Inglourious Basterds

Rating: 8/10 (19 June 2013)

My first encounter with Quentin Tarantino's film was not that romantic and smooth. I was curious about his films because so many people praise him and treat him (and his films) like cults. So I bought Pulp Fiction (1994) and watched it when I was around 16. I ended up not understanding the film; I enjoyed some parts of it, but at that time it just didn't make any sense to me. So when Inglourious Basterds was released and nominated for so many awards, I wasn't really eager to watch it, worrying that I would end up not understanding the film; I haven't reached the 'level' of understanding, enjoying and appreciating his films yet.
Until last night.
Right now I'm fangirling (again) over Ben Whishaw and Michael Fassbender. So I browsed Michael Fassbender films and found out that he actually appeared in Inglourious Basterds. I had the film laying down quietly in my hard disk for ages and I hadn't watched it, so I decided to watch. I'm not really sure at first, but I kept watching the opening credit (quite classic), then to the opening scene. It was already 2 am but I just couldn't stop watching it. The way he directed it was so cool and interesting that it made me curious and hungry about what would happen in the next scenes. Wonderful atmosphere. I kept waiting for Michael Fassbender to appear. He finally appeared in the middle of the film. I thought he was going to play a German role, instead he played an English role. (Oh my God, he's just so...) This is ultimately not the film that will be my first choice or whatever, due to the violence in it, but I have to say that this film is quite something. It's different and unique, especially the way Tarantino captured the scenes. He loves long shots (and they're brilliant), peculiar-angle shots and dividing his films into some chapters. My ultimate favourite scene is when they're down in the tavern. I think it was so great. Christoph Waltz's performance was excellent! Hands down. Unfortunately, Brad Pitt's performance was somewhat appears weird to me, seems unnatural.
Such a creative idea to make a film about alternate history (ending) of World War II. I like the way Hitler died, the ending of World War II, all collided with films, with cinema. We know that Hitler also used films as his propaganda. He said that if you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed. As we can see in this film, the man of his propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, accompany him in the viewing of the film. My lecturer in class told me that Hitler's favourite director, Leni Riefenstahl, made a film for him in 1934 called Triumph des Willens. I haven't seen the film yet, but it is said that the film had successfully build Hitler's might and right despite his weaknesses (for example, he's not that high and mighty in terms of his height).