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RATING:   
SINGAPORE : In an alternate history of World War II, Brad Pitt leads a team of Nazi-scalping GI Jews who literally leave their mark on Germans as they attempt to overthrow Hitler with the help of some allies and a build up that cumulates at a cinema’s movie premiere.
After last year's bloated double feature “Grindhouse”, director Quentin Tarantino returns with the sometimes delirious but often wicked and deliberately misspelled “Inglourious Basterds”.
Similar to his “Kill Bill” series, the main theme of vengeance presides here.
Told in five chapters, two plots involving the assassination of the Führer take place with one revolving around Jewish girl Shosanna (Mélanie Laurent).
She takes on a new identity and plots her revenge against the Germans after surviving the massacre of her family by Nazi Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) nicknamed the “Jew hunter” for terrible reasons.
The other camp involves the “Basterds”, a motley crew of Jewish American soldiers handpicked by Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Pitt) that includes “Hostel” director Eli Roth who gets to execute his torture porn often portrayed in his films by playing the baseball bat wielding Sergeant Donny Donowitz otherwise known as “Bear Jew.”
Caught up in the cross fire are British Lieutenant Archie Hicox (Michael Fassbender) and a German spy, actress Bridget Von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) who team up with the “Basterds” to take down the Nazis.
Unaware of each other, both revenge plots eventually converge at a theatre premiere of a propaganda film.
Pitt’s portrayal borders on caricature and is brilliantly funny. However, his role takes a backseat here and it is his non-American co-stars who steal the show.
Standing out is Austrian actor Waltz as the multi-lingual Colonel Hans Landa. Waltz exudes terror whether he is requesting for a glass of milk or simply having dessert, delivering a menacing performance with poise.
Laurent as Shosanna is a feisty yet vulnerable Jewish survivor who takes on a French identity to protect herself.
Although Tarantino could have exercised more brevity, this revenge flick remained engrossing due to its engaging cast and killer dialogue. This is a no holds barred film that makes no apologies and that is quintessential Tarantino for you.
- CNA/il
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