Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds

Richard Warren · Aug 27, 2009

Tarentino (or those whom he employs) has virtuoso technique, but little apparent intelligence. Recently movie makers seem to want to pass off any sort of gross stupidity or excess as irony or under some other post-modern rubric. Tarentino does not even seem to be that self-aware. He really seems to just like this stuff. He is somehow pre-sophomoric.

As to the politics of the beauty and romance of violence....

Matt Crunk · Aug 28, 2009

I have to disagree. Tarantino's only goal was to make a Tarantino movie. Every movie he's ever made has been his tributes to the films he likes and to filmmaking in general, especially genre films. This is his spaghetti western dressed up in WWII clothing. It borrows it's name from the US release title of "Quel maledetto treno blindato" (That Cursed Armored Train), but is not a remake.

I saw elements of Kelly's Heroes, Hogan's Heroes, Where Eagles Dare, and a dozen other 60's/70's era WWII pictures.

Sure there are many historical inaccuracies both large and small, but accuracy was not the point. One inaccuracy in particular is that it shows the "bad" SS officers wearing black uniforms though they'd pretty much done away with black in favor of field gray before the war even started. But black looks so good and menacing on film, and THAT is the point.

This movie pretends to be nothing but an engaging and entertaining film, and at that it exceeds tremendously. I personally think it's his best to date.

UWS Cowboy · Aug 29, 2009

I agree it's Tarantino's best film. I love Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, but I honestly think that most of this film is on another level. Can't believe I'm saying that. Chapters 1, 4, and 5 are masterpieces. 2 and 3 are great as well. Can't believe I'm saying that. I wasn't a fan of Kill Bill vol 1 or 2 or Death Proof. The dialogue in them is too rambling, incoherent, and too cute for its own good. Everything in this movie served a purpose. Tarantino's style was still there but it felt restrained. Great soundtrack and performance by Christoph Waltz, but that goes without saying.

BellyTank · Aug 29, 2009

I knew it would be great- classic recipe- it really couldn't lose.

B
T

Matt Crunk · Aug 29, 2009

I also want to add that Tarantino's ending was a stroke of pure genius.

Because we already knew how it all turned out historically, we were expecting the plan to fail somehow - same as in Valkyrie - but were along for the ride anyway - and when it actually succeeds, it's all the more surprising and gratifying.

Spitfire · Aug 30, 2009

Spitfire said:
I think the posters says it all. (Don't say you have not been warned.)
It might not be a parody in violence - but it certainly is speculation in violence.

I do not think I have to watch this one...

I did see it anyhow. Just now.
And I must say, I was highly amused. (Eating my hat right now)
And the Oscar goes to Christoph Waltz!!!!!
WHAT A PERFORMER!!!!! See it - just because of him.
(Oh yes, now I remember. Brad Pitt is also in it - doing a great clichee of "the all american superhero"

)

ScottF · Sep 1, 2009

UWS Cowboy said:
I agree it's Tarantino's best film. I love Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, but I honestly think that most of this film is on another level. Can't believe I'm saying that. Chapters 1, 4, and 5 are masterpieces. 2 and 3 are great as well. Can't believe I'm saying that. I wasn't a fan of Kill Bill vol 1 or 2 or Death Proof. The dialogue in them is too rambling, incoherent, and too cute for its own good. Everything in this movie served a purpose. Tarantino's style was still there but it felt restrained. Great soundtrack and performance by Christoph Waltz, but that goes without saying.

I enjoyed it as much as anything I've seen (by anyone) since "Pulp Fiction" - it was pure entertainment. It was remarkable the way he was able to pull off the horrible and realistic violence by using comedy, and also how he had drama, suspense, violence and comedy all working together within the same scene. I also like the way he goes for the mainstream audience, but still throws things out there for those who are keeping a watchful eye - I totally cracked up when I heard the line about "playing catch with your son", but I was the ONLY one in the theater who got it. It reminded me of the 'under the radar' humor in Woody Allen's "Purple Rose of Cairo", where I was constantly laughing out loud...alone.

I'm going back to see it with my girlfriend, so I'll reserve 'ranking' it above or below "Pulp Fiction". I really did not like "Kill Bill" the first time I saw it, and only appreciated it after seeing the follow-up movie, then revisiting. It was very refreshing to see Tarantino return to "Pulp Fiction" form, perhaps surpassing it.

ScottF · Sep 1, 2009

Matt Crunk said:
I also want to add that Tarantino's ending was a stroke of pure genius.

Because we already knew how it all turned out historically, we were expecting the plan to fail somehow - same as in Valkyrie - but were along for the ride anyway - and when it actually succeeds, it's all the more surprising and gratifying.

Excellent point. At the time I questioned it, but I think you are correct.

Tomasso · Sep 2, 2009

Saw it tonight....

Though I will say that viewing a war flick in a near empty theater equipped with HD/Dolby can be an assault on the senses.

MrBern · Sep 8, 2009

I finally made time to catch it on the big screen.
Its fun.
And full of great performances.
But not my favorite Tarantino movie.
And yes, its an interesting contrast to VALKYRIE.

