'Inglourious Basterds' is an entertaining, original war film with high production values

Rating: 8/10 (18 November 2012)

'Inglourious Basterds' is not a film to be taken seriously, it's a farce. Firstly, many of its characters are caricatures, especially Brad Pitt's role Lieutenant Aldo Raine, who speaks in an exaggerated southern drawl. Secondly, the story completely rewrites history in grand, bloody fashion. Overall, I found the film to be good fun; I found its total disregard for history to be refreshing. It has been called 'juvenile', to those people I say "lighten up".
Its characters, context and plotting seem to have annoyed many people. The majority of the negative reviews I have read on IMDb are unfair and written by people who are cine-illiterate and sometimes downright illiterate. To dislike this film is understandable, but to give it 1/10 is immature and makes their opinion completely invalid.
Many will find it distasteful, and it is, the German soldiers aren't considered people by the Basterds; some deserve their violent treatment, others do not. However, contrary to popular belief, the film isn't crammed full of violence. It certainly has graphic outbursts, but it isn't pervasive. Instead, much of the film consists of dialogue delivered by its strong cast, constructing its rather large, multi- character story. The main acting credit of course goes to Christoph Waltz, whose turn as the intelligent, ruthless and utterly inescapable Col. Hans Landa is a highlight of the film.
There are moments that are removed from the farcical features of the film, notably the tense farm house interrogation and the basement bar scene, both of which are superbly constructed and acted. Think 'The Lives of Others' only with characters that face far more brutal consequences (if not as dramatically affecting.)
I quite like the film's story and plotting, it's a long film but I didn't grow tired of it like some people have. I didn't expect the film to incorporate so many characters, I didn't expect its scope. It's interesting to wonder what the film would've been like if it had adopted a 'Reservoir Dogs' approach, it could have been a stripped down thriller that closely followed the Basterds' exploits, it may well have been a better film. Instead it's more related to 'Pulp Fiction', a lengthy film with many characters and a marked tone of black humour, however 'Inglorious Basterds' isn't as funny or as interesting.
Tarantino's methods of film-making are questionable. For example, I've heard he refuses to hire composers as he doesn't want another crew member to have that degree of influence over his work. Some think his total control over his productions is becoming his downfall, and those claims could have credibility. He's an auteur some may say, I say he sounds like a control freak, however I understand he has a very particular vision. It would be interesting to see him work on projects that aren't completely his own. Working that way would see his career become more prolific and hopefully would avoid him making awful referential trash like 'Death Proof' again.
Although not a career high, 'Inglourious Basterds' is a worthy addition to his canon that's original yet in possession of all the entertaining earmarks of a true Tarantino film.
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