Inglourious Basterds Review

Viewing Medium: DVD (redbox)

Previously Seen: No

My Rating: A-

My Tagline: Good clean Nazi-killing fun

My Recommendation: If you like Tarantino in general, just go ahead and buy this one...

I enjoyed almost every minute of this latest Tarantino work. From the very beginning, he lets the acting shine through, utilizing close-ups and long takes for a feeling of tension the whole way through. Often he will focus on one character's reaction to a scene, rather than capture the entire scene. This gives it a very personal feel.

The title and promoting of he film is somewhat misleading, because the plot follows three separate but converging attempts to kill Nazis, not just those of Brad Pitt's basterds.

The acting and cinematography were above average all around. Brad Pitt was fun to watch, although his best lines were already viewed in the trailers for the film. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the charming yet sinister Col. Landa played by Christoph Waltz. He definitely stole the show, which has already earned him several awards, and he definitely has my vote for Best Supporting Actor.

My ONLY complaint is that QT shot this film in some places as if it were another Pulp Fiction or Kill Bill. It's so good that it does not need to be interrupted by his standard character-intro sequences, or by grating, annoying soundtracks during the violent scenes.

Overall, it was good clean Nazi-killing fun, with superb acting and direction. The way that the different storylines came together could have been reconciled better. (There are three unrelated conspirator plots that converge on the same location, and apparently ALL are successful, without endangering the others?) I rate this film "91 out of 100 Nazi scalps."