Imaginative stories boost "Basterds"
John Gregg
Issue date: 11/9/09 Section: Entertainment
Brad Pitt's Aldo Raine is certainly a memorable, if not disturbing, character. He has tons of fun collecting Nazi scalps and happily cuts swastikas into the foreheads of those fortunate enough to avoid his wrath. Unfortunately, we see very little of him, but his comical attempt at an Italian accent proves good things come in small packages.
Waltz steals the show as the shrewd personification of SS cruelty. Hans Landa has an arctic-cold stare, able to pierce through any deception like a knife. He gains a victim's confidence by engaging in casual conversation over food and drink.
The moment he asks for milk or cream, his prey would be wise to flee. Never before have dairy products carried with them such sinister connotations.
As Shosanna, Laurent is a tragic victim of Nazi aggression. She perhaps represents the strength and courage of those who defied Hitler, and therefore is the perfect soul to exact vengence upon him. The great pity is that her story must be told in a somber tone.
"Inglourious Basterds" is not without its shortcomings. Excessive use of subtitles becomes distracting in some scenes when watching the action is more important, and the aforementioned ending comes off as slightly awkward. Neither of these issues interferes with enjoyment of the movie as a whole.
Waltz steals the show as the shrewd personification of SS cruelty. Hans Landa has an arctic-cold stare, able to pierce through any deception like a knife. He gains a victim's confidence by engaging in casual conversation over food and drink.
The moment he asks for milk or cream, his prey would be wise to flee. Never before have dairy products carried with them such sinister connotations.
As Shosanna, Laurent is a tragic victim of Nazi aggression. She perhaps represents the strength and courage of those who defied Hitler, and therefore is the perfect soul to exact vengence upon him. The great pity is that her story must be told in a somber tone.
"Inglourious Basterds" is not without its shortcomings. Excessive use of subtitles becomes distracting in some scenes when watching the action is more important, and the aforementioned ending comes off as slightly awkward. Neither of these issues interferes with enjoyment of the movie as a whole.