Classic QT

Rating: 9/10 (24 August 2009)

I'll admit this up front. I'm a Quentin Tarantino fanboy. Not so much as to think that the man can do no wrong, but enough to make it a point to watch all things QT, no matter what.
Now that that's out of the way, "Inglorious Basterds" took me back to the place where I got hooked in the first place. This was "Pulp Fiction" (in my opinion, the best movie ever made), set in Nazi-occupied France. Quirky characters. Sharp dialog. Mexican stand-offs. Brutal murders. Samuel L. Jackson. The only thing missing was the trunk shot (which I was looking for). While I've enjoyed everything QT had made, nothing has quite been on a par with "Pulp Fiction" until now. My only wish is that QT had made this film straight, without inserting things at random (like Samuel L. explaining how flammable nitrate film is) just because that's what QT does. Those pieces added nothing to the film other than to blatantly stamp "Made by Quentin Tarantino" on it, which was pretty clear anyway.
If one thing could make up for that, it's the character of Col. Hans Landa, by far the most compelling character QT has ever written. His only flaw, is that he's on the "wrong" side. He's polite, cultivated, educated, a patriot...an all around good guy. And just when you get to like him, you remember, he's the Jew Hunter. And not only that, he can't use the excuse that he's just following orders. He philosophizes about his position and duty. But, at the same time, you have to admire him as a philosopher. You have to hate and like him at the same time. QT has made hit men sympathetic and had a vengeance crazed bride make us dry, but never has he created a character who made us feel so conflicted. It's a great stride forward for an already great auteur. I can't wait for the next one.