變戲法一樣從袖子里掏出手槍,毫不猶豫地把Candie撂倒在地。Schultz也即刻被Candie的仆從殺死。Schultz與Candie的見面以Mandingo fight的暴力開場,最終也以暴力結(jié)束。Schultz早先還說不想死在Chickasaw,怎想一語成讖,最終死在了被他殺死的莊園主的莊園里。在來的路上他還警告過姜戈不要義氣用事,而最后他自己卻僅僅因?yàn)楸槐坪虲andie握手而按捺不住怒火,結(jié)果了對方,也結(jié)束了自己。Schultz一直在教姜戈做到冷酷、從容和卑鄙,然而這套標(biāo)準(zhǔn)卻沒有扼制住他自己在面對殘暴的奴隸主時(shí)的憤怒、沖動(dòng)和正義,這更反映出Schultz內(nèi)心深處對奴隸制的深惡痛絕。Schultz的廢奴思想成全了姜戈,但也最終賠上了自己的性命。
讓子彈再飛一會(huì)兒
接下來的故事就成了姜戈的個(gè)人表演。他以一抵十,左右開弓,與Candie的仆從展開了血戰(zhàn)。在這一場血肉橫飛的槍戰(zhàn)中,導(dǎo)演塔倫蒂諾盡情發(fā)揮他對暴力美學(xué)的各種想象,子彈亂飛,場面慘烈,讓觀眾在血淋淋的場面中享受暴力的浪漫和發(fā)泄的快感。
姜戈寡不敵眾,最后被捕,并被賣到一家礦場做苦力。但他設(shè)計(jì)騙過了白人看守,又成功逃脫。有意思的是,他使的計(jì)法竟然是謊稱自己是一個(gè)bounty hunter,那淡定自若的神情,那巧舌如簧的說辭,活脫脫就是當(dāng)初的Schultz。這時(shí),姜戈正式從Schultz的“學(xué)?!崩锂厴I(yè)了。
隨后,姜戈潛回Candyland開始了最后的復(fù)仇。諷刺的是,在整個(gè)過程中姜戈殺的都是白人,而他殺死的最后一個(gè)人卻是黑人Steven。這是他唯一殺死的黑人,可能也是他最痛恨的人。Steven臨死時(shí)仍在捍衛(wèi)Candyland這個(gè)他守護(hù)了幾十年的農(nóng)場?;蛟S因?yàn)楫?dāng)高級奴隸太久,他已經(jīng)忘了自己也是奴隸。
Steven: [被姜戈擊倒] Oh, sweet Jesus, let me kill this nigger! You aint gonna get away with this, Django! They gonna catch your black ass. You gonna be on the wanted posters now, nigger. The bounty hunters gonna be lookin for you. You can run, nigger, but they gonna find your ass! And when they do, oh, Lord, what they gonna do to your ass! They aint gonna just kill you, nigger! You done fucked up! This Candyland, nigger! You cant destroy Candyland!
姜戈引爆了他早已準(zhǔn)備好的炸彈,從容地走向遠(yuǎn)處騎在馬背上等待他的Broomhilda。隨后,Steven與Candyland的豪宅一起在爆炸聲中灰飛煙滅。在那個(gè)血腥復(fù)仇、以暴易暴的狂野南部,一切都遵從最原始、最自然的因果法則。
《被解救的姜戈》自去年上映以來名利雙收。它不負(fù)重望地在第85屆奧斯卡金像獎(jiǎng)評比中獲得最佳原創(chuàng)劇本大獎(jiǎng)。Schultz的扮演者Christoph Waltz憑借其收放自如的表演拿下了最佳男配角獎(jiǎng)。此外,本片還獲得最佳影片、最佳攝影和最佳音效剪輯獎(jiǎng)項(xiàng)的提名。
和《紅樓夢》中的賈雨村、甄士隱等名字一樣,這部影片中的一些人名也值得考究。例如Django在吉普賽語中是“I awake”的意思;Schultz在德語中是指追討稅租的人,也有地方警察的意思。從語言本身來講,為了體現(xiàn)影片的deep south特色,片中使用了很多curse language和當(dāng)時(shí)的俚語。需要注意的是有些詞當(dāng)時(shí)可以使用,現(xiàn)在卻是禁語。尤其是nigger這個(gè)詞,現(xiàn)在是帶有強(qiáng)烈種族歧視色彩的詞語,一般是不能用的。影片中也有一些穿幫鏡頭,除了Mandingo fight的真實(shí)性值得推敲外,片中3K黨的出現(xiàn)也比它的實(shí)際誕生年齡要早。當(dāng)然,導(dǎo)演引出3K黨是為了嘲笑他們的愚蠢,觀眾也不必吹毛求疵,本來這部影片就是一部純暴力娛樂片。