Inglourious Basterds

Rating: 10/10 (23 August 2009)

For those seeking a realistic and accurate World War 2 film based on real facts and history and much in the style of classic films from the late 40's onwards, then you will be disappointed with Inglourious Basterds. For those who want something completely original and different from any war film you have probably ever seen and one of the most stylish and at times wonderfully weird, then this film is for you. For 2009, Inglorious Basterds is the first film of the year that comes close and pretty much succeeds as sheer perfection and a masterpiece of the ages. While, I choose not to give anything away about the story the film has a feel of films from the 60's and 70's (even though it does take place in the mid to late 1940's) and it borrows a lot from the Italian westerns of the 60's as well as some revenge and pulp/cult films of those eras. Some may feel that this may make the film a bit campy, or unrealistic. Yes and no. Some of the scenes and especially some of the violence is very over the top and for me at least it was so much that way that it didn't bother me as I have known it to bother some other people who saw it. The film is definitely not campy though. Weird, different, unusual and unique? Yes, but campy no. We have one of the year's best scripts and direction on display here with top notch dialogue and a stylish and very interesting style of direction that I really felt made the film the director's own without being a copycat of other war films. Yes, he is paying tribute to the 60's and 70's films I have mentioned with the style of it, but realistically, how many war films have you seen played out like that? The acting is also at it's best here with a very strong cast. There is not one weak performance out of all of them, but the absolute best goes to the scene stealing Christoph Waltz who plays Colonel Hans Landa. This is a character that can frighten, amuse and completely fascinate you and just the range Waltz has with this character is brilliant and I think is one of the first performances of the year that I definitely think will be up for an acting Oscar at next year's awards. Like I said everyone else did a great job as well. There are some fairly lengthy scenes in the film that just consist of character's talking, but the dialogue is so great here that instead of being boring it is fascinating and a complete joy to see these characters get into it, so to say, with their words. The film also has an artistic quality that often feels more like a European film and not that of a traditional Hollywood one and I really appreciated that. There are also some scenes in the movie that because of the acting, dialogue, music, script and direction are moments of sheer brilliance and there are a handful of scenes in this film that I will probably never forget because of how effective they were and how beautifully shot and delivered they came across. I will not give away any of these scenes, but those who have seen, or will see it will know what I am talking about. The film is also tremendously entertaining and what I wasn't expecting was actually how funny some of it was with some of the wise cracks of the characters, or just some of the more awkward, or over the top scenes in there. The audience I was with laughed a lot as well, so I must not have been the only one who found them funny. This film just oozes with brilliance and a unique touch sorely lacking in today's Hollywood films. This is a great piece of film-making on pretty much all levels. Again, I must add that you should read a little bit about the film in order to know what you are in for, because I can see a lot of people loving this film and admiring it as I have and I can also see people hating it. As for being controversial, it didn't offend me, but it wouldn't surprise me if some people were offended by it. A truly original and mesmerizing work that is so far the year's best film and one that will become a classic whether with a mainstream, or cult audience and will find greatness with such audience. One of the best films of the year.