Quentin Tarantino, taking inspiration from the 1978 Italian film “Inglorious Bastards“, “INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS” (now renamed “Basterds”) is the latest installment from the acclaimed director. “Inglourious Basterds” isn’t just a war film, it is a war film with the Tarantino signature that features stupendous dialogue, incredibly opaque plotting, an anarchistic soundtrack (even worms in a David Bowie song from “Cat People“), accompanied by characters that are colorful that are almost mythic in nature. The film is not a history lesson in World War Two, but rather a fantasy war picture that bends the staples of cinema by having a plot executed with serenity, it is methodical and the results are quite excellent, having a feel of “Spaghetti Westerns“ and the usual Tarantino sensibilities. One thing I like about Tarantino, he doesn’t adjust to his viewers, but his viewers just adjust to him, he never compromises his visionary ambitions---win, lose or draw.
Once Upon a time in Nazi-occupied France (the film’s first chapter opens as such), Lt. Aldo Raine (played by Brad Pitt) has assembled a small group of Jewish-Americans, their main objective; to kill as many Godless Nazis as they can. Called “The Basterds” they work in the country, often ambushing small groups of German soldiers, gather Intel and have made quite a feared reputation among the Nazi war machine. They must work with a British double agent named Bridget Von Haamersmark (Diane Kruger) who has intelligence on a Third Reich film feature that is to take place in the La Gamarr Theater located at a remote area in Paris. Fate deals an ironic hand as the theater is owned by Shoshanna Dreyfus (Melanie Laurent) a young Jewish girl who watched her family get massacred at the hands of Nazi Col. Landa (superbly acted by Christoph Waltz) who is better known as the “Jew Hunter”. Now the movie premiere is set to be attended by top Nazi officials, including Adolf Hitler (Martin Wuttke), Raine and his company must do what they can to kill the Fuhrer himself…will they succeed?
Tarantino have paid homage to Asian films in “Kill Bill”, Blaxsploitation in “Jackie Brown”, gangster movies in “Pulp Fiction” and “Reservoir Dogs“, grind house in “Death Proof“; “Inglourius Basterds” may well be his homage to foreign movies as he plays around with subtitles and cinematic set pieces, while giving the Nazis their due. “Basterds” is divided into 5 chapters that give it an episodic atmosphere with the usual fragmented style. Tarantino has a knack for cinematic brilliance, using the wartime palette; Tarantino utilizes certain restrained colors and frames his shots quite efficiently. Most of Tarantino’s films are dialogue-rich and “Basterds” is no different. The conversations between the victims and the Nazis can get very edgy, while at the same time keeping a dark, predatory, sinister sense of humor on more than one occasion. Tarantino plays with accents and sharp-tongued dialogue to deliver the film’s appeal with its language that delivers the dialogue in English, French and German.
“Basterds” has a collection of flamboyant characters. Pitt as Aldo Raine nicknamed “Aldo the Apache” sports a moustache, has a raspy Tennessee drawl and a nasty scar on his throat shows him as someone who had experienced a harrowing past or perhaps a shady one. Aldo doesn’t really get that much development, but the script works the way it is. It gives our “Basterds” a sense of mystery; all we know is the fact that these men are hell-bent on killing Nazis. They do so in the ala-“Apache” manner, scalping German soldiers to instill fear and intimidation. Aldo’s pack is made up of other colorful characters, led by “Bear Jew” Donny Donnowitz (played by Eli Roth) who bashes Nazi skulls with a baseball bat and a man convicted of killing several Nazi officers called Sgt. Hugo Stieglitz (Til Schweiger) who seemed to be the “Enforcer” guy of the Basterds”.
Surprisingly, the film isn’t mainly about the Basterds at all; the screenplay is more about the victims of the holocaust and a cry for justice. The first chapter embodies the savagery of the Third Reich; the character of Shoshanna Dreyfus represents the horrors experienced by the Jews and I thought that her character gave the plot its heart and main spirit. Sure, it is easy to sympathize with her character but her relationship with a smitten Nazi private (played by Daniel Bruhl) is major catalyst for the film’s last acts. Brad Pitt’s “Aldo the Apache” is matched by a very edgy character in the form of “Jew Hunter” Col. Hans Landa. He matches Aldo’s charisma with a sort of a predatory personality that lures his victims in with intimidating, long conversations into agreeing with him with a crude smile until such time as he can turn the tables on them. In this film, Landa embodies the evil, cruelty and savagery of Hitler’s Reich, Landa is soulless, the black heart of the third Reich. In many ways, I thought Christoph Waltz, a multi-lingual actor had stolen the show; the actor’s presence onscreen exhibited an awesome presence with a bit of an unease about him. You just have to admire his cunning; Landa proves to be as sly as Aldo and may well be just as merciless. I may go as far as to say that “Basterds” is a huge success because of his character. There are also quick cameos by Mike Myers, a Samuel L. Jackson narration, and even a vocal surprise by Harvey Keitel.
