Inglourious Basterds

Director:
Quentin Tarantino

Writer:
Quentin Tarantino

Cast:
Brad Pitt as Lt. Aldo Rayne
Christoph Waltz as Col. Hans Landa
Melanie Laurent as Soshanna Dreyfus
Eli Roth as Sgt. Donny Donowitz
Diane Kruger as Bridget von Hammersmark

Released: 2009
Studio: Weinstein
Box Office: $73,022,841 (as of 8/30/09)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
IMDB Score: 8.7

Date Seen: August 25, 2009
Format: Theater

I rescind my previous statement about The Hurt Locker being the best film of the year. This movie was amazing. It was incredibly humorous and witty and brilliantly violent. Quentin Tarantino provides us with one of his finest films.

Tarantino threw the history books out of the window when he was making this movie. I like his version much better. Pitt is the leader of a small fighting force dropped behind enemy lines with only one objective, “killin’ Nazi’s”. They don’t take prisoners and don’t treat the enemy with any kind of respect. I guess in this version, the Geneva Convention never happened. But they act exactly as they need to act to survive.

I was surprised that a large portion of the movie did not feature the Basterds. A central character to the overall plot is Soshanna, a jewish girl who survived a raid by Col. Landa and has now assumed a new identity and owns a theater in Paris. Much of the middle part is about her. Those scenes and the first part of the scene in the pub, are the only parts of the movie that seem to drag. Although, I do see their importance to the story.

My favorite part of the film, and one that I wish more would do, is the fact that it was shot on film, and not digitally. It gives the movie a grainy feel, but still with rich and vibrant colors. Since most theaters now have digital projectors, they inserted the sound of and old film projector that can barely be heard in the background.

The acting was marvelous. Brad Pitt was spectacular. He gives quite possibly the best Italian accent I’ve ever heard. Cristoph Waltz should get an Oscar nod for his performance. I’m amazed at how he made his character seem intelligent, calculated, sophisticated, and gentlemanly, but also insane, mad, and delightfully evil all at the same time.

I think I have to agree with Lt. Raine that this might be Tarantino’s “masterpiece.”

Favorite Performance:
Cristoph Waltz as Col. Hans Landa

Favorite Quote:
Lt. Aldo Raine: You probably heard we ain’t in the prisoner-takin’ business; we in the killin’ Nazi business. And cousin, Business is a-boomin’.

Grade:
A

Recommendation:
See it now. See it later. Buy it when it comes out on DVD. Watch it on TV. All of the above.