Reviewed in Cannes (5/20/09)
By Phillip Nakov
Synopsis: The movie opens in on a farm in German-occupied France, where Shosanna Dreyfus (Mélanie Laurent) witnesses the execution of her family at the hand of Nazi Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz). Shosanna narrowly escapes and flees to Paris, where she forges a new identity as the owner and operator of a cinema. Elsewhere in Europe, Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) organizes a group of Jewish soldiers to engage in targeted acts of retribution. Known to their enemy as “The Basterds,” Raine’s squad joins German actress and undercover agent Bridget Von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) on a mission to take down the leaders of The Third Reich. Fates converge under a cinema marquee, where Shosanna is poised to carry out a revenge plan of her own.
Stars: Brad Pitt, Melanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth, Michael Fassbender, Diane Kruger, D.J. Novak.
Written and Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Produced by: Lawrence Bender
Distributed by: Universal & The Weinstein Company
Opening: August 21, 2009
EXPECTATIONS
What I’d Seen – A short, pointed yet remarkable introduction to the world of ‘Inglourious Basterds’ with Brad Pitt as Lt. Aldo Raine giving a small group fo eight Jewish American soldiers about to embark on a mission to hunt down and scalp Nazi solderis in German Occupied France. The tone and outrageous nature of the plot is both darkly comedic and classic Tarantino. I had also seen the poster, giant character banners on the front of the Carlton hotel and a few stills from the production all which promised a richly styled World War II era film with comedy, drama and violence.
What I’d Heard – That this was to be a departure from Tarnatino’s previous efforts but how much and in what way was to be discovered. I had read that the script was completed on July 2, 2008 and that once completed they had to immediately move into pre-production as Tarantino intended the movie to be ready for the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. That meant a vastly accelerated 14-week pre-production schedule and shooting in sequence in locations in France and Germany with an international cast.
What I Wanted – The energy, story complexity and character diversity of a true Tarantino masterpiece. I wanted to see a cool, new world reinterpreted by a directorial genius. I was looking forward to seeing Brad Pitt acting alongside a large group of international stars.
EXPERIENCE
What Turned Me On -
So much to recall! The locations, the costumes, the attention to detail, the advertisements and art on the walls, the characters and the way Tarantino seamlessly blends real historic people with fictional ones to create alternate endings to history. It’s both vividly amusing and disturbing at the same time. The richness of the Third Reich with its sumptuous use of red and black to mark its territory is both visually inspired and striking.
What Turned Me Off -
Much of the movie is not in English. Yes, it is very realistic to have Germans speaking German and French speaking French, bravo! But for following the story line in a two hour, thirty-two minute movie, it’s somewhat distracting and hard to understand all of the plot twists and character nuances. Luckily I speak French fluently so was able to follow a great part of the film without reading, except that there are subtitles running constantly which distracts one from the action on screen. Tarantino seemingly plays with us in the first scene of the movie where an encounter with a French farmer and a German colonel. The Colonel asks if it would be okay if they switched from French and spoke in English. This caused the audience to erupt in laughter. A nod to the audience by the director indeed! Except, moments later the characters are back to French and German!
For this being a war movie there is very little fighting or actual action. Save for a black and white film that was created especially for the movie and features vidily depicted war sequences, this movie does not weigh in heavily as a fighting war movie.
AFTERMATH
I Left Thinking – That ‘Inglorious Basterds’ is a pretty well-paced Tarantino pic. It did feel like it dragged in some places especially when groups of German soldiers would assemble together and just talk. It felt as if we were just witnessing a lot of extra plot lines being laid out to be completed later, although not as expertly as I would have hoped. There could have been some additional character development, especially of some of the more secondary characters.
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I Left Saying – Most of Tarantino’s fans will show up to see this… although some may end up staying away because of the somewhat stunted use of foreign language to drive the story in the film. I wish there was a greater number of pay-offs versus one event that everyone is working towards resolving. I can’t imagine too many of the die-hard Tarantino fans either checking this film out more than once. Though it is well-made, repeat business will most likely end up being far less significant than on his previous works.
Expiry Date – This movie will have an expiry date somewhere after the award season. It was made for entry into this year’s Cannes film festival. Its US release will be in August, just shy of the obvious start of award season yet close enough to be considered for all categories. Although the DVD should feature a rich selection of behind the scenes footage and making of segments, only the really true Tarantino fan will buy the disc instead of just renting it.
Last thoughts – Overall I did like the movie and felt transported to the world of WWII France. However, the overuse of native languages and subtitles when it would have been so easy have to have the actors all speak in English or at least more than 50% of the time made for some hard work! Though a great work with some amazing performances, ultimately this movie will not reach the sort of mass audiences sees with past Tarantino offerings.
The story covers a lot of ground in its run time but it could still have been tightened up in certain places and we would not have missed a thing.
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