Inglourious Basterds Review

Inglourious Basterds is a return to form for Tarantino, in which I mean he has constructed beautiful and elaborate dialogue for his actors to deliver that allow the audience to know they're watching a motion picture and not just a movie. The brilliance of Tarantino is that he always transports the audience to a time and place that they've heard of before, but have never truly imagined with such vividness (Jack Rabbit Slims in Pulp Fiction; a not so safe-house in Reservoir Dogs, etc.)

Every performance is bold and daring, but none more so than Christoph Waltz's portrayal of Colonel Hans Landa more commonly known as "The Jew Hunter." Come winter, this man will most likely be nominated for a Golden Globe (& hopefully an Oscar.) While all the other characters create and contribute to a tableau of absurd, incredibly well executed entertainment, that only Quentin could pull off. For example, Eli Roth plays the foreboding and baseball bat toting "Bear Jew," that takes such delight in bashing Nazi's you find yourself in awe of his ability (& find wondering if he'd be as good with an actual ball.) While the undenibaly gorgeous Diane Kruger finally gets to do some reall acting by playing fictional German movie star Bridget von Hammersmark, who happens to be a double agent. But it's Mélanie Laurent who shines as the real femme fatale & the quintessentially cool french girl (cigarette, trench coat et all) with a BIG secret to hide from the Nazis & is all to familiar with Colonel Landa's notoriety...oh yeah and some guy named Brad Pitt is in it too & quite good as well.

Basterds is brash, bold, brutally funny and I highly recommend it.

My rating: 9.6/10

Side note: I loved that when Tarantino was on Letterman he said that Sergio Leone was one of his favorite directors, and anyone who's seen Kill Bill is well aware those flicks were one giant homage to the "spaghetti western." Though I really loved that he said he was inspired by Leone and just replaced all the cowboy iconography with Nazi iconography. As a WWII (European Campaign) junkie hearing that made me drool, so I can say that I was undeniably biased in writing this review and knew before the movie even started I'd be giving it a 9 or higher. I have to confess though that Michael Fassbender really pushed the rating over the edge, and I only wish that there had been more of that gorgeous man in the movie. Oh yeah and Til Schweiger is too badass for words he just needs to be witnessed.

trailer trash - The Edge of Love

I was pretty darn excited for this film last summer, when it premiered at The Venice Film Festival, but I'm not sure if it's even going to open down here. Either which way it looks lush, lovely and is based on a true story, which is even more riveting than the fact that it stars 3 of the most beautiful people on the planet.

trailer trash- Defiance

Defiance is the new Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell, movie based on true events during World War 2. It's about three Jewish brothers who escape from Nazi-occupied Poland into the Belarussian forest, where they join Russian resistance fighters and endeavor to build a village in order to protect themselves and others in danger. This movie looks sick, is going to be sick and has already made me love sick.

The Reader Review

The Reader is the film adaptation of Bernhard Schlink's critically acclaimed best selling novel about a young man's affair with a much older woman. The Weinstein Company, who also produced the film describes:

The film opens in post-WWII Germany when teenager Michael Berg becomes ill and is helped home by Hanna, a stranger twice his age. The two are quickly drawn into a passionate but secretive affair. Michael discovers that Hanna loves being read to and their physical relationship deepens. Despite their intense bond, Hanna mysteriously disappears one day and Michael is left confused and heartbroken. Eight years later, while Michael is a law student observing the Nazi war crime trials, he is stunned to find Hanna back in his life - this time as a defendant in the courtroom. As Hanna's past is revealed, Michael uncovers a deep secret that will impact both of their lives. THE READER is a story about truth and reconciliation, about how one generation comes to terms with the crimes of another.

The film was directed by the brilliant Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot & The Hours,) and stars the always amazing Ralph Fiennes as the older Michael Berg, and the "Best Actress of her Generation" Kate Winslet, who actually won a Golden Globe Winner for her performance in the film. German newcomer David Kross does a phenomenal job as the younger Michael Berg, and was utterly delightful, perfect and beautiful in the role. Despite all the production issues and disputes that surrounded the film during production and post production, it was nominated for Best Picture Drama, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress. The film is incredibly powerful and pretty exquisite before it even comes to end. I highly recommend this movie, to anyone who has found out the person you once loved isn't really who you thought they were, but are willing to live with that. My rating: 9.3/10