Inglorious Basterds(2009)

Inglorious Basterds(2009)

Director                                   Quentin Tarantino

Writer                                       Quentin Tarantino          

Genre                                      Drama/Thriller/War

Language                          English

Runtime                                    2 hr  33 mins

IMDB Rating                              8.4 ( 179243 votes , Top 250 : 78)

Personal Rating                   6/10
Youtube trailer link               http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sQhTVz5IjQ

Academy Awards                Best Actor in a Supporting Role : Christopher Waltz 

Major Actors

             Brad Pitt ( Lt. Aldo Raine )  

 Christopher Waltz (Col. Hans Landa) 

   

  Melanie Laurent (Shosanna Dreyfus)

Historical Relevance       Although United States military segregated African American and Japanese American soldiers in combat units, no records of an all Jewish American combat unit has been found. Jewish American units were fully integrated with the US military during the World War, not as a separate combat unit. This film is fictional, made against the backdrop of World War II.

Review                       Not entirely an art epic, the war acts as a catalyst to depict what viewers had wished to happen- A revenge fantasized against the mighty Nazis. The disconnect from the usual rigors of real life is Tarantino’s greatest strength as an entertainer, offering enough skillful homage to cinematic geeks. But, at the same time, his disconnect insulates his movie from the historical realities of World War II.

The movie presents a blend of Tarantino’s artistic fragrance (Previous works include Pulp Fiction and Death Proof), Brad Pitt’s uncanny accent and Christopher Waltz’ ruthless villainy. Brad Pitt chews all the scenery with his humorous accent while many eyes catch up with Christopher Waltz, offering his tyrannous outrage as a ‘Jew Hunter’.  

The opening scenes are chilling, and for the first thirty minutes, the film crawls towards the finest work of Tarantino. However, the magic leeches out pretty soon from masterpiece levels .The film opens up with an Colonel Hans Landa-SS officer (Christopher Waltz) interrogating a French farmer about a family of missing Jews. Young Jewish refugee Shosanna Dreyfus() witnesses the slaughter of her family by the Colonel . Several years later, she is presented with an opportunity to seize revenge when a German War hero (Fredrick Zoller) takes a liking towards her and arranges his movie premiere at the theatre now run by her. The event catches attention of the Basterds-American Jewish soldiers commissioned to kill Nazis in the most inhumane ways possible. Basterds, headed by ruthless Aldo Raine, plan to establish their bloody reputation by playing spoilsport at the German premiere, attended by the Fuhrer himself.   

If you have a desire to upgrade your factual understanding of the World War II,  stay miles away from this movie. But, if you are a Tarantino fan, or a cinematic artisan, you won’t regret sparing a few hours for this one.  

Memorable quotes        Lt. Aldo Raine: You probably heard we ain't in the prisoner-takin' business; we in the killin' Nazi business. And cousin, business is a-boomin'. 

                                                Col. Hans Landa: What a tremendously hostile world that a rat must endure. Yet not only does he survive, he thrives. Because our little foe has an instinct for survival and preservation second to none... And that Monsieur is what a Jew shares with a rat.

                                                Lt. Aldo Raine: Well I speak the most Italian, so I'll be your escort. Donowitz speaks the second most so he'll be your Italian cameraman. Ans Hirschberg third most, so he'll be Donny's assistant.
PFC Gerold Hirschberg: But I don't speak Italian.
Lt. Aldo Raine: Like I said, third best. Just keep your fuckin' mouth shut. In fact why don't you start practising, right now.  

Watching Guide            Bloodshed is low but whatever it is, its gruesome. The movie contains no adult scenes.