Review of Inglourious Basterds (2009) by Daryl L — 19 Jul 2018

This movie is glourious. Unpopular opinion: I think this might be Tarantino's best film.

"Why?" you might ask.

Because it's so damn entertaining! That is why.

It's practically revenge-against-Nazis pornography, and Tarantino is the Greatest of All Time at producing comically violent cinema. It's a sadistic marriage made in heaven, and this film is the honeymoon.

The performances in this movie is simply the best. Christoph Waltz steals the show as Hans "The Jew Hunter" Landa, a Nazi leader-sociopath so charismatic, murderous, competent, narcissistic, and with-the cherry on top-a flair for theatrical indulgence, he must go down as one of the greatest villains of all time. He's one of those evil characters so sublime, one cannot help but root for him out of guilty pleasure.

Brad Pitt's performance is electrifying and hilarious. As he continually snorts cocaine or whatever-the-hell he's perpetually got in his hands, when he commands "One hundred Nat-zee scalps," my heart and smile grow like I'm the Grinch.

I've never heard of Mélanie Laurent going into this. After seeing her play Shosanna for no more than 4 minutes, I'm positively in love with her. (Mademoiselle Laurent, if you're reading this: je t'aime.).

Oh, and the opening scene between Col. Landa, Perrier LaPadite (Denis Ménochet), and the Jewish refugees below their floorboards? One of the greatest, most stunningly intense movie scenes I've ever seen.

Furthermore, Basterds has surprising depth to it thanks to its (plausible) fan theories: The plot, and especially the ending, being a subtle middle-finger to Hollywood and the self-congratulatory, cliché-ridden movie industry itself. Tarantino's script says: Burn it all down! Or, more literally: "I think this just might be my masterpiece.".

The rest is just immensely satisfying, comically over-the-top, quintessential Tarantino violence, in the perfect setting, interspersed with impeccable dialogue. There's much in this movie worthy of more thorough analysis than what's out there right now and/or what I am capable of making.

Bottom line: I can think of no other movie that keeps me so purely, indulgent entertained. And is that not the main reason we watch movies?