Oscar Nod

I hate that I love Quentin Tarantino. I really want to dislike his movies because it makes me feel like a creep when I’m not disturbed by all the violence and gore. I’m not a Tarantino loyalist, though. I will probably never see Grindhouse and I thought Reservoir Dogs was a bit excessive, so when I saw the trailers for Inglourious Basterds, I was hoping to be impressed. After shelling out nine bucks for a movie ticket, I am happy to report that this film exceeded my expectations.

First of all, I am a sucker for subtitles. I think they’re a great way to expose oneself to the beauty of another language. While Basterds is an American film, it utilized not only English, but French, German, and a little bit of Italian, as well. Because of the diversity of idioms, a wide variety of actors took part in this film. There was, of course, Brad Pitt, with whom I was pleasantly surprised. I will make this very clear: I am a member of Team Aniston and like to praise Pitt as sparingly as possible. However, I also know to give credit where credit is due, and he deserves it for this role. Sporting a ridiculous Southern accent, he plays the All-American Lt. Aldo Raine, leader of the Basterds. He oozed a kind of cool nonchalance which was reminiscent of his larger than life Tyler Durden of Fight Club fame. Then there was Christoph Waltz, who was perfect in the role of Colonel Hans Landa, the “Jew Hunter” and clear villain of the film. He terrified me with his calm portrayal of the sociopathic SS leader. This year’s Academy Awards will probably feature either Waltz or Pitt (or maybe both!) among the nominees. The rest of the film was peppered with outstanding performances. BJ Novak as Smithton Utivich and Eli Roth as Donny Donowitz provided much needed moments of comic relief, while Diane Kruger as Bridget von Hammersmark and Mélanie Laurent as Shosanna brought to life a poised movie star/ spy and a tough but tragic antihero, respectively. One final notable performance was that of Daniel Brühl playing war hero Fredrick Zoller. He made me forget that he was a Nazi, until he made it abundantly clear.

In typical Tarantino fashion, and this film was pure (well done) Tarantino, the plot was familiar but not overly predictable. It was broken up into chapters and made use of many freeze frames, arrows, and floating text. There were two main storylines. The first followed Jewish escapee Shosanna in her exploits as a cinema owner and her unwanted courtship with a Nazi war hero (Brühl). The second tells the story of the Basterds, an American special unit sent to Germany with one mission: kill as many Nazis as possible, and maybe even end the war. The two plots never cross and are connected only by the Colonel Hans Landa. I wish I could give away the exciting parts, but I would hate myself forever for spoiling the fun. While this is probably the most historically inaccurate movie I have ever seen, it wasn’t trying to be anything that it wasn’t. I found myself laughing at the sick humor and smiling widely when something shocked me, which was quite often. When I go to the cinema, it’s because I want to be wrapped up in a movie. This movie took me through a wide range of emotions, from giddy to grossed out, and it certainly did its job as a summer blockbuster. Also, it involved the audience in the fun. It made frequent references to itself which, at least to me, made me feel sharp as a tack and included in the action.

My advice: If you don’t like reading, can’t sit still, or get bored easily, don’t go see this movie. There was definitely a bit of false advertising which made this movie seem like pure action and thrills, and while it certainly delivered, there is more to it than that. The writing is dark and clever, but there is a lot of dialogue to pay attention to. Personally, that’s my favorite kind of movie. If it doesn’t make you pay attention, why bother watching? That being said, the people I saw this movie with all seemed to agree that some scenes could have been cut shorter. I respectfully disagree, but they have a valid point. If you’re a fidgeter, skip this one.

I’ll be very glad if, in February, Inglourious Basterds gets some sort of Oscar Nod. What’s more, I think a film that includes great camera work, superb writing, exceptional acting, and a blend of shadowy comedy and shocking action deserves a little golden statuette. I bet the Academy will take this suggestion into consideration.

"You know, fightin' in a basement offers a lot of difficulties. Number one being, you're fightin' in a basement! "

Watch the trailer here: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3738173977/