When word spread quickly that infamous director Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed a film set in WWII, no one seemed to know was what to expect. With a tagline like, “Once upon a time in Nazi occupied France…” it was anyone’s guess as to what he would deliver.
By Jessie Pilewski
Contributor
When word spread quickly that infamous director Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed a film set in WWII, no one seemed to know was what to expect. With a tagline like, “Once upon a time in Nazi occupied France…” it was anyone’s guess as to what he would deliver.
A few lines from the key character Lt. Aldo Raine (actor Brad Pitt) clarified the mystery: “When you join my command, you take on a debt. A debt you owe me personally. Each and every man under my command owes me one hundred Nazi scalps, taken from the heads of one hundred dead Nazis. Or you will die tryin’.” Let the hunt begin. The so-coined “Basterds,” led by Raine set out to destroy and humiliate as many Nazi’s as they can.
Mixed into the plot is Shoshanna Dreyfus, played by the frighteningly beautiful Melanie Laurent, a surviving Jew who owns a movie theater in Paris, France. What results is one twisted plot where the characters collide in an attempt to assassinate leading Nazi officials, including Hitler himself.
The star-studded cast, which even consists of a cameo by Mike Myers, never ceases to amaze. There is no telling who will show up in “Inglourious Basterds,” which only adds to the surprises that are in store for audiences.
Throw away any prior conceptions of Brad Pitt before entering the theater; his performance is superbly executed. Who else could pull off the zany liners his character requires all while honing his scalping technique? However, prepare to set aside a fair amount of time to view this film. With a running time pushing 3 hours it is questionable if the suspense will carry upon a second viewing. Only time can tell if “Inglourious Basterds” will sustain in the box office, but one thing is certain, it will make a nice addition to any Tarentino collection.
The film promises all that audiences have come to expect from Tarentino: shocking displays of violence and gore that continue to push the limits. Yet, survive to the end of the film and audience members cannot help but cheer a little when the token villain receives his due in a style that simply screams Tarentino.
Bottom line: if you can stomach it, see it. Inglourious Basterds promises a good ol’ time completely unlike anything else currently in theaters.