DVD FIEND: INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

It’s pretty safe to say that Quentin Tarantino is out of his mind. A giant sized man-thing that loves what he loves and is completely unashamed of it. He showcases that love in his movies every chance he gets either by lifting scenes, plot elements, music (always music), character names, or usually all of the above. Basterds continues that trend, and it doesn’t matter that Tarantino is clearly crazy, because he’s a crazy genius, actually an evil crazy genius who gets bolder and better with each movie. His love of Grindhouse styled cinema has been at the front and center of his last few efforts. That said, though, his last effort (Grindhouse's Death Proof) lacked in the better department, although it was bolder.

His latest, Inglourious Basterds, is an ode to the old Spaghetti War movies, yes there were plenty of those, too. Using the same sensibilities as the old directors did in those movies, he crafts an unwieldly tale of murderous loonies from each side of World War II brought together for different reasons. The music, again lifting heavily from the incredible Ennio Morricone, drives everything along at a pace that befits this type of movie. It's Tarantino at his best.

This movie, while feeding a sort of childish need, really glorifies doing whatever you want as a good thing. Tarantino doesn't give a damn about World War II history, instead he focuses on telling the most entertaining story he can, and that is the most refreshing thing he could do. The story is split into a few parts that all come together in the end (naturally). The first deals with Brad Pitt's team of Nazi killers made up of American Jews called the Basterds. These guys are vicious and depraved, and are out to send a message to Hitler and his henchman. The next is about a young woman whose family was earlier killed by Jew Hunter Col. Hanz Landa, an ultra smooth and scary Christoph Waltz. She now owns a theater in Paris and when a young Nazi hero turned actor falls for her, he convinces the Reich to move his big film debut to her theater. With all of the Reich's hierarchy slated to be there she conceives a plot to take them all down. Meanwhile, the British have caught wind of this premiere and send an agent of their own to foil them. The agent meets up with the Basterds to make this happen. Chaos naturally ensues.

I really loved this movie. I was literally hanging onto every character's words, and the funny thing about that is that it may be the least talkative of his movies. There's no verbal diarrhea here, more so, whenever folks do talk for an extended period it is as a means to an end. Maybe that is the time period talking, or maybe that just shows a lot of growth from Tarantino. The aforementioned Landa is fantastic and is such a perfect Tarantino actor (his Klaus Kinski even), stealing the show and scaring the hell out of you, although Pitt is probably working his best magic since Twelve Monkeys, as well. Director Eli Roth may be on the short end of the acting stick in this one, but in the context of what his character is, even that kind of works.

The ending is a great slice of revisionist history, and a truly excellent set piece. Tarantino has never lacked in it the guts department when finishing off his movies, and this one may be the best of the bunch. It is crazy action packed, and completely absurd. You're really left reveling in the depravity of it all, and that really highlights Tarantino's gift as a writer and director because honestly you just don't give a damn.

This is a fun one, folks, although, you maybe appalled at what you see, may not think it works as well as I do, but hey, give it a shot. There's no way you won't be entertained, and if you aren't, well then, maybe its time to lay off the sauce. Or get on it ASAP. Whichever applies to you.

HIGH RECOMMENDATION. Rent it now or Buy it now. Well worth it either way.