Inglourious Basterds (2009)
In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as "The Basterds" are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. The Basterds, lead by Lt. Aldo Raine soon cross paths with a French-Jewish teenage girl who runs a movie theater in Paris which is targeted by the soldiers.
well well well...
taratino does it again. great story great dialog this movie is just simply amazing, even brad pitt did an alright job. christopher waltz is the ulitmate german bad guy he sends a chill down the audiences spine. if you likes films such as reseviour dogs or pulp fiction then this is a film for you, you will not be disappointed.
This is such a dull film, i had high expectations and it was a real let down. The very few action scenes were horrendously sadistic with scenes of scalping and cutting a swastika into a nazis head. The various (and may i add vain) attempts at commedy just arent funny and the endless dribble of dialog that realy doesnt relate to a very meagre stroyline just was incredibly boring. But i thought Christoph waltz was very convincing in his role as the SS Colonel Hans Landa. Overall it just wasnt what its hyped up to be and if your looking at waisting a few hours of your life this is what i would recommend. Ver poor Quentin.
I have to say that I agree with the majority of the critics when I say that Quentin Tarentino has absolutely returned to the big screen with one of his best movies.
When I first saw the trailers for Inglorious Basterds it looked like this was going to be an action packed movie with tons of violence as Lt. Aldo Raine and his band of Basterds look for blood and revenge on evil Nazis. Dont get me wrong there are scenes of bloody violence, however there is so much more to this movie and that is what makes it great. I love the story about Shosanna being able to take revenge on the Nazis that murder her family. Christoph Waltz does a terrific job speaking several different languages as Col. Hans Landa, I could listen to him interrogate and play with the minds of unsuspecting people for hours. Brad Pitt really did a great job of bringing the Lt. Raine character to life as he was cold and ruthless at times as well as funny and charming in other scenes. I could literally go on and on about every actor and actress that appeared in this movie, Tarantino did a great job selecting this entire cast.
The story was entertaining, suspenseful, and enjoyable throughout the entire two and a half hours as it builds up to a very dramatic ending and this movie does not dissapoint.
I will be rooting for this movie to bring home Best Picture at the Academy Awards this year, it deserves it.
Its been a while since there has been a movie villian so good that I wanted to jump onto the screen and just bop the guy over the head. But thats what Christoph Waltz does in this movie. If he doesn't win some kind of award for his performance I will be shocked. I'm still reeling from how he got under my skin. And his scene in the opening 10 minutes of the film will go down as one of the greatest scenes (along with Samuel L.Jackson's famous scene in Pulp Fiction) in cinema history. As for the movie itself? Well, its Tarantino at his best. One of the best filmakers of this or any generation. So what if this is just a make believe story about World War 2. Combine Kill Bill and The Dirty Dozen and you got one very entertaining 2 1/2 hour epic with a great ending. Brad Pitt is also convincing and sometimes hilarious despite that stupid southern accent. The movie is as historical incorrect as you can get, but take a chill pill and see this gem.
At The Movies
Inglorious Basterds (PG) * * * *
Soldiers of Fortune!
By ROBERT WALDMAN
Revenge is on the minds of a group of soldiers in Inglorious Basterds, a riotous World War II yarn from the mind of Quentin Tarentino. Apart from directing this saga Tarentino also co-wrote the story that looks at a special task force set up to take on the Germans. Brought to our shores by Alliance Films Inglorious Basterds will turn out to be another conversation starter for those who join forces at the Fifth Avenue Cinemas, Esplanade 6, Empire Studio 12, Colossus and Famous Players Theatres around B.C.
Our story actually looks like a retread of 1967’s classic The Dirty Dozen. Only here, thanks to Tarentino’s brilliant casting and knack for being somewhat audacious, the story focuses in on a gallant group of men out to destroy Hitler. Led by good old southern boy Lt. Aldo Raine the one distinguishing trait of his charges is that they are all Jewish.
Right from the start Tarentino skillfully deals with Hitler’s Final Solution by showing the terror meted out by the Nazis. Early on we are introduced to master S.S. man Col. Hans Landa. Smooth as a cat heir Landa is equally the rival of the American Raine. Into a tangled web we go with a cat and mouse game that lasts for almost 2 ½ hours.
Yes, there is brutality in this film as the punishment meted out by the American forces is tough medicine to administer for the Germans. Where the film excels is the back story involving a businesswoman named Shosanna Dreyfus whose cover will appeal to all cinema fans.
Brad Pitt (Fight Club) hams it up considerably as the leader of this rag tag bag of assassins who use brute force to weed out the enemy. Truth be told, the real stars of this movie are the outstanding German actors who play pivotal roles as the quarry for the organizers of this mission. Chief German muscle is provided by Christoph Waltz whose slimy portrayal of the S.S. interrogator easily will stay with you. Scenes full of tension involving interrogations and traps are all meticulously directed with a sense of authenticity to the entire proceedings.
Unlike any other war movie you’ve ever seen, Tarentino (Pulp Fiction) again proves to be one of the smartest students of cinema and here conveys a story with imagery so vivid and violent its impact should not be lost on anyone. Also worth noting are two actresses who shine in different ways. French actress Melanie Laurent makes a stunning debut as Shosanna Dreyfus, a trapped woman and Diane Kruger (National Treasure) nicely representing Bridget Von Hammersmark, a member of German society.
