Glorious Film-making

Rating: 9/10 (9 April 2010)

During WWII, a crack Jewish outfit seeks revenge against the Nazis in occupied France. This is a good-looking film, marked by sumptuous cinematography and a fine score. There are good performances from Pitt, Laurent, and Kruger, but the film belongs to Waltz, who is mesmerizing as a cold, calculating Nazi officer with polite manners. Tarantino is a fine story-teller and he is at his best in seemingly mundane scenes where tension builds, such as the scenes in the farm house and the tavern. What holds his films back is his sick obsession with graphic violence. Fortunately, there are only a few minutes of that here. Despite its epic length, this film does not drag for a moment.