Inglourious Basterds

The Cast of Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds", 2009
Originally uploaded by likeabalalaika

Somewhere out there are audience members that were underwhelmed by Inglourious Basterds - but I have yet to meet them. In my experience so far everyone I know that has seen Inglourious Basterds has not only loved the film, they’ve raved about. Through some cinematic miracle Quentin Tarantino expanded with this film to appeal not just to his core audience but the mass market. As great as Kill Bill was, this is Tarantino’s masterpiece.

What I love most about Tarantino is that he loves movies, he not only shows this by the care in which he creates films but he constantly references films directly and indirectly in his own works. With Inglourious Basterds this reflexive style of filmmaking has finally come to its apex – his characters directly interact with the world of cinema. Lt. Hicox is a former film critic, Bridget von Hammersmark is a German actress, Shosanna owns a cinema, Pvt. Zoeller stars in a movie about his war exploits and Goebbels is in charge of the German film industry! Movies are all over Inglourious Basterds and this time not just for the hard core cinema buff to catch. An example? In Pulp Fiction Jules & Vincent open a briefcase and though we never see the contents it emits a bright glow – this is a direct reference (if not the exact shot) from a strange little film called Kiss Me Deadly. I’ve seen it, but I doubt most of you have. Instead of just doing something obscure like this in Inglourious Basterds Tarantino has a character mention Charlie Chaplin & The Kid - with this film he wants the audience to see his references instead of hide them.

Please don’t think the whole reason I loved this film is because it’s a movie about movies, or just because I like Tarantino. I adore the entire cast in this film. Every actor hits their performance out of the park and makes the film better for it. I cannot wait to see this film again and again.

Lt. Aldo Raine: You said it was in a tavern.
Lt. Archie Hicox: It is a tavern.
Lt. Aldo Raine: Yeah, in a basement. You know, fightin' in a basement offers a lot of difficulties. Number one being, you're fightin' in a basement!