Inglourious Basterds is atypical of Quentin Tarantino films in some regards but similar in many other ways. The film twists traditional archetypes into meaningful characters. The conclusion of the film – which may or may not mirror the actual end of World War II – shows how that each side of the conflict was comprised of individuals, which their own characteristics and choices. The Nazis may have been charming or the Allies cutthroat, although more likely painted in shades of grey.
Christoph Waltz won the Best Actor Award at Cannes for his portrayal of S.S. Colonel Hans Landa , “The Jew Hunter” and said that the role rekindled his love of acting. Col. Hans alternates between a gentile gentlemen who speaks multiple languages at times and a sinister soldier who will stop at nothing. Mélanie Laurent plays Shosanna Dreyfus, a Jew whose family was executed by Lans and sees an opportunity to exact her revenge when Adolph Hitler and Joseph Goebbels promise to attend a screening in her theatre. Brad Pitt plays Lieutenant Aldo Raine, whose squad of Inglourious Basterds, including “The Bear Jew” and “The Little Man”, who prove to be as brutal as the German officers who they execute.
The film is different from many war pictures as a good portion of the dialogue is spoken in French, German, and Italian. Moments of absurd humour abound, unusual for a film with a serious message, but they do not obfuscate the main point. It is not one of the top ten films of the year but it is very unique and worth viewing. **½