Much against my will, I was convinced last night to go out for an ‘after work drink’ with the girls. My idea of ‘out for a drink’ is hanging out once or twice a month with some guy friends, predominately in their 50’s, to chat about life, etc. Usually a glass or two of red wine will do the trick for a ‘big night out’. So, I went last night and upon walking in, I knew I was ready to leave. Blaring loud static rock music and obnoxious people talking much too loud about crass, rude things. Yuck. I hate what too much alcohol does to people. Especially the guys that come up and yell in your ear—“Hey, what’s your name?” ugh.
Half a glass of Pinot Noir and I excused myself. As I walked home, I noticed that the film Inglorious Bastards was playing. I sometimes forget that
I won’t spend this blog post boring you with some witty, intellectual personal critique of the film, but I will say the few, following things:
The film is pretty damn amazing. I will go further to be so bold as to say that it is, I think, Quentin Tarantino’s best film since Pulp Fiction (but, Pulp Fiction will always win, for me, because of the awesome soundtrack) Here are a few of the reasons why I think the film holds up.
*The Concept. Killing Nazis because they are murderous assholes. Of course. (Although please know, I do not personally advocate an ‘eye for an eye’ philosophy or murder, AT ALL. I do not think morally that it would ever be right to take a life, for anything. It is just a purely fantastical thought)
* Brad Pitt seems to shine in these roles where he plays off the persona of a cocky, hillbilly, stoner-esque, bully bastard. I personally think it’s his 70’s Midwestern (
* The cinematography. Tarantino seems to pick his shot angles in this unique, odd, left of center, rock-n-roll way. This makes you catch odd things in a scene that most filmmakers would forget to have you see. It’s a side that is truly sadistic. (Not to mention the torture and scalpings, which were rather difficult for a girl like me to watch, although he made them oddly comedic. If that is possible.)
*And finally- although I could name more- the choice of the relatively unknown actor, Christoph Waltz, who played a Nazi officer. I actually stayed to view the credits just to get his name. His performance was that brilliant. He should absolutely be given an Oscar nomination for supporting actor, if not win the Oscar.
He gave a performance that was riveting and moving much like a Meryl Streep in Sophie’s Choice, or a Marlon Brando in The Godfather, etc… Any one of those performances that left you truly moved by the ‘craft’ of acting.
Considering the exorbitant price of a movie -10.50 in
