Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt) Grading/Discussion
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Re: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt) Grading/Discus
I kind of... I'm of two minds. A part of me thinks it's one of the best-written (especially in terms of dialogue) and best shot films of this past year. The beginning chapter is just really so well-written, almost Hitchcockian in terms of building palpable suspense and tension, and so incredibly well-acted by Christoph Waltz, who steals the entire movie giving the best villain performance since Heath Ledger.
The Basterds segment(s) in my opinion are not as successful, however I really had fun with Brad Pitt's performance. He was great in every scene he was in, and this is probably my favorite performance of his...it's at least him at his most enjoyable in my opinion. I think we got a good balance of the Basterds... They're not in it for too long or too short, and even though some of the tietary Basterds come off as underdeveloped, to me the movie really feels like it belongs to Shosanah and Hans Landa. The Basterds are kind of bit players.
The movie drags in places and some of the humor doesn't work as good as in others (the bar scene with Diane Kruger's character and some of the Basterds is really very good, and Tarantino's shining example of balancing humor and suspense/drama). The ending definitely feels like it was missing some the "umph" I was expecting, and Shosanah's death, while handled very cinematically beautiful, just came off as unfulfilling in my opinion. I felt like while even though the movie belonged to her we didn't really get much of an insight into her character. It was very basic, very on-the-surface characterization.
Still, Ingloruious Basterds is still a highly engaging and entertaining film and Quentin Tarantino is surely to nab some Oscar nominations for this, especially for Best (Original? Adapted?) Screenplay. And Christoph Waltz just walked off with the Best Supporting Oscar award, hands down, the award should and will go to him (even though he deserves a Best Actor nod, I suspect he'll likely get a Best Supporting nomination).
I kind of... I'm of two minds. A part of me thinks it's one of the best-written (especially in terms of dialogue) and best shot films of this past year. The beginning chapter is just really so well-written, almost Hitchcockian in terms of building palpable suspense and tension, and so incredibly well-acted by Christoph Waltz, who steals the entire movie giving the best villain performance since Heath Ledger.
The Basterds segment(s) in my opinion are not as successful, however I really had fun with Brad Pitt's performance. He was great in every scene he was in, and this is probably my favorite performance of his...it's at least him at his most enjoyable in my opinion. I think we got a good balance of the Basterds... They're not in it for too long or too short, and even though some of the tietary Basterds come off as underdeveloped, to me the movie really feels like it belongs to Shosanah and Hans Landa. The Basterds are kind of bit players.
The movie drags in places and some of the humor doesn't work as good as in others (the bar scene with Diane Kruger's character and some of the Basterds is really very good, and Tarantino's shining example of balancing humor and suspense/drama). The ending definitely feels like it was missing some the "umph" I was expecting, and Shosanah's death, while handled very cinematically beautiful, just came off as unfulfilling in my opinion. I felt like while even though the movie belonged to her we didn't really get much of an insight into her character. It was very basic, very on-the-surface characterization.
Still, Ingloruious Basterds is still a highly engaging and entertaining film and Quentin Tarantino is surely to nab some Oscar nominations for this, especially for Best (Original? Adapted?) Screenplay. And Christoph Waltz just walked off with the Best Supporting Oscar award, hands down, the award should and will go to him (even though he deserves a Best Actor nod, I suspect he'll likely get a Best Supporting nomination).
Re: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt) Grading/Discus
Oh yeah, and one of the most quotable lines all year:
"I got a Bingo!"
Oh yeah, and one of the most quotable lines all year:
"I got a Bingo!"
Re: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt) Grading/Discus
I absolutely loved this movie. I only wish it had more of Hugo Stiglitz.
I absolutely loved this movie. I only wish it had more of Hugo Stiglitz.
Re: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt) Grading/Discus
Great film, his best since Jackie Brown (I still haven't decided which of the two is better).
I think if you didn't like it, it's still possible to respect the accomplishment. This is all the Tarantino dialogue and pop culture and cinema references in the service of something bigger than itself (which is why Pulp Fiction will always be more popular, but not as good).
I love the fact that I don't know if Shoshana intended to survive.
Great film, his best since Jackie Brown (I still haven't decided which of the two is better).
I think if you didn't like it, it's still possible to respect the accomplishment. This is all the Tarantino dialogue and pop culture and cinema references in the service of something bigger than itself (which is why Pulp Fiction will always be more popular, but not as good).
I love the fact that I don't know if Shoshana intended to survive.
