Jo Reviews

“Inglourious Basterds” is gutsy, pleasurable and very satisfying. Packaged together by the amazing Quentin Tarantino, this film will slap you in the face and say: “Damn good, what a way to end the summer!” Set during the history of the Second World War and centering around an event where the leadership of Nazi Germany, namely Hitler, Goering, Goebbels and Bormann attend a film premiere in Paris celebrating the exploits of a German sniper who had managed to kill 250 American soldiers in Italy. The timeframe of the film is set in early June 1944, after the D-Day landings but before the liberation of Paris.

“Inglourious Basterds” follows two separate tracks with one goal, to kill the Nazis. One group known as the “Basterds”, a group of Jewish American soldiers out for revenge against the Nazis. The Basterds have a tradition where each soldier must cut off the scalp of a dead Nazi soldier. The Basterds allow one German soldier to survive in order to spread the news of the terror of their attacks. Not allowing them to forget their misdeeds, the Basterds carve a swastika into the forehead of that German.

The other attempt is based on revenge. Shosanna is looking to kill the Nazis after she is the only Jewish survivor of an attack led by the “Jew Hunter” who killed her entire family. Shosanna inherited a cinema and captures the interest of the German sniped who killed the soldiers and also has the lead role in the film. Due to this he insists his premier of his masterpiece be shown at Shosanna’s cinema. After many concerns it is agreed upon that Shosanna will host the event.
What better way for revenge than to get all the leaders together at one place and one time to be rid of. All the while the Basterds and Shosanna are unaware of each other throughout the film and unaware of their likewise intentions.

This film is going to reignite the summer heat. It is explosive, energetic and brilliant! It will make you squirm, laugh out loud and have you spreading the word about this work of genius. Brad Pitt stars as Lt. Aldo Raine, making for one hell of a basterd. Pitt offered a stunning performance, even Oscar worthy by the multi faceted star. Other standout acts were by Eli Roth (Sgt. Donny Donowitz), who even when bat wielding was incredible. Mélanie Laurent (Shosanna) had a breakthrough performance, undeniably placing her on all the Hollywood watch lists.

“Inglourious Basterds” is the must see of the year. Brought to us by the immensely talented Quentin Tarantino (“Pulp Fiction”; “Jackie Brown”;”Kill Bill”) only proving to us again he is an enigma full of ideas. Once again outdoing his previous work, offering us an energetic and thrilling ride of entertainment. Never one to back away from a challenge this could possibly be his best work yet.