Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" is an unflinchingly audacious rewrite of history, a film in which a group of Jewish-American soldiers seek vigilante justice against the Nazis. These soldiers, led by a charismatic Tennessean named Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), are in the "killing Nazi" business, and they won't yield until Hitler meets his proper fate. A film with this type of plot must be the work of a madly ambitious filmmaker, and that filmmaker is Quentin Tarantino. It's hard to find a more innovative cinematic auteur and connoisseur than Tarantino, whose films have unmistakable zeal and energy. From "Pulp Fiction" to "Jackie Brown" to the "Kill Bill" films, Tarantino makes movies that reflect his lifelong passion for the movies. And with "Inglourious Basterds", Tarantino has crafted another masterpiece. This is the best movie I've seen so far this year.
From the riveting opening moments of "Inglourious Basterds", it is evident that this is another daring gem from Tarantino. The film opens with a lengthy, spellbinding scene-----the most involving scene of any movie this year-----that introduces us to Nazi Col. Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz), an astonishingly evil man indeed who nonetheless hides behind his menacing charm. The beginning minutes of "Inglourious Basterds", the details of which I will not divulge, serve as proof that suspense need not be manufactured through the use of car chases or loud explosions, but rather that incredible suspense can be the result of a simple conversation between two men. This is a testament to Quentin Tarantino's brilliant knack for writing compelling dialogue. There are several elements in this movie that makes it a distinctly Tarantino picture-----the visually splendid direction, the sheer audacity, the fantastic soundtrack, the list goes on and on. But the one element that is most consistent in all of Tarantino's films is his writing.
Tarantino's dazzling script is buoyed by the strength of the three lead performances. Brad Pitt is known for his world-famous celebrity, but his acting ability often goes overlooked. Pitt's performance here is an exercise in heedless joy. Pitt throws caution to the wind, clearly having a ball while delivering a terrific performance that is great fun to watch. Melanie Laurent is superb as a German woman who changes her identity after her family was murdered by the Nazis. As good as Pitt and Laurent are, however, the star of this film is Christoph Waltz. As the devilishly charming, spectacularly evil Col. Landa, Waltz creates one of the most memorable villains in movie history. Waltz is absolutely brilliant, and if his name isn't on the ballot come Oscar time, the Academy should be stripped of its authority.
"Inglourious Basterds" is bloody fun, literally. This is a darkly funny work of complete originality that pays tribute to past cinema, most notably spaghetti westerns. Most filmmakers wouldn't go near this type of material, but Quentin Tarantino tackles it with fearlessness. "Inglourious Basterds" further solidifies Tarantino as one of the world's great cinematic minds.
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