Inglourious Basterds
by: Paolo Sardinas

"Inglourious Basterds", the latest from writer/director Quentin Tarantino is mot definetly his riskiest and most audacious film yet. And also is able to change history in the film (literally).

Centered on a group of Jewish-American soldiers who are dropped into France to basically kill Nazis. Now parallel to that story is another centered around a young Jewish girl who, after witnessing her family's death to the Nazis, hides out in France and plans a little scheme of here own. Now the story is very similar to that of Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill where its story line is non linear and are headed by chapters. Which in the case of those movies it works wonderfully. In this film it works well in telling the two
revenge" stories, but they sometimes seem to be going on and on, but at least the dialogue is impeccable and this gives the actors their time to shine.

Now as with every Tarantino movie the acting is what makes it a movie, and here the acting couldn't of been any better. Brad Pitt shines as the fast talking swastika carving leader of the American soldiers. In fact I would go as far as saying that this is his best performance in long time. Tarantino's two new femme fatales, Bridget von Hammersmark and Shosanna Dreyfus, played so wonderfully by Diane Kruger (Bridget) and Melaine Laurent (Shosanna). Shosanna by the way is other storyline in the movie. But the real scene stealer is Col Hans Landa played by Christoph Waltz. Waltz shines in the role of "The Jew Hunter", and gives audience one of the greatest villains we've ever seen. A definite front runner this Oscar season.

The other supporting actors do just as well including, Eli Roth as "The Bear Jew" who loves to bash in the heads of Nazis with his baseball bat and even an appearance by comedian Mike Myers, who has stared in a string of flops lately, gives one of his best performances -as short as it is- of his carrer.

Quentin Tarantino does an excellent job of creating a story that appeals to not only his hardcore fans but also to the inner "cinephile" in all of us. This is by far his most elaborate movie, even though its not his best. The writing couldn't of been better, but I honestly think this could've been edited even a little bit more. Mainly in the beginning, just a tad bit cut down. Even though the dialogue in the movie gets a little bit much after awhile, the movie is constantly filled with suspense, and keeps the surprises coming. Something that people sometimes don't realize or overlook is that there is really allot of meaning in this film. Even though its all a matter of perception, there are various themes and subjects which are displayed through the entire film. And you can't help but wonder, "What if the Jews really did retaliate against the Nazis?" Well that what Tarantino's war epic is mostly about and I personally love the idea of what it would've and could've been like.

Overall "Inglourious Basterds" is one of Tarantino's best. Even though its a bit lengthy the movies is nonetheless entertaining and captivating. And when that final shot comes in of the Nazi's burning and being shot comes in, you can't help but wonder (and enjoy) the cruelty that they endured at their boot heels, and the edge of their knives... A-