I've spent my summer going over and evaluating director Quentin Tarantino's filmography, of which he has a solid one. Tarantino is a man that gets movies. That is certain. He is a fan of film first, then a part of the filmmaking business second, something I admire a lot. His movies are direct examples of that. From Kill Bill's incredible genre blend of westerns and Asian cinema, to Death Proof's 70's exploitative, sometimes thriller esc vibe, Tarantino gets how to make an entertaining movie.
His newest film, Inglorious Basterds, is what is being described as a WWII, alternate reality, shoot 'em up with the end goal to kill Hitler. Given the initial description there is alot that could happen here, and the tension building Tarantino who is usually on cue, missteps several times here. Upon the opening scene, we see what our villain, a gentleman by the name of Col. Hans Lada sneakily finds a house of hiding Jews and orders the murder of them all. Enter Brad Pitts character Aldo Raine and his misfit group of Jewish soldiers set to kill any and all Nazi's aptly titled "the Bastards" and we have something that shouldn't fail. Notice I say shouldn't.
On many levels Basterds lives up to everything I'd hoped it would be. It has slick dialogue that is unique only to QT's films, a unique visual style reminiscent of older films, a great soundtrack, characters and not just actors, and an edgy inside style that you won't find anywhere else in Hollywood, a movie made by a geek for geeks. However on the level of success that is created here, QT manages to bring himself down by over doing it.
The dialogue is as I said slick and unique. But the constant German and French subtitled text ruins any effect the dialogue should have. The wow factor is lost. These lines should be in English for the full effect. It's hard to imagine the opening scene of Reservoir Dogs in Italian, or the foot massage conversation from Pulp Fiction in Spanish. The effect is lost.
And for any one doubting the use of the phrase "too much of a good thing" can simply look at Inglorious Basterds. The edgy inside style, great characters, are all here. Too much so though. Two hours and 33 minutes is too long for a movie. This is watching Inglorious Basterds: The Directors Cut. Which is fine if that's the DVD I chose to buy in 6 months, but I paid to sit in a theater and watch this movie. Unacceptable.
But the MVP of this movie for me goes to actor Christoph Waltz as Col. Landa. He is phenomenal, every bit as interesting and sometimes scary as you can ask for but at the same time by no way detracting from Brad Pitts over-the-top acting. Both are a good blend, and Waltz deserves credit.
Inglorious Basterds is the worst Tarantino movie. But fortunately being the worst QT movie is something that directors like Brett Ratner or even Eli Roth wish to aspire to. This movie is good, but its not the amazing experience that was hyped going in. Grade - B
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