Alex Corner shares a fascinating take on Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, a film that’s impossible to ignore. With its daring take on World War II and an alternative ending, Tarantino once again proves his ability to craft unique, boundary-pushing cinema. The film, with its signature Tarantino flair, brings us a WWII where the “Basterds” get a much-needed dose of revenge.
Tarantino’s love for movies is evident from the very beginning, with the title, music, and setting all paying homage to classic cinema. From the opening Ennio Morricone soundtrack to the pivotal location—an old movie theater—the film is a celebration of film history. The visual delight of 35mm film gives a tactile richness to the experience, while a character who bookends the film adds an emotional full circle to the narrative.
The film is filled with standout performances, particularly from its three iconic characters: the Hero, the Nazi, and the Girl. Brad Pitt’s Lt. Aldo Raine, Christoph Waltz’s Col. Hans Landa, and Melanie Laurent’s Shosanna are larger-than-life characters who feel almost like walking legends, emblematic of Tarantino’s knack for turning actors into memorable cinematic figures.
The story begins in Nazi-occupied France, where Col. Hans Landa (Waltz) interrogates a farmer suspected of hiding Jews. This early scene sets the tone for the rest of the film and is a masterclass in tension, thanks to Waltz’s chilling performance. His portrayal of Landa earned him the Best Actor award at Cannes and is one of the standout performances in recent memory—both evil and absurd in equal measure.
Brad Pitt’s portrayal of the southern hero Aldo Raine, leader of the “Basterds,” is both ridiculous and charming, filled with moments of absurdity, such as his attempts at speaking Italian, which are hilariously over-the-top. Meanwhile, Melanie Laurent’s Shosanna is the quintessential femme fatale, her beauty and intelligence shaping the film’s dramatic final act.
The plot unfolds with Shosanna becoming entangled with a Nazi war hero turned movie star, Frederick Zoller (Daniel Bruhl). The film’s narrative culminates in a daring plan to exact revenge, set against the backdrop of a Nazi film premiere in Shosanna’s theater.
As with all Tarantino films, Inglourious Basterds resists easy categorization. It’s not simply a war movie, just as Pulp Fiction wasn’t just a crime film. What sets Tarantino apart is his ability to make everything feel possible, even when it’s so outrageously improbable. The film is more than just a history rewrite; it’s a grand, cinematic performance that gets better with every viewing.
Alex Corner reflects that Tarantino’s films are not made to be understood in one sitting. Much like Pulp Fiction, Inglourious Basterds lingers in the mind, revealing its brilliance with each rewatch. It’s a film that, like the best of cinema, grows on you, making every second of its over-the-top, bloody entertainment worth savoring,
