Inglourious Basterds - I can't think of a headline to do this brilliant film justice! (Inglourious Basterds (DVD))

Member Name: Miler

Product:	Inglourious Basterds (DVD)
Date:	04/09/09 (15 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great script executed by the cast brilliantly, black humour takes the edge off the violence,

Disadvantages: Some characters could have been developed more, but more a Tarantino trait than a flaw

Whilst Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction are iconic and brilliant, Jackie Brown was decent and Kill Bill had left me decidely indecisive, so I had mixed expectations entering the cinema to watch Tarantino's latest work. However, upon leaving the cinema, I knew exactly what I thought of Inglourious Basterds... BRILLIANT!

Without wanting to go into great detail, and spoiling the film for those yet to see it, the opening scene introduces us to one of the films main characters, Colonel Hans Landa (played by Christoph Waltz); which had it not been for his outstanding performance in this scene, it was in danger of dragging on. The articulate, slimey yet completely charming character of Landa steals the film, let alone this scene!
Melanie Laurent's character (Shosanna Dreyfus/Emmanuelle Mimieux) is also briefly appears in this scene.

In the second scene, Brad Pitt's brilliant character Liuetenant Aldo Raine is introduced as the leader of the Basterds; a team of Jewish American paratroopers intent on killing Nazis and causing fear within the Third Reich. Brad Pitt wonderfully delivers the character, and the lines, in a fashion which would have been hard to replicate had someone else been given the role.

There are also a couple of characters we are introduced to, one of which is Hugo Stiglitz, who I wish had been developed further before their demise as they too had the potential to be show stealers!

As with virtually all of Tarantino's films, there is a degree of graphic violence in the film, but only to the point where it's slightly unbearable, as opposed to pointlessly gruesome. It is also delivered with black humour, again in keeping with Tarantino's film traits.

Of course, the film is not historically accurate, nor claims to be, so indeed, expect the unexpected, especially when it comes to the timing of some characters deaths, which as mentioned previously, are often untimely.

Overall, the script is outstanding, and delivered unbelievably well by all, but in particular Pitt and Waltz. The film dares to be funny, in a time set where humour was not particularly in abundance, and you can't possibly predict what happens, to who, when and why.
Some Tarantino films leave me wanting more for all the wrong reasons, this one left me wanting more for all the right ones.

Summary: It's a war film, not really based around war. But it works. And it works well.