Inglourious Basterds
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS: GLORIOUS
Inglourious Basterds is Quentin Tarantino's fantasy story about what happened during WWII and a group of Jewish Americans who plan to take down the Nazis. It is a black comedy at its finest with graphic violence that is satisfying. Brad Pitt in one of his funniest roles and German actor Christoph Waltz is scary “Jew Hunter”.
Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) is on a mission. He is rounding up a group of Jewish American soldiers to take down the Nazis occupying France during WWII. Each soldier owes him 100 Nazi scalps. Shosanna Dreyfus(Melanie Laurent) is the owner of a cinema in France. She escaped the Nazis four years ago. In particular, the Jew Hunter Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz). Together, along with spy Bridget von Hammersmark(Diane Kruger), they plan to take down the Fuhrer and his closest henchmen at a premiere of the film Nation's Pride.
Director Tarantino takes liberty with events that happened during WWII. But he makes it such a pleasure to watch it doesn't matter what is fact or fiction. The men known as the “Basterds” are fierce with their pursuit of the Nazis and they mean business. They are not the underdog you normally root for. Quentin has created a truly terrifying menace with Hans Landa. Each person that makes up this film is vivid and has a true purpose. He knows how to create memorable characters and has the intuition to pick the right actors for the roles. Brad Pitt is known for his dashing good looks. But he also has the substance to pull off many different roles. Lt. Raine is a man from the South who is part Apache. At first glance he doesn't seem to be much. But the twinkle in his eye and tone of his voice proves that he is always in control and will accomplish his mission at whatever means necessary. Christoph Waltz is a German actor who is unknown in the States. But he shows with this role as the Jew Hunter that will no longer be the case. His sinister looks in any given scene will make his on screen partner and the audience's knees shake. Just the act of ordering cream for strudel is chilling. Tarantino takes his locations seriously and goes straight for authenticity. And for that reason he filmed primarily in Germany. The costumes for the women are a standout with Bridget's hats and shoes and Shosanna's lipstick and eyeliner. And even Aldo's ironic mustache.
Tarantino has proven again and again he is a lover of films. With his take on gangsters in Pulp Fiction and his tribute to Asian cinema in Kill Bill. He tackles the war film with Inglourious Basterds. And nails it with an ingenious story, memorable characters, and visuals that pop.
Report Card:
Story-B+
Acting-A
Visuals-A
Originality/Innovation-A
Enjoyability Grade–A
Overall Grade-A-
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