Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Starring: Brad Pitt, Christophe Waltz, Mélanie Laurent
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Country: USA
Genre: War

The master of homage is back in his homagiest homage yet!

It took two viewings of this film to fully appreciate it. The first time I was looking for the nuance of its brilliance, but it’s quite blatant and I think I took that as arrogance. Maybe it is. This is by far Tarantino’s most patient and deliberate film to date. For being two and a half hours, it’s only filled with a small number of incredibly long scenes. As it’s been said by many more articulate people than I, it’s his use of dialogue to build the suspense of the scenes, particularly the opening. Plus, his dialogue, though completely fantastical as it may be, is just so fun to listen to. Performance wise, Christophe Waltz almost doesn’t need mention as his talent is beyond obvious. However, many harp on Pitt for his lame accent. I, however, found it to be obvious that he knew he was doing a cartoon version of his character… because it is after all a fairy tale film. Once upon a time, and happily ever after.

6 Comments

• By Lyz, January 24, 2010 @ 3:30 pm

  I thought one of the biggest moment of self-gratification was at the very end, the last line. I saw it as Brad Pitt representing Tarantino and the masterpiece being the film.
• By this guy over here, January 25, 2010 @ 12:57 am

  That’s a very interesting perspective. Since the characters are looking directly into the camera for that line, I would almost have to agree with you, though I’m hesitant only because of the arrogance that would require on Tarantino’s part… I don’t like to think he’s tooting his own horn… I suppose it’s a personal thing for me in that something always seems less great when the person responsible knows it, (i.e. every woman in Los Angeles.)
• By Lyz, January 25, 2010 @ 12:21 pm

  I’ve met Tarantino, he is arrogant enough for it.
• By this guy over here, February 4, 2010 @ 10:44 am

  *sigh* doesn’t surprise me… oh well, P.T. Anderson’s films are super arrogant made but are disgustingly amazing. I suppose it’s just a gene in the DNA that make those two things go hand in hand.

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