Ever since World War II began to slip from current events to history, there have been films about every aspect of that war--the European front, the Pacific front, the convoluted politics about the Allies (and the Axis), the morality of this war, and, of course, the death camps. Some of the films were immediate classics--"Judgment at Nürenberg," "Schindler's List," for example. Some were immediately controversial--"La Vida è Bella" (a humorous treatment of concentration camps?) And now comes Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds," and the critics don't know what to do with it.
"Inglourious Basterds" is vintage Tarantino--campy, comic, and full of violence. This is not Spielberg! The film defies easy pigeonholing. Is Tarantino saying the Americans were no better than the Nazis? Is he saying that Jews were not always victims but as sadistic as their National Socialist tormenters? Is he serious? Or is this all a big spoof?
It may be that the critics do not want to admit the truth before their faces. We live in a post-Vietnam age. This is a post My Lai film. We have experienced Abu Graib. Blackwater is still in business; it still has contracts with the CIA. Extraordinary rendition? Waterboarding? These are a reality. So now we should be shocked at a film showing Brad Pitt demanding the scalps of Nazi soldiers?
"Inglourious Basterds" breaks the 2 hour rule, and some critics complain it is too long. It has a leisurely pace in scenes that are then followed by shocking violence. I don't know that I remember a film that built suspense so artfully. Did this film drag? Never for a moment. The opening scene (in a French farmhouse) was one of the best scenes of its type I have ever seen.
Will everyone like this film? Not by a long shot? Will Hollywood like it? Will it make tons of money for Universal? I can't predict, so I will wait and see. I know one thing: it is a film I will not forget.
"Inglourious Basterds" is vintage Tarantino--campy, comic, and full of violence. This is not Spielberg! The film defies easy pigeonholing. Is Tarantino saying the Americans were no better than the Nazis? Is he saying that Jews were not always victims but as sadistic as their National Socialist tormenters? Is he serious? Or is this all a big spoof?
It may be that the critics do not want to admit the truth before their faces. We live in a post-Vietnam age. This is a post My Lai film. We have experienced Abu Graib. Blackwater is still in business; it still has contracts with the CIA. Extraordinary rendition? Waterboarding? These are a reality. So now we should be shocked at a film showing Brad Pitt demanding the scalps of Nazi soldiers?
"Inglourious Basterds" breaks the 2 hour rule, and some critics complain it is too long. It has a leisurely pace in scenes that are then followed by shocking violence. I don't know that I remember a film that built suspense so artfully. Did this film drag? Never for a moment. The opening scene (in a French farmhouse) was one of the best scenes of its type I have ever seen.
Will everyone like this film? Not by a long shot? Will Hollywood like it? Will it make tons of money for Universal? I can't predict, so I will wait and see. I know one thing: it is a film I will not forget.
1 comment:
Scares me to death! Don't think I can watch this one.
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