The Best Film of 2009

Rating: 10/10 (18 January 2010)

"Inglourious Basterds" is a perfect film. It boasts an incredible script, an innovative score, rich cinematography, great performances, and the finest direction job by any director this year.
Characters, rather than situations, form the heart of "Inglourious Basterds." The film's narrative structure cleverly introduces these characters in their respective backgrounds, only to thrust them together as time progresses. Shosanna, a young French woman, runs a cinema that may play host to the upcoming release of a Jewish propaganda film. The film stars Nazi soldier Fredrick Zoller. The Nazi officer in charge of security for the event is Hans Landa, the "Jew Hunter." Lt. Aldo Raine and his "Inglourious Basterds" see the release as an opportunity for them to strike. They employ the services of British officer Hicox and German actress Bridget Von Hammersmark.
Each character is richly drawn, both through the script and through the acting. Melanie Laurent is ferocious as the dynamic Shosanna. Christoph Waltz shatters the screen as Hans Landa. Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, and Diane Kruger also do exceptionally well. The plot itself moves at the ideal pace. It's full of outstanding set-pieces and dialogue scenes, the most notable being the opening conversation and a scene at a bar (I'm being intentionally vague).
"Inglourious Basterds" is entertaining and outstandingly well-made. It warrants its run-time and its sprawling plot. It's the best film of the year.