The Basterds were created by the Allies during World War II to sow fear amongst the Nazis. By having this special guerilla force performing atrocities behind enemy lines, it is hoped the Nazis will lose their will to continue fighting. This broaches an interesting moral question of whether the Allies' actions are justified by the atrocities committed by the Nazis? Do two wrongs make it right? This idea is not adequately dealt with in the course of the film, with none of the characters pausing to consider the ramifications of his behaviors. Also, a viewer would be right to expect some bloodshed and gruesome battles, which never reveal themselves. Instead, the audience views an interrogation after an ambush and is shown a ten second fire fight after a twenty minute nerve-wracking conversation. Tarantino successfully creates palpable tension with his words and actors' performances but little release is given when the tension becomes unbearable. In his prior films, like "Reservoir Dogs" and "Kill Bill," there is a much better action to dialogue ratio than seen in this supposed war movie.
Another plot thread woven into the "Basterds" storyline deals with a young Jewish girl who escapes the SS squads, changes her name and is ultimately able to blend into society. Laurent is impressively expressive in her performance, showing hatred, detest, and fear without needing to vocally describe it. This story cuts into the time spent on the Basterds story, making me feel a bit cheated. While both stories intersect loosely by the end, it felt like a distraction dealing with both plot lines.
Col. Landa is as fear-inducing a bad guy as has ever popped up on the silver screen. Pretending to be friendly and easy-going, Waltz hides a cold, detached, effective murderer beneath this false exterior. It is all the more chilling to watch him work when the monster is slightly veiled. Waltz could receive an Oscar nomination for his supporting role in this film and rightly so. Pitt's performance walks the tightrope of campiness, which may have been intentional, yet he manages to make his character believable and charismatic. The rest of the Basterds are little known actors, who don't leave a lasting impression.
The finale is an impressive re-writing of history, which a fictional story has a right to do. It is as shocking and morbid as it is satisfying. The end makes up for many of the minor problems throughout the rest of the film. French cinema buffs will talk your ear off about Tarantino's nods to French cinema, which will not likely impress the normal filmgoer. Tarantino did not create a masterpiece with "Inglorious Basterds" but he did make a thoughtful and overall interesting piece of cinema. It may be studied more in film classes than it will be viewed for pleasure.
Rated R for strong graphic violence, language and brief sexuality.
