INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

 Tarantino takes on the Third Reich… and wins!

 

Much has been made of Brad Pitt’s “ugly moustache” and “thick Tennessee accent” in this, Quentin Tarantino’s first foray into historical drama, yet the truth is I was in Tennessee a month ago and Pitt’s accent is extremely mild by comparison.

 

Perhaps the reviewers concerned about these factors miss the point of making an exciting movie, as much as they miss the point of acting itself.  Pitt often seems willing to transform himself into quirky, dark, or unsympathetic characters I couldn’t imagine more prima donna stars like Tom Cruise attempting, and in this tale of a convoluted World War II plot against Hitler and his upper ranks, he is not even the star – merely the supporting actor with the highest media profile.

 

The true star here is German TV & movie star Christoph Waltz, who carries this movie and steals nearly every scene in which he appears, and he has already picked up several awards for his chilling performance as the ruthless and conniving SS Colonel Hans Landa. 

 

In a nutshell, Landa kills a teenage Jewish girl’s family in hiding at the start of the war, but the girl – Shosanna – escapes.  Four years later Pitt is leading a team of American Jews behind the German lines, killing Nazis and scalping them, when Mike Myers’ wonderfully camp (and heavily made up) British general sends a man to them to co ordinate them blowing up the German high command at a propaganda movie premiere.

 

This premiere is to take place in the cinema now owned by Shosanna under a false name, and Landa interrogates her to make sure the venue is suitable for such a high security gig.  She recognises the murderer of her family, and vows to burn the place down during the film, at the same time as Pitt’s crew are planning to bomb the place.  Oh – the star of the movie is a private who is pursuing Shosanna with less than gentlemanly intentions, and to spice things up a famous German starlet is a double agent and contact for Pitt’s crew of Inglourious Basterds.

 

Confused?  It’s actually less convoluted than it sounds!

 

Hijinks ensue in typically inventive Tarantino style, and his trademark touches (brilliant cinematography, exciting and unconventional camera angles and lighting, long periods of entertaining dialogue) keep everyone enthralled right through the 2 and a half hour running time.

 

Granted, it has some very bloody moments, and QT takes some liberties with history, but as an exercise in what COULD have happened, with a stellar cast, interesting story, and great performances, this movie is a winner - and certainly on a par with Tarantino's previous career best, Pulp Fiction.  I can’t wait to see it again!

 

 Shane