Movie review : "Inglorious Basterds" (2009)
"Now if one were to determine what attribute the German people share with a beast, it would be the cunning and the predatory instinct of a hawk. But if one were to determine what attributes the Jews share with a beast, it would be that of the rat. If a rat were to walk in here right now as I'm talking, would you treat it to a saucer of your delicious milk?" - And follows an absorbing funny interesting dialog involving rats and why human possess a sense of animosity towards them. The opening Chapter is probably the most engrossing sequence. The long, relaxed scene is built-up slowly with razor-sharp dialogs and created to instill a mood of suspense in the minds of audience. The masterful way Col. Hans Landa persuaded Monsieur LaPadite to reveal the secret he wanted to know is such a delight to watch.
"Inglorious Basterds" is Tarantino's yet another gift to the world of cinema. "Quentin Tarantino" is stamped all over the movie from its opening scene till its rolling credits. And he has done it again; with his unique style of film-making; exuberantly lengthy sequences, crisp and witty dialogs blended with some memorable outstanding acting of its cast - "Basterds" is his masterpiece. Only a movie-maker like Tarantino can dare to make a movie that is based on history weirdly twisted and fabricated at his own will and still come up with something magical.
The plot revolves around one Jewish-American group knows as "The Basterds" lead by Lt. Aldo Raine (played by Brad Pitt) who was on a secret mission to spread panic among the Third Reich by brutally killing the Nazis. We also see a parallel story unfolding revolving around a beautiful Jewish French girl Shosanna (played by Mélanie Laurent) whose family was mercilessly murdered by Hans (played by Christoph Waltz) and who is now all determined for vengeance. The movie is about how these two stories collide and its consequences.
For most part of the film, it's just conversation. Witty, piercing, slow, riveting conversation. And that just adds to the beauty of this quite differently made movie. Brad Pitt is funny as Lt. Raine with his unusual accent and voice and that grin all the time. Personally, though I feel he probably a little overdid his role. Eli Roth, Diane Kruger, Mélanie Laurent - all were perfectly cast in their roles. But the real star of the show - the one who completely steals the limelight outdoing everyone else - is, beyond any reasonable doubt, Waltz as infamous Col. Hans aka "The Jew Hunter". Spiteful, vindictive yet cool, composed - the smiling assassin; the type of character that you will hate from your heart and that will infuse chill in your spines. His presence in the screen is so powerful, so dominating - it was a spellbound experience to watch.
After Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill - the expectation from Tarantino was too high for me. And fortunately, I wasn't disappointed a bit - add this to the list of his outstanding cinematic achievement. Do yourself a favor - go and watch this movie in a theater near you.
IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361748/
Sunday, October 11, 2009
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