Once Upon a Time, in Nazi-Occupied France...
Posted
Tuesday, August 25, 2009 10:22 AM
by
MattM
Inglourious Basterds is a thrill ride, but not in a traditional way. Although the action is good, I
was more delighted by the wonderful "talky" parts
(which includes a fair amount of subtitle-reading). Masterfully written and directed, these scenes build
tension slowly and beautifully. You know the fireworks are coming, but the unhurried journey makes it much more memorable.
Is the movie a bag of great individual scenes, or a satisfying whole? It's a tough call, but in the end, who cares? Presently, it is difficult to
find movies that truly resonate with you after watching them. I walked away
from Quinten Tarantino's irreverent WWII tale having enjoyed the whole 2.5
hours.
The music in the film is a typically eccentric grouping. My favorite tunes were The Green Leaves of Summer (from The Alamo) playing during the opening credits and Cat People by David Bowie (from the 1982 Paul Schrader film by the same name). You can listen to both here. If you are interested, Elvis Mitchell sat down with Mr. Tarantino to talk about the movie's music over at SPIN.
So if you are so inclined, check this one out in the theater (with Klipsch speakers preferably). It was worth it. You'll laugh, you'll wince, and you'll learn nothing about actual history.
Check out The Auteurs for a vast array of resources on the film and Mr. Tarantino.
Note: this film is not recommended for everyone. When violence is used, it is brutal.