ScottF · Sep 9, 2009

Rachel McAdams?

Why was Rachel McAdams' name in the opening credits? She wasn't listed in the credits at the end, and she wasn't in the movie as far as I could tell. I googled and couldn't find anything regarding the subject.

If anyone goes to see it, please watch the opening credits and see if I'm nutz.

Ethan Bentley · Sep 9, 2009

Matt Crunk said:
I also want to add that Tarantino's ending was a stroke of pure genius.

Because we already knew how it all turned out historically, we were expecting the plan to fail somehow - same as in Valkyrie - but were along for the ride anyway - and when it actually succeeds, it's all the more surprising and gratifying.

I agree completely, I enjoy a twist. I heard Mr. Taratino say in an interview on Film4 that if people want to treat it as a fairytale that's fair enough but it's not how he sees it. He was looking it from a view of if the situation and the characters had existed that the scenario could have played out like this; e.g. if Fredrick Zoller had existed and had done what he did Joseph Goebbels would probably have made a film about him.
N.B. I'm just reiterating what he said, I have no informed opinion.

Steve · Sep 14, 2009

Although "Basterds" is currentlty conceding the spotlight to newer films and the hype of even more films coming from the Toronto and Telluride film festivals, I thought that this article would be of interest to some. It's an interview with the "Basterds" costume designer, who also happened to work on "Schindler's List" and "The Pianist." It's interesting from whence she took her influences.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118007695.html?categoryId=3683&cs=1

scottyrocks · Sep 14, 2009

I saw it yesterday. To sum it up, it went by much faster than your average 2 hour, 32 minute film. IOW, I loved it.

I will have to disagree with the poster that wished for a Henry Fonda in Brad Pitt's place. I think the point of Aldo was not to be the glorious hero, hence the title of the film. An actor of more 'grandeur' would have shifted more of the film's focus to himself, imo, and that wasnt the idea.

The exchange at the end between Pitt and Waltz, especially what the former did to the latter, would not have worked with an actor on the level of HFonda. I thought that the casting was spot-on.

As it has been pointed out, the Basterds, although the title of the film, were but a sub-plot. I think it all fit together perfectly.

ScottF · Sep 14, 2009

So I'm the only one who noticed the Rachel McAdams opening credit?

Maybe I'm losing my mind.

Slim Portly · Sep 21, 2009

Andykev said:
However, the STAR was Colonel Landa, the SS officer played by Christoph Waltz. This performance is OSCAR material.
He brilliantly played, in three languages, sharp, witty and exceptionally clever dialogue...

Four languages, actually.

Torpedo · Sep 23, 2009

I have watched it, and I LOVED it.

BTW, in Spain it is named Malditos bastardos, "Damned Bastards", no doubt because "Inglorius" would translate akwardly. No problem with censure with the film's name.

The period feel I found excellent; the uniforms were very, very well done. Of course there was some concession to stereotypes, like black SS uniforms long after they ceased to be worn, but this was undoubtly intentional because other details were absolutely fine, mostly even expert nit-picker proof (although there are inaccuracies, I would say you need to be really very familiar to notice, and, on my book, this is about the best one can expect with period films). In the final scenes, I saw quite a few Nazi uniform variants (Party, Armed Forces, SS, everything), some of which I have never seen in screen - even a padre.

There were the usual Tarantino recourses, long conversations for instance, but this time I found were appropriate, had no superfluous parts, and some were magnificently handled to create tension and thrill - the first scene being possibly my favourite in this respect. The typical Tarantino scene with a game in course, including the game's explanation, was there too.

Cristoph Waltz's performance is tremendous.

Some of the plot twists were unexpected, as was the ending - which of course is what makes it so effective. Please remember the film begins "Once upon a time..."

There are lots of homages to old films, some screen shots being deliberately exact copies of them.

I loved it. Did I say it before?

Mr. Clark · Sep 24, 2009

I knew going in the film was going to be a 'popcorn movie'. Like him or hate him, Tarantino's a great writer and he knows how to cast. Christoph Waltz stole the film. The character was so evil that you really wanted to like him. Even his uniform details were evil. I've never seen an SD uniform in a film before. And no one can film a Mexican Standoff like Tarantino. I caught the hand gesture that gave the Brit officer away and immediately thought 'here we go,...this is not going to end well...'. The uniforms were really well done, even if a few were a bit anachronistic for 1944. I saw it twice and still couldn't take in all the variations.

BellyTank · Sep 24, 2009

I feel that calling it "Popcorn", is under-rating the talent although this
movie is meant to be fun, for sure- the art and the skill is there.
The art and skill of making a film like this, just like this.
Of course there is some comic book observation in the uniform styling-
subtle, or not so subtle stylization, depending on how familiar one is with uniforms of the Third Reich.
This is larger-than-life-comic-book stuff, expertly crafted.

B
T

BellyTank · Oct 12, 2009

I saw it on the big screen last night, after having seen it on the small-
It is such a strange mixture of cinematic stuff.
I can see how it DOES gets mixed reviews.
I can also see that it has popcorn appeal.

B
T

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