"I Do Believe This Is Some Of My Best Work"-AldoThe last Quentin Tarantino film I watched was Deathproof. A movie which had great spirit about it, but suffered from pacing issues from the onset. Inglourious Basterds is Tarentino's first effort into the 'cult-war epic' genre. The strangest impression I got from this movie was how much of a fan of it I was, but how I was still still sort of disappointed.
Quentin Tarantino really did it this time people. He has managed to go through almost every cult sub-genre and produce a movie dedicated to his influences. It is arguable if all of them were great or even good, but if anything else, all of Tarantino's movies have his style. My question to Tarantino [and fans of his] would be has and can his style mature? Judging by Inglourious Basterds, the answer is "Yes with an 'If' and No, with a 'But'."
Who Here Has The Largest Head?
Inglourious Basterds stars Brad Pitt playing Lt. Aldo Raine, a very American archetype of what you would expect a lieutenant in *insert 1950's-60's war movie epic* to be like. Pitt plays his part well, he's brash and witty especially when death stares him in the face, but what's with the squinting? The whole time I'm looking at Quentin introduce Raine's "Basterds" all the while thinking, "I wonder if Pitt is still squinting...oh...yup...there it is."
As part and parcel of Quentin's now infamous casting prowess. Raine's "Basterds" consists of B.J. Novak [The Little Guy] and Hostel I & II director, Eli Roth [The Bear Jew] as the key figures of the group. The side "Basterds" have their moments, but seem to be ancillary. As much hype has been around "Inglourious Basterds" you will really only care for about two maybe three when all is said and done. That kid from Freaks & Geeks is in this movie long enough for you to say, "Hey! It's that kid from Freaks & Geeks!"
"I Couldn't Help But Notice The Size Of Your Pipe"
Inglourious Basterds truly shines with its foreign casting. The opening sequences in every chapter of this 6 chapter epic are quite stunning, but the true scene stealers are actors like Denis Menochet [who plays Perrier LaPadite]. His part is small, yet vital. Watching his scene with Christoph Waltz [Colonel Hans "The Jew Hunter" Landa] was on par with some of the best scenes I have viewed all year. Christoph Waltz must be something special, playing a nazi known as the "The Jew Hunter" and for me to like him says something [I've had enough of the unintelligent, big bad nazi badguy]. The list goes on with Mélanie Laurent as the eventual focal point of the movie, a point which has its downside. Laurent as Shoshanna Dreyfus [an escapee of The Jew Hunter] is a bit of a double-edged sword. Up until her chapter, the movie was very action and dialogue with a dash more action driven, rinse and repeat. Quentin breaks this up by adding a love story which almost slows the pacing to a screeching halt.
The staples of a Quentin movie are all there. The foot fetish shots and nods to Sam Jack and Harvey Keitel are all wedged into this wonderful and graphically bloody epic. From a technical aspect, I think this is Tarantino's best effort. When it comes to attention to detail in wardrobe, set/art design and authentic ways of speaking, bravo. Out of everything in this movie you 'expect to see from Quentin' what you have probably never seen is his ability to write dialogue for actors using multiple languages. It sounds less impressive in an internet movie review, but keep it in mind the next time you watch the movie.
Hitler - Germany's Best "Risk" Player
Downsides. Inglorious Basterds has a lot going for it: great multi-lingual dialogue, tension filled scenes, beautiful actors executing and my god the music. However, editing has never been Quentin Tarantino's strongest suit [see Deathproof & Kill Bill 2]. There are NO scenes I would take out of this movie, but there are scenes where I would 'trim-the-fat'. A large majority of the characters that are introduced with the feeling of "Hey guys...remember this guy?!" Which brings me to Mike Myers...why? He's not the worst character in the movie, because clearly that belongs to our Hogan's Hero Hitler, but with all of these names being dropped you come away caring for a fraction of the cast.
I have had the fortunate pleasure of seeing the very culty original of Enzo Castellari's "Inglorious Bastards" which I would recommend seeing if you enjoy ridiculous plots and some eye catching scenes. Tarantino's is not better, because it is not a remake, the two movies are almost completely different plot-wise. Inglourious Basterds is not Tarantino's worst movie nor is it his best. However, writing-wise, this is definitely his best movie. I actually see it aging better than his previous efforts, but the love story and cameos bog this movie down from truly being great.
I give Inglourious Basterds...
"The Coffy & Mack" Award - It Doesn't Get More Cult Than That