Review: Inglourious Basterds

Review: Inglourious Basterds

Rating: ***1/2

Nonna's Rating: $$$$

Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

Have you ever watched a "plot-to-kill-Hitler" historical drama and found yourself wishing that the end just might turn out differently from the end you know is coming? Well, then, do I have a movie for you! Inglourious Basterds (yeah it's spelled wrong) delivers the ultimate World War II revenge fantasy. Based on no facts whatsoever, Tarantino presents a masterful film that speeds by much faster than its two and a half hour length would suggest. It's Tarantino's best movie since Pulp Fiction -- and it occupies a pretty close second place. Tarantino never ceases to surprise, and he never ceases to employ over-the-top violence to make his point.

Much has been made of Christoph Waltz's chilling performance as SS officer and "Jew Hunter" Col. Hans Landa, an Aryan nightmare if there ever was one. He uses charm, cunning, and psychological pressure to get what he wants from those unfortunate enough to be in his way. His interrogation scenes are intense, uncomfortable to watch, and directed brilliantly by Tarantino. Brad Pitt as Lt. Aldo Raine (an homage to gravel-voiced Aldo Ray) and his band of Jewish American soldiers provide Tarantino's special brand of gore and comic relief.

Nonna's Ratings:

$$$$ = Worth paying the Friday evening price
$$$= Worth paying the Matinee price
$$= Worth a rental
$ = Wait for cable
# = Skip it