A Fantastic World War II Film With Two Excellent Leads

Rating: 10/10 (26 June 2016)

Inglourious Basterds is written and directed by Quentin Tarantino and stars Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Diane Kruger, Michael Fassbender, Eli Roth, Daniel Brühl, and Mélanie Laurent. It tells many stories throughout its World War II French setting, all of them leading into one, spectacular climax. Brad Pitt plays Lieutenant Aldo Raine, an American soldier with a furious hatred of Nazis, who leads a group of men looking for a Nazi officer named Hans Landa, played by Christoph Waltz. This quest leads these characters, as well as much more, on an epic quest for redemption and blood lust.
Two years after his 2007 film, Death Proof, Quentin Tarantino released to the public Inglourious Basterds, a film in which he subliminally claims to be his masterpiece. Is it his best film? That's a matter of opinion, but whether or not it is a great film isn't a matter of question. Inglourious Basterds is the best World War II film since Saving Private Ryan (1998), without a doubt. The excellent script, compelling characters, and amazing direction create a fantastic film, one could call a masterpiece.
The astounding characters are really what push this film to the next level. The two leads, Brad Pitt's Aldo Raine and Christoph Waltz's Hans Landa, set up Inglourious Basterds as a cat and mouse story of sorts. Lt. Aldo Raine chases after Col. Hans Landa, and vice versa. When the film eventually comes to a confrontation between the two, the dialogue is nothing short of genius. Both Pitt and Waltz do superb in their roles, bringing to life two stereotypical, yet seemingly fresh, characters that are more than compelling.
Every other actor in Inglourious Basterds holds their own as well, and aren't outshadowed by the two leads. Michael Fassbender portrays an American soldier under the command of Lt. Aldo Raine, and does so very well. His character is very refreshing, and seems grounded compared to the other, more "over-the-top" characters. Diane Kruger plays a famous actress named Bridget von Hammersmark, who is loved by both the Americans and the Germans. Her character is very likable, and grows on the audience very quickly. All other actors, such as Mélanie Laurent and Daniel Brühl, do great as well, just don't hold down as large of roles as the ones mentioned.
The script in this movie in brilliant. Specifically during the interrogation scenes, the suspense that is built up through flawless dialogue is simply incredible. Each character says exactly what their character needs to say exactly when they need to say it. The actors also aid the tension through their incredible acting abilities. In fact, the most interesting scenes in this film are the ones in which the characters just sit down and talk. Just through the dialogue, Quentin Tarantino, who also wrote the script, can get an entire audience on the edge of their seats, and that's a rare thing for a writer to be able to do.
The direction, by Tarantino, is, as always, great. There's one specific shot in which the camera follows a character as she walks through a few different rooms, all while the camera is tracking from a ceiling view. This shot goes on for more than a few seconds, and my jaw dropped while watching it. This specific shot, and many more like it, add so much to the already magnificent film that Inglourious Basterds is.
Overall, Inglourious Basterds is a fantastic film. I wouldn't necessarily label it as a "masterpiece," but it still is a great movie. I'd recommend it to anyone who can handle the violence (which isn't too much, should I add), and some bad language.