My First Fall Review
September 21, 2009
My first Fall Review!
Fall is upon us and with that comes the studio releases of what they hope will be serious Oscar contenders. Most studios wait until this time of the year or the upcoming holidays to spring forth their prized films. However, Universal Pictures has already released a film that I believe will receive numerous Oscar nominations. . .Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourius Basterds.
His resume includes Reservoir Dogs, Jackie Brown, and the Kill Bill movies. The filmmaker is best known for Pulp Fiction in which his writing earned him an Oscar for screenplay.
Pulp Fiction has developed a cult following over the years. If you liked Pulp Fiction. . you will love Inglourius Basterds!
Tarantino writes and directs this film, based on the original Inglourius Bastards from the 70’s. He spent more than a decade writing this script. In my opinion, this was time well spent. I believe he will again be nominated for screen writing.
Inglourius Basterds stars Brad Pitt as Lt. Aldo Raine, a Jewish American soldier who leads a group of other Jewish American soldiers in occupied France. Their mission is simple: to torture and kill Nazis’. The story is MUCH more than that. Co-starring with Pitt is Austrian actor, Christoph Waltz who plays SS Waffen Col. Hans Landa. Originally, Tarantino had Leonardo DiCaprio in mind for this role. Thank goodness Christoph was given the part! He absolutely steals the film. He plays a Jew-hunting Nazi detective who displays eloquent charm in one moment. . and in the next is a brutal murderous fiend. In my opinion, there is no doubt that he will be nominated for an Oscar. The only question is will it be as a lead, or in the supporting category?
The movie starts out with an extremely serious chilling scene and then, as Tarantino is known for. . he takes us on a silly spoof and unbelievable comedy ride. He then turns very serious again. The movie procedes in this fashion and he separates the seriousness and the silliness through chapters as though you were reading a book. The movie is three or four stories rolled into one. . .which all come together at the end. . .in an outrageously hilarious conclusion. The musical selections by Tarantino throughout the film make no sense whatsoever; which again is part of the beauty of his style. The running time of this film is 153 minutes but you would never know it. . .it flies. I believe this movie may earn Oscar nominations for costume design, cinematography, screenwriting, directing, acting (Waltz), and best picture. Keep in mind this year the Academy is expanding the Best Picture category to 10 films. This movie at times is very bloody and features horrid scenes so it’s not for the squeamish. . .but I LOVED it and can hardly wait to see it again.
See ya’ next time. . ! Love Ya’ Cleveland!