Re: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt) Grading/Discus
That's partly why they're inglorious
That's partly why they're inglorious
Re: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt) Grading/Discus
Ah, that's it! Thanks. Great line, even better delivery. And yeah, the film definitely needed more Hugo.
"Now you have two guns pointed at your testicles..."
I absolutely loved this movie. I only wish it had more of Hugo Stiglitz.
Ah, that's it! Thanks. Great line, even better delivery. And yeah, the film definitely needed more Hugo.
"Now you have two guns pointed at your testicles..."
john titor
Captain
Re: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt) Grading/Discus
Good film, my favourite of the year so far,
1. Inglorious Basterds
2. Star Trek
3. The Wrestler
4. Terminator
It enjoyed the slow pace, a welcome relief from yawn inducing snappy high concept films, the auteur turns of phrase with the closeups of the cream and so forth and the overwrought tarantino dialogue. Overall an enjoyable masterpiece. I also liked the way it completely ignored historical accuracy, the magic of cinema strikes once again.
Good film, my favourite of the year so far,
1. Inglorious Basterds
2. Star Trek
3. The Wrestler
4. Terminator
It enjoyed the slow pace, a welcome relief from yawn inducing snappy high concept films, the auteur turns of phrase with the closeups of the cream and so forth and the overwrought tarantino dialogue. Overall an enjoyable masterpiece. I also liked the way it completely ignored historical accuracy, the magic of cinema strikes once again.
Re: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt) Grading/Discus
Something you may or may not be aware of: Quentin Tarantino intended the character of Donny Donowitz (Eli Roth) to be the grandfather (or great-grandfather?) of the movie producer Lee Donowitz (Saul Rubinek) in True Romance! (I'm not kidding!
)
And, as you would expect from a Quentin Tarantino film, the movie just absolutely rocked! I swear, it's going to feel like an eternity before the movie comes out on DVD. As a matter of fact, I might go see it in the theater two or three more times just to get my fill.
Christoph Waltz was brilliant in the role of Colonel Hans Landa, and Brad Pitt's performance as Lt. Aldo Raines had the crowd laughing and cheering in equal measure. And yes, the movie has yet another one of Quentin's famed Mexican standoffs. It doesn't really top the ones from True Romance, Reservoir Dogs, or Pulp Fiction, but it's certainly a lot more...how shall I say?...up-close and personal!
Something you may or may not be aware of: Quentin Tarantino intended the character of Donny Donowitz (Eli Roth) to be the grandfather (or great-grandfather?) of the movie producer Lee Donowitz (Saul Rubinek) in True Romance! (I'm not kidding!
)And, as you would expect from a Quentin Tarantino film, the movie just absolutely rocked! I swear, it's going to feel like an eternity before the movie comes out on DVD. As a matter of fact, I might go see it in the theater two or three more times just to get my fill.
Christoph Waltz was brilliant in the role of Colonel Hans Landa, and Brad Pitt's performance as Lt. Aldo Raines had the crowd laughing and cheering in equal measure. And yes, the movie has yet another one of Quentin's famed Mexican standoffs. It doesn't really top the ones from True Romance, Reservoir Dogs, or Pulp Fiction, but it's certainly a lot more...how shall I say?...up-close and personal!
Re: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt) Grading/Discus
Interesting choices for your two favorite movies of 2009 so far! Because Inglourious Basterds has helped to give me some new perspective on the new Star Trek, which I've been feeling incredibly conflicted about up until now. Yes, it's true, we all know the heads of the Third Reich weren't actually roasted in a French theater fire. And by the same token, who among us really, truly believes that the planet Vulcan really got sucked through a black hole from the inside out?!
Re: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt) Grading/Discus
I have no idea why, but the German officer dude totally reminded me of "Bester" from B5. Maybe it was the haircut and the accent when he spoke English.
As for the movie itself, I guess I was slightly disappointed because I expected the movie to be about the Basterds and the trailers made it look like it'd be about their wild antics across France. I also didn't know that it was a "fantasy", so the ending actually threw me for a loop... so I thought it was wild that they actually killed Hitler and ended the war.
I guess I'm not sure if there needed to be two separate story threads. The movie might have been stronger if it was made as "Kill Bill 3" and featured Shoshanah getting revenge for the death of her family. Or, alternatively, just focus on the Basterds themselves.
I mean, the climax of the film, when the two storylines converge at the same point, just made both threads seem extraneous. They both achieved the same goal independently of each other, so why did they both need to happen at the same time?
On another note, I found it funny that he somehow managed to work in some more foot shoots. Bravo.
I have no idea why, but the German officer dude totally reminded me of "Bester" from B5. Maybe it was the haircut and the accent when he spoke English.
