QT's best since Pulp Fiction

Rating: 9/10 (29 August 2009)

My wife saw this in a packed theater in Lyon, France. She called me immediately afterward to tell me she thought it was by far the best movie of the year. I hadn't seen it yet, but I knew from what I had read and because it was a QT film, that it was fairly violent. I was shocked. This is the woman who walked out of "Gladiator" because she found the violence in that film "pornographic".
We saw it together last night. I did notice some people walked out after an hour or so. I found it difficult to judge my reaction immediately after the movie. I knew I liked it, but it took a while for all of it to sink in. It is so rich with dialogue, sets, costuming, and some spectacular acting performances. Christoph Waltz stands at the top. I'm not sure if the Academy will put him in the Best Actor or Best Supporting category (their rationale is confusing and inconsistent), but he deserves to win regardless.
This is QT's best since Pulp Fiction and an example of movie craft at its finest.