“Inglouroius Basterds” plays literary, depending on its characters that are all vying for personal satisfaction set in violent manner. One of the film's highlights would have to be the scene in the tavern that I have just grown to love. Yes, the film may prove to be a bit of a dozy compared to “Kill Bill” but Tarantino does manage to inject some blood and gore into the mix. The pay off is very dark and enveloped in irony climax as Tarantino sends the Nazis into bloody murder in a propaganda film in a theater with a gritty firefight. Tarantino seemed very much in love with tales of irony, messed up heroic goals and touches of poetic justice.
There is nothing more fun in watching a film that gives Nazis their comeuppance. “Inglourious Basterds” will not prove to be Tarantino’s best film but it does make a perfect fit to Tarantino’s line of ‘funky’ genre-busting filmography. He makes a good case of amendment without giving controversy and avoids a disrespectful offense to the face of history. It is a fantastical piece of wish fulfillment--Tarantino remains as the man with cool ‘snappy‘banter and bold ideas.
I've never been interested in seeing this film, probably because I'm not the biggest Tarantino fan. I did enjoy your review, though, and I might have to take the time to rent it after reading this. The movie definitely isn't what I thought it was.
AdriannaJuly 21, 2010
Yeah, it sounds like it. I'll move it up my queue. :)
AdriannaJuly 21, 2010
Hm...That sounds really gross... Thanks for the warnings...
woopak_the_thrillJuly 22, 2010
what you guys don't like...I love. I know...I am pretty gross! LOL!
woopak_the_thrillJuly 22, 2010
my toe-sies are tingling LMAO.
woopak_the_thrillJuly 22, 2010
:D
AdriannaJuly 22, 2010
Lol! I love horror films, but I always manage to miss a lot of it because I'm too busy closing my eyes during the gross parts.
I might be the oddball out on this movie but I didn't enjoy it as much as everyone else did. I guess I was expecting something else going in. Like you mentioned on your review, it seems more about Shoshanna Dreyfus than the Basterds. I've enjoyed most of QT's films but I guess this one didn't do it for me. I wish it was more about the Basterds I guess. But had I read your review before I went to watch it, I might've had different expectations for it. Anyways, great write up as usual.
woopak_the_thrillSeptember 05, 2009
Yeh I can see that. I also wished it was more on the exploits of the Basterds...I see a companion film in the horizon. Shoshanna was hot though.
Let's hear it for encouraging a whole generation to be unable to spell correctly! You know I thought that QT as trying to show off his knowledge of B-movie actors with a tribute to Aldo Ray who specialized in tough guy roles. I'm so disappointed to find out that it was just Brad Pitt's accent in the tv spots that made it sound that way!
Count_Orlok_22September 02, 2009
No, actually I read that it was a tribute to Aldo Ray. So I'm not sure who to believe.
QUEENBFLIXSeptember 02, 2009
Good for me then. Where did you read that? I'm proud of myself for picking up on it.
QUEENBFLIXJuly 22, 2010
Then it looks like it's definitely not a mistake on my part.
As I just told Trashie, I've only skimmed your review to avoid spoilers and so I don't develop any prejudices about the film before seeing it. Still, amazing review and I'll be back to read it in its entirety and leave you a more informed comment. Until then, arrivederci basterdo (sounds better in Italian, doesn't it)!
woopak_the_thrillAugust 30, 2009
I'll look forward to your review...Dave saw the new H2 flick and sure wished he saw this movie instead...
Count_Orlok_22September 02, 2009
Yeah, Rob Zombie needs to stay the hell away from remakes. As for my inglourious review, I wouldn't expect it anytime soon. I'm busy with two graphic novel-inspired films and then three book reviews.