As for the movie itself, I guess I was slightly disappointed because I expected the movie to be about the Basterds and the trailers made it look like it'd be about their wild antics across France. I also didn't know that it was a "fantasy", so the ending actually threw me for a loop... so I thought it was wild that they actually killed Hitler and ended the war.
I guess I'm not sure if there needed to be two separate story threads. The movie might have been stronger if it was made as "Kill Bill 3" and featured Shoshanah getting revenge for the death of her family. Or, alternatively, just focus on the Basterds themselves.
I mean, the climax of the film, when the two storylines converge at the same point, just made both threads seem extraneous. They both achieved the same goal independently of each other, so why did they both need to happen at the same time?
On another note, I found it funny that he somehow managed to work in some more foot shoots. Bravo.
Re: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt) Grading/Discus
The Marvel/DC guy did a parody of Inglourious Basterds.
The Marvel/DC guy did a parody of Inglourious Basterds.
Re: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt) Grading/Discus
The idea of multiple "threads" weaving towards a single moment has been a pretty consistent theme for Tarantino. (and for late 20th/early 21st century cinema in general). Stories like that of the British officer flow into the main plot in ways the individual, who thinks he is the centre of the story because he thinks it's his story, does not and cannot expect.
The idea of multiple "threads" weaving towards a single moment has been a pretty consistent theme for Tarantino. (and for late 20th/early 21st century cinema in general). Stories like that of the British officer flow into the main plot in ways the individual, who thinks he is the centre of the story because he thinks it's his story, does not and cannot expect.
Re: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt) Grading/Discus
Yeah, I mean, I haven't seen all of his films but I understand that this is somewhat consistent with his work. I think for me the difference is that in the other films I've seen, there has always been an emphasis on one of the stories over the other ones, where the other threads feel more like supporting diversions.
Here, whenever they switched between the two stories, I felt like I'd rather watch the other one.
Yeah, I mean, I haven't seen all of his films but I understand that this is somewhat consistent with his work. I think for me the difference is that in the other films I've seen, there has always been an emphasis on one of the stories over the other ones, where the other threads feel more like supporting diversions.
Here, whenever they switched between the two stories, I felt like I'd rather watch the other one.
Re: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt) Grading/Discus
Yeah at first I was a bit confused, wondering why there were two separate assassination plots that seemed to know nothing about each other. But now when I think back on it, it probably was good to have one there to distract the Nazis (and Landa) from the other.
Although frankly, I would have expected the Nazis to have provided MUCH better security for the place. No one out in the foyer, and only 2 guards protecting Hitler?? Yeah right.
Yeah at first I was a bit confused, wondering why there were two separate assassination plots that seemed to know nothing about each other. But now when I think back on it, it probably was good to have one there to distract the Nazis (and Landa) from the other.
Although frankly, I would have expected the Nazis to have provided MUCH better security for the place. No one out in the foyer, and only 2 guards protecting Hitler?? Yeah right.
Re: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt) Grading/Discus
My take was that this event was covered up. With the "real" death of Hitler too complicated and messy, in terms of all involved, to be revealed to the public. The Allies would not have been completely aware of everything anyways. Of course Tarantino leaves the whole issue unanswered. Which is for the best. We can either see it as a full blown alternate history of the end of the war or merely that of a fictional secret history.
My take was that this event was covered up. With the "real" death of Hitler too complicated and messy, in terms of all involved, to be revealed to the public. The Allies would not have been completely aware of everything anyways. Of course Tarantino leaves the whole issue unanswered. Which is for the best. We can either see it as a full blown alternate history of the end of the war or merely that of a fictional secret history.
Re: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt) Grading/Discus
Well, the problem with that is that the only reason why the "real" Germans lost WW2 was because of Hitler's insane command structure and his general ineptitude as a commander.
I mean, all the incompetent leadership was killed... leaving all the "true" commanders left on the field to act without political interference. At that point, they probably would have won the war - or at least caused a protracted stalemate leading to a conditional surrender.
Edit: Yeah, I'm a WW2 nerd.
Well, the problem with that is that the only reason why the "real" Germans lost WW2 was because of Hitler's insane command structure and his general ineptitude as a commander.
I mean, all the incompetent leadership was killed... leaving all the "true" commanders left on the field to act without political interference. At that point, they probably would have won the war - or at least caused a protracted stalemate leading to a conditional surrender.
Edit: Yeah, I'm a WW2 nerd.
Re: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt) Grading/Discus
is that really how world war 2 ended
is that really how world war 2 ended