Inglourious Basterds – Crayzy Muuvie

In a rare trip to the cinema, last Friday, I went to watch Inglourious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino’s WW2 Jewish revenge fantasy. Seeing as I don’t watch many WW2 Jewish revenge fantasies, I thought it worthy of comment.

From the first scene, a twenty minute conversation between a Nazi Colonel and a French farmer, you realise that this isn’t going to be exactly what you expected. There are scenes which feature the ‘Basterds, a group of guerilla US Jewish soldiers behind enemy lines, and these are the kind of ultra-violent Dirty Dozen style action that the trailers suggested. But these moments are few and far between. Before you know it, you’re embroiled in a subplot involving a French cinema owner’s dealings with a Nazi movie star. It’s like Tarantino had 3 ideas for different war films, couldn’t choose which one to make and so rolled them all in to one. There are some brilliant scenes and acting, but it’s all slightly disjointed.

The acting is excellent throughout, and they did an excellent job of casting. Worthy of particular praise are Christoph Waltz as Col. Hans Landa, the ‘Jew Hunter’, and as a complex screen villain as you’re likely to see. Mélanie Laurent is mesmerising as Shosanna Dreyfus, a cinema owner whose family was butchered by Landa; a scene in a restaurant in which she has to hide her true feelings is incredible (and she’s very beautiful). Finally, Brad Pitt is hilarious as Lt. Aldo Raine, and shows a real talent for comedy.

There are some really memorable moments, the aforementioned opening and restaurant scenes spring to mind, and the section in the basement bar is a masterclass in tension (I won’t spoil it by saying any more).

Overall, it somehow didn’t seem to add up to the sum of it’s parts, but that said, it’s still more interesting than most films you’ll go and watch, and better made. Go see it for yourselves.