'PULP HITLER' OR 'RESEVOIR NAZIS'

Hello, gentle readers and welcome to blog deux. Well, as promised this blog will be all about Quentin Tarantino's latest flick, 'Inglorious Basterds.' This is the film that Tarantino has always dreamed of making, his magnum opus, his Citizen Kane, if you will. However, before I digress further, let me answer the 'burning' question: is it any good? Well, myself and my intrepid cohort loved it. As most of you know from all the hype and glory, that the film has generated, it is about an elite band of Jewish soldiers, led by Brad Pitt (who is quite good, with limited screen time), who are after Nazi scalps, or is it? While you do see the 'basterds' in action, acquiring those said Nazi scalps (in excruciating detail), they really are not the central story of the movie. The flick is basically about the blowing up of a German cinema, that is showing a Nazi propaganda film, attended by Messrs Goebbels, Himmler, and ole Adolph, himself. You see this Jewish woman Shoshana is running this kino, after escaping a family massacre on her farm and... It's Tarantino, so of course half the fun is getting there.

At this point I must mention an actor who plays SS officer Colonel Landa. His name is Christoph Walz, now I want you to remember that name, because you will be hearing it again around Oscar time. Mr. Walz, has already won an award at Cannes for his performance and it is in the tradition of the great movie baddies of all time - Hans Gruber of Die Hard, Heath Ledger's Joker, hell, even throw in Darth Vader, for good measure, this dude is baaaaaad - which for the film and filmgoer is really good. Besides, speaking a myriad number of languages, Landa is by turns solicitous, unctuous, menacing and downright terrifying. Unfortunately, he seems to be the only one taking the movie seriously. I have to say that I haven't laughed at a movie this much in a long time. Don't get me wrong, it has some of the most violent scenes ever put on celluloid, but it is also hilarious. Tarantino is the master of combining, the gruesome and the humorous and this movie certainly walks a fine line.

Tarantino mostly shot the film, at the famed Babelsberg studios, where those great Dietrich films were shot. He is aided immeasurably, by his ace d.o.p. Robert Richardson, whose shot the best of the Oliver Stone films. The film of course has Quentin's classic off-beat dialogue, sharp editing and bravura set pieces. As I hoped Tarantino, has come through and saved the summer for me and you.