Quentin Tarantino presents a look at WWII the likes of which you have never seen before in the hotly anticipated "Inglorious Basterds".
So you thought that Tarantino was going off the boil? To tell you the truth, so did I. There's no doubting that Kill Bill was a lot of fun, but it felt bloated and lacked the sharp dialogue and well observed characterisation of his earlier work. Then the disappointing Death Proof and talk of the Vega Brothers project seemed to cast doubt on his genius.
Step forward, then, Inglourious Basterds. Every bit as sharp, intense, funny, clever, stylish and brilliant as his earlier works, the film benefits from its familiar World War 2 setting in that it manages to both play up to war clichés and utterly confound them.
The opening scene is a killer, almost unbearably tense mainly due the perfectly measured performance of Christoph Waltz as Landa. The calm, controlled Landa, perfectly aware (as we are) of the Jewish family hiding under the floorboards of a French farmhouse, sits calmly with the farmer, drinking his milk, biding his time. It's a scene that establishes not only the shape of the ensuing plot, but Landa as centerpoint to the whole film.
Amongst the intricate, time-shifting plotting, flashbacks, character moments and action, it's these intense scenes that Tarantino really excels in, and Basterds has some of the best of his career so far. It's these scenes, where characters play each other off against each other, where a glance, a pause or the slightest movement speak volumes and will stay with you forever.
And yes, there's humour. But it's wry. It's dry. It works. You think Brad Pitt's Deep South character's half-arsed attempt at an Italian accent in a room full of Nazis sounds funny? Well, yes, it is, but it's also makes for tension as you just know that this simply isn't going to work. Even then, you might be surprised.
It's not perfect. Some bits don't work. Most jarring is the use of early 80's David Bowie, which hits the soundtrack like a sledgehammer over a scene that looks like it's from another film altogether. It's a step too far, but thankfully brief, and we are soon back in the moment, as the multiple plots pull together. And then take yet another right turn.
You don't have to like Tarantino to enjoy this film. You don't have to like war movies to enjoy it. But if you're looking for strong characterisation, excellent performances, deft direction and an intriguing, twisting plot, then this film is for you.
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Inglourious Basterds begins in German-occupied France, where Shoshanna Dreyfus (Melanie Laurent) witnesses the execution of her family at the hand of Nazi Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz). Shosanna narrowly escapes and flees to Paris, where she forges a new identity as the owner and operator of a cinema. Elsewhere in Europe, Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) organizes a group of Jewish soldiers to engage in targeted acts of retribution. Known to their enemy as "The Basterds," Raine's squad joins German actress and undercover agent Bridget Von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) on a mission to take down the leaders of The Third Reich. Fates converge under a cinema marquee, where Shosanna is poised to carry out a revenge plan of her own... Extended & Alternated Scenes Roundtable Discussion with Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt and Elvis Mitchell (31 mins) (HD) The Making of Nation's Pride (HD) The Original Inglorious Bastards A Conversation with Rod Taylor (HD) Rod Taylor on Victoria Bitters (HD) Quentin Tarantino's Camera Angel Hi Sallys Film Poster Gallery Tour with Elvis Mitchell Inglourious Basterds Poster Gallery Theatrical Trailers (HD) Languages: English, French, Latin American Spanish Subtitles: English, French, Latin American Spanish Region B
Quentin Tarantino directs this ensemble action drama set in Europe during World War Two. In the first of two converging storylines, Shosanna (Melanie Laurent), a young Jewish woman in occupied France, seeks to avenge the death of her parents by the Nazis after narrowly escaping execution herself and fleeing to Paris. There she creates a new identity for herself as the owner and manager of a cinema. Meanwhile, a group of Jewish American soldiers known as 'The Basterds', led by First Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), joins forces with German actress and undercover agent Bridget von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) to take down the leaders of The Third Reich. The Basterds cross paths with Shosanna when her cinema, which has been commandeered by the Nazis for the screening of their latest propaganda film, becomes the target for their next attack. However, unbeknown to them, Shosanna has devised a revenge plan of her own. Christoph Waltz gained the Best Supporting Actor Awards at both the 2010 BAFTAs and Academy Awards for his portrayal of the devious Colonel Hans Landa.
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