Exhilarating

Rating: 10/10 (30 August 2009)

I really don't know where to begin. First, i guess I will start with the critics of this movie. If you don't like this movie, you fit into one of two categories. 1. Someone who doesn't like Tarantino movies at all. 2. Someone who loves Tarantino a little bit too much and has a unconscious disbelief that Tarantino can deviate at all from his normal style and still make a wonderful, original movie.
Both groups are equally ridiculous to me.
This movie was absolutely PHENOMENAL. Any statements to the contrary are void of any REAL intellectual conviction, being, however, derived from one's arrogant intellectualism in their views of "proper" cinematic execution. This film was not an industrial norm. Nor an Indie film norm. It was exquisitely original.
The antagonist SS officer Hans, played by Christoph Waltz, was the most INSANELY well acted and portrayed villain I have seen in a movie or read in a book, over the last decade. The intensity of the scenes of dialogue between him and EVERY other character, which others have carelessly referred to as "drawn out" and "pointless", is perhaps some of the most thrilling bits of dialogue to come from Tarantino since Resovoir Dogs. This effect was extremely apparent in the initial scene of the movie where he is questioning a man who is hiding jews, as they lay motionless beneath the very floor they are conversing on top of. Absolutely paralyzing intensity, that was nearly able to be tasted, ingested, and digested in between each sentence. If the Academy fails to acknowledge Waltz's genius in his portrayal of this sadistic SS officer, it will be an absolute travesty and a complete dereliction of their duty to nominate the BEST performances for Oscar awards.
Brad Pitt's performance could be viewed from different perspectives. The amateur-actor-like way he delivers his southern accent starts off unbelievable and irritating, but by the middle of the film becomes the most endearing attribute of his character, Leuitenant Aldo Raine. I wont give away the scene, but the part where he attempts to speak Italian is as equally inspired a vocal performance as his southern, though for different reasons.
The Basterds role in the film was executed perfectly. If you have too many scenes of scalping and mayhem, it would dilute the film into more of a Robert Rodriguez/Tarantino effort. But these characters were FANTASTICALLY simplistic and an utter joy to watch.
The parallel story of the victim in the massacre that begins the film is equally as gripping as the basterds. Considering the way the previews portray the film, I would say, a GENIUS blending of characters and genres is what ultimately takes place. The preview lures you in with action sequences. But you will leave feeling delightfully deceived. Not to say that violence and action is under represented in the film. The violence that does occur is utterly satisfying and quite a good blend of action, horror-core, and fantasy.
I will leave you with a simple statement. Go see it. Open minded. As if the trailer says that Quentin has invented a new genre. Compare it to nothing. And you will most definitely leave as wonderfully exhilarated as I was.