Review of Inglourious Basterds (2009) by Mike S — 19 Jun 2014

I'm no expert, but even I can see that director Quentin Tarantino has a movie-making style all his own. Carefully composed visuals, snappy and witty dialogue, unexpected musical choices, and unconventional editing and effects are all hallmarks of Tarantino's works. And, of course, extreme violence.

Inglourious Basterds is no exception. A revenge fantasy set during World War II, this film features an excellent cast playing characters who are rarely what they seem. A young Jewish woman on the run in occupied Paris; a redneck American undercover officer leading a squad of Nazi-scalping thugs; a suave, multi-lingual SS officer who is as sharp as Sherlock Holmes. Brad Pitt and Christoph Waltz turn in astounding performances as the redneck and the SS officer, respectively.

There is the trademark brutality, but it's the dialogue scenes that are memorable. Verbal jousting between characters who are trying to hide things from each other, but most likely already know each other's secrets. Absolutely mesmerizing.