Inglourious Basterds (2009)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361748/

Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill)

“You probably heard we ain’t in the prisoner-takin’ business; we in the killin’ Nazi business. And cousin, Business is a-boomin’.”

THANK you up there….whomever you are…for setting me up with an awesome way to see Quentin Tarantino’s new epic INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS in San Francisco’s classic Castro Theater with the man himself in attendance. Tarantino himself. Days before the release, the people of IndieFest put together a fundraiser screening of the film. And, what a film it was.

If you are a fan of movies like KELLY’S HEROES or THE DIRTY DOZEN and happen to love Tarantino films as well, don’t hesitate. Don’t mill about. Head out and see this film at once. Thank me later.

INGLOURIOUS BASTARDS is more than what the original trailer would lead you to believe it is. It’s not just a single line story about a group of “specials” that has one task and one task only – “killin’ Nazis”. It’s a complex storyline with many arcs. Brad Pitt’s BASTERDS are just one spoke of the wheel. Intricate Tarantino-isms abound.
This film is a classic war picture with spies and missions and near misses throughout, but there is a strong sense of character and very strong plot lines that make the 2 hours and 32 minutes fly. The film takes us along several story lines, but never became muddy. It goes beyond the fun and almost comic book story of the Lt. Aldo Raine and the Basterds. As a matter of fact, there are several other plot points that play more of a part in the overall.
Brad Pitt delivers a fun performance as Lt. Aldo Raine, leader of the Basterds, but he is overshadowed be stunning performances by Christoph Waltz, Mélanie Laurent (another amazing Tarantino female lead), and Daniel Brühl. When asked about the movie’s marketing and the omission of these story pillars, Tarantino said that  “you have to pick a focus and get people in to see the film, summing up the plot in one line. To try to tell all the different plots of the film just would not work.” I agree whole heartedly. While it wasn’t 100% what the trailer was, it wasn’t less, it was more.
Picture going to dinner and thinking the price just included the meal, but then finding out that you also get a starter course, salad, bread, wine, and dessert. Would you be upset?  This movie is just that – the works!
And, of course, there are the Tarantino moments we all know and love mixed into the works as well. (Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz!)
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS is twelve tons of fun!

I’ve posted some of the Tarantino Q&A. I’m sorry I didn’t record the whole thing.

Quentin Tarantino at the Castro Theater – Q&A. (Low audio quality)

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Very good FILMSPOTTING.net review of INGLOURIOUS. Definately check out the FILMSPOTTING podcast.

FILMSPOTTING PODCAST #271 http://media.libsyn.com/media/cinecast/filmspot271_082809.mp3