Not my kinda film but I'm glad you pointed this out as a fantasy. I doubt that there really was a team that did that kind of project. The previews always give the film a different twist. Good review. And yes, I agree with your last sentence. :p
woopak_the_thrillAugust 23, 2009
Fantasy which is just so cool and a good 'what if?'...
**** out of **** The Quentin Tarantino-directed "Inglourious Basterds" is not much unlike the wise-cracking genius of modern cinema's other features. It's a one big old fan film; another one of Tarantino's great homages to the many things that he loves. Once again, he shows his admiration of his inspirations through music choice, camera angles, and an overwhelming supply of movie references. While there are plenty of other directors who do this, Tarantino does it differently; … more
What a fantastic film! I see a lot of movies, but not very many "films", if you know what I mean. This one was an awesome ride, that ranged from incredibly tense to laugh out loud funny, to genuinely moving. Some quick takeaways & a few of my favorite things: classic tarantino devices used, like the "character" format, a la Resevoir Dogs and Kill Bill TOTALLY get why Christolph Waltz won that Oscar -- PHENOMENAL performance... … more
Ingloruious Basterds (I think I spelled that incorrectly) was the best movie I've seen all year. This was my first QT movie , and I went into it with trepidation, expecting cartoonish violence and macho muscularity without much depth. What I got was masterful moving picture making. Every scene works (even the one intentionally--and self-mockingly?--cartoonishly violent "Bear Jew" scene) but the opening scene builds so slowly and perfectly that it matches anything Hitchcock crafted in its beauty, … more
I'll save you time. You don't have to read the rest of this review to know how I feel. I loved this movie. There is so much to love about this movie and I will try to explain my perspective without the use of spoiler because I want everyone to see and experience this movie for themselves. Before we go any further, here is the trailer: See what I mean. I knew from the trailer … more
Seeing Inglorious Basterds was an interesting viewing experience for me. Not because anything crazy happened, but because of the ways in which the film kept pulling me back in. While I thoroughly enjoyed Basterds, there were definitely times I was asking myself, "what is this leading up to?" which I think a lot of people were asking about Death Proof . Of course the minute I asked myself this, everything came together and made me ecstatic about the current scene. … more
I am a huge QT fan so I went expecting a lot from this film. The movie is simply an experience and Tarantino immerses you into this world. I honestly am very surprised that there are so many comments stating this is a bad movie and Tarantino trash. I understand not everyone loves QT but how can you not appreciate the writing and acting in this film. The film, as most of us know by now, is a WWII revenge saga that follows a small unit of Jewish-American soldiers as they wreak … more
INGLORIOUS BASTERDS As any one can tell you I am a huge QT fan and basically own everything he has been a part of. So of course when this film was released I had to go see it and the second it was out on DVD/BLU-RAY I had to own it. I knew from the moment this film was announced that it would be another QT classic with out a doubt. Say what you will but it was a major success and you can't discount that at all. I of course knew that I would love this film and of course … more
With such an amazing year past us film wise, there are just some movies that you absolutely have to own, Inglourious Basterds being one of them. What Quentin Tarantino did with the World War II genre of films was take it, make an amazing fairy tale story out of it and have it be the be all end all of WWII films. After a film like Inglourious Basterds, there really isn't much more to do with the genre. With the 2010 Oscars fast approaching, Basterds is sure to be in the mix … more
" Although Quentin Tarantino has cherished Enzo G. Castellari's 1978 "macaroni" war flickThe Inglorious Bastardsfor most of his film-geek life, his ownInglourious Basterdsis no remake. Instead, as hinted by the Tarantino-esque misspelling, this is a lunatic fantasia of WWII, a brazen re-imagining of both history and the behind-enemy-lines war film subgenre. There's a Dirty Not-Quite-Dozen of mostly Jewish commandos, led by a Tennessee good ol' boy named Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) who reckons each warrior owes him one hundred Nazi scalps--and he means that literally. Even as Raine's band strikes terror into the Nazi occupiers of France, a diabolically smart and self-assured German officer named Landa (Christoph Waltz) is busy validating his own legend as "The Jew Hunter." Along the way, he wipes out the rural family of a grave young girl (Melanie Laurent) who will reappear years later in Paris, dreaming of vengeance on an epic scale.
Now, this isn't one more big-screen comic book. As the masterly opening sequence reaffirms, Tarantino is a true filmmaker, with a deep respect for the integrity of screen space and the tension that can accumulate in contemplating two men seated at a table having a polite conversation. IB reunites QT with...