Look for lots of over the top fits of violence in this movie, along with a very well-thought out story that’s totally original, cleverly constructed, over the top and captivating in the extreme.
Read more reviews by Robert at www.moviereviewssite.com
In France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as "The Basterds," led by Lt. Aldo Raine, are chosen specifically to spread fear through the Nazis by killing and scalping them. Lt. Raine's group soon crosses paths with a French-Jewish girl who runs a movie theater in Paris which is targeted by the soldiers.
Quentin Tarantino is a very clever story-teller. He has his own way of showing how things interfere with each other and he likes having things show up randomly on screen. I was definitely able to tell that Tarantino directed "Inglorious Basterds." There are the up close shots of objects, the wide variety of music, and definitely the blood. The Basterds don't just kill Nazis, they brutally scalp them and Tarantino isn't afraid to show it. That's what I like about this film. The director is so brave with the story. In no way, shape, or form is it historically accurate but it doesn't follow the typical rule book of World War II movies and takes the genre to a new level.
Christoph Waltz as a Colonel for the Nazis gives the best performance of the year so far. He speaks in a French, German, and American accent and is terrific in every language. Waltz makes his character truly menacing and says every line, especially towards the end, with humorous yet terrifying tone. Brad Pitt is also surprisingly good with his raw American accent.
Tarantino is a great writer but he over does himself during a few romantic scenes. A certain relationship stretches out farther than it should with too much dialogue. I was fine with the romance but the film wouldn't have been as exceedingly long as it was if some wasteful scenes were cut out.
But in the end, when it's all said and done, the production strongly pays off. The ending seemed especially grand to me as the film hit its climax made by great cinematography, music, and writing. This is a disgusting film and a dazzling one. You should definitely go to the theater and see one of the best films of the year.
After viewing the latest film by Quentin Tarantino, I decided to skim through some reviews in which I noticed the phrase 'Tarantino's return to form' more than a few times. This started me to think, when exactly did Tarantino lose it? The obvious answer, I suppose, was with his last film 'Death Proof' (and I'm referring to the extended cut) which divided critics and audiences alike. Most people who didn't like the film apparently felt that it was Quentin Tarantino at his most self-indulgent and forgettable. I found Death Proof to be another diamond upon his crown, proving once again that when it comes to filmmaking, he knows his shit.
But I digress. This isn't a review of Death Proof, this is a review of Inglourious Basterds, QT's 7th feature film (not including Four Rooms, which I've not seen) and what a film it is! Having seen it once already, looking back on it now I have yet to find a single moment I didn't love. He shows that he is a natural born filmmaker (yet again), and that his fethistic fascination of cinema has not diminished one bit.
Unfortunately, moviereviews.com allowed me to pick only one category, which at one point seemed impossible. While I ultimately went with 'Drama', there is so much more to behold and experience. There is over-the-top silliness (Hitler is hilarious, and I never thought I'd ever say that), sequences of unbearable tension, and of course, random outbursts of violence that are so shocking, and yet so gloriously done, that you can do nothing but sit back in awe.
In the hands of any other director, there would be a high risk of a total mess. And while Inglourious Basterds certainly weaves through multiple plot lines, it is not once sloppy or overwhelming. Actually, quite the contrary. IG is, simply put, the best film of the summer. It's also the fastest 2 and a half + hours I've witnessed since maybe Scorcece's Oscar Winning 'The Departed', or P.T.A.'S brilliant Magnolia. This is probably because the entire film is just so damn deliciously entertaining.
However, a film can't be fully great unless the cast and characters are also, and in the acting department there are no disappointments. Brad Pitt has been used in advertising the most, but he is certainly not the star of the show. This is grand cinema, with a huge story, filled with characters, and nearly every actor leaves an impression, whether it big or small.
The true stand out, who rises above everyone else, is Christoph Walts, who is the main antagonist (move over Hitler.) His performance is nothing short of fascinating, frightening, and yet darkly humorous. He brings a presence to every scene he is in that permeates each frame with gut-wrenching terror. I'm talking this guy can make a glass of milk send you into heart palpitations. If he doesn't get an Oscar nom it will be one (ONE) of the biggest stubs of the Academy. His presence in the film recalls that of Heath Ledgers unforgettable performance as The Joker.
Another stand out goes to new comer Melanie Laurent. She probably has the most subtle of all the characters, but she gives forth a performance of quiet calculation and devestation, while also releasing a side of pure savagery. She's a beautiful woman, and I look forward to seeing her in the future. The rest of the supporting cast all do great work as well, with the biggest surprise probably coming from Eli Roth, who is mostly notable for his Hostel films. His character, referred to as 'The Bear Jew', gets satisfaction out of beating Nazi's to death with a baseball bat.
Ultimately, though, this is Tarantino's show, and once again he has yet to let me down. There are few filmmakers who I have consistently loved all their films, but at this point Tarantino takes the top place. Tarantino has mentioned that this may be his masterpiece,and it's hard to disagree. But then again, so was Kill Bill and Pulp Fiction. Inglourious Basterds is a breath of fresh air in what was quite a lackluster summer.
Deliciously entertaining, horrific, funny, and wholly engrossing, these 'Basterds' are not to be missed. And did I mention that even Mike Meyers is impressive in his cameo? I didn't? Well go see the movie already, sit back, and bask in the glory that is 'Inglourious Basterds'
Rated R- strong graphic violence, language, drug use, and brief sexuality.
