Review of Gomorrah (2008) by Anuwat U — 12 Mar 2010

I must say there is absolutely nothing inglorious about this movie. The title aside, this is a splendid little movie. I guess my expectations had been lowered because I had put off seeing IB, because I was very pleastantly surprised with what I saw on screen.

I have always been a Tarantino fan and even wrote a paper about him in my Italian film class in college -- I saw several similarities to his early works and those of past Italian directors. I guess I was correct .

.. because this is the directors homage to the Macaroni/Spaghetti Westerns of Italian cinema. I love how Tarantino loves movies and that he pays tribute to his influences with engaging films like this one.

The cast is all top-notch even though the lead performance of Brad Pitt is a bit over-the-top. Diane Kruger played a regal double-agent, German actress. Til Schweiger was an inglorious bastard. Michael Fassbender was a charming, British officer.

Melanie Laurent is a major find as a secretive, young woman harboring a secret past. All of the cast rose to the occasion and I will predict at least one Oscar nomination for the cast. Christoph Watlz as the Nazi "Jew Hunter" was spectacular -- I hated him and found him to be remarkably charming at the same time.

Towards the end of the movie when he delightedly cries "Bingo!" is devine acting! The movie was pure entertainment ... and that is what some movies are made for -- Inglourious Basterds is such.

The story was dark; but I found my self smiling throughout most of it.