Inglourious Basterds

release year: 2009
genre: action/drama
viewing setting: theater, 8/30/09

synopsis: In World War 2 France, a couple of different plots are afoot to kill the entire upper echelon of Nazi command.

impressions: It was entertaining and stylish, but I thought the action content was a little low. As always with Tarantino movies, this one has a complicated, multi-perspective plot that all comes together at the end. Revenge is the common theme, both direct and subtle. I realize that this is a short synopsis of the movie, but I just don't have much to say.

something this movie has that no other movie has: A guy who carves swastikas in Nazi survivors' foreheads so that they can't ever hide their Nazi service.

acting: Brad Pitt is amusing as the hillbilly leader of the Nazi-killers. Eli Roth is memorable as a big, strong, violent member of the group; ditto Til Schweiger as a silent, ruthless soldier. Melanie Laurent is a Jewish survivor who comes up with her own plan for revenge. Diane Kruger is a German actress who's actually spying for the Allies. Christoph Waltz is the sinister Nazi officer who excels at sensing when something's not right, or when someone's hiding. There are many other brief roles or cameos, too many to name here.

final word: Entertaining, but long-winded WWII masterpiece.

back to the main review page