Plot
During WW2, and the Germany occupancy of France – a group of Nazi hunters led by Lt Aldo Raine, are trying to stop the war, and discover that the Führer is set to attend a movie premier, directed by his #2 – Goebbels.
Meanwhile, Shosanna, one of the survivors of the famed ‘Jew Hunter’ Hans Landa happens to be the owner of the cinema that is going to play said film – and she has her own plans to rid the world of the Nazi’s.
Direction
Quentin Tarantino directs here, and it is a stylistically obvious QT film – with his trademark close up focus on ordinary things like a pipe being lit, and undoing a shoe-belt just to name a couple. He also makes smart use of Dutch angles.
There is also the ‘chapters’ and character introduced by text in their first scene for some of the characters.
I felt this was his more brutal film, with some truly graphic imagery during the scalping scenes and the scarring scenes.
Cast/Characters
While there are dozens of speaking parts in the film, I’m really going to discuss the primary six characters/cast members.
Brad Pitt, who plays Aldo Raine gives a brilliant performance here – even better than his eventual Oscar win in QT’s later film OUaTiH. There are nuances in his performance that are blink and you’ll miss it that show why he is the way he is.
Christoph Waltz is the MVP – as the main antagonist. From his first moment on screen (in the mesmerising opening moments of the film, which is one of the best film openings in cinema history, to the multi lingual dialogues he is able to switch instantaneously.
Michael Fassbender’s duel lingual Archie’s ‘chapter’ in the basement of a French bar – is so well written, not just for the tension that presents – but due to such small cultural idiosyncrasies.
Mélanie Laurent as Shosanna has a heartbreaking story arc, and the moments that she shares with Hans at the dinner table are subtle in the way Hans tries to ‘out’ her. The cream he orders her was traditionally made with lard (which Jewish people cannot eat).
Daniel Brühl who plays the ‘German hero’ Frederick Zoller, who becomes infatuated with Shosanna, is very impressive, also giving a duel ligual role.
Diane Kruger is also brilliant as the multi lingual as Brigit von Hammersmark, who plays in one of the most important scenes in the basement.
Screenplay/Setting/Themes
The settings of early 1940s France in wartime is practically flawless, with this being QT’s most technically ambitious film in my opinion considering how many different languages are present throughout (German, Italian, French)- and the scenes in English are low)
There are several instances of false identity throughout as well, with Shosanna taking up the new name of Emmanuelle – and Archie falsifying his identity in the bar (which his accent is called out).
Even Pitt’s Aldo fakes being an Italian (Gorlami) in a humorous moment between himself and Hans.
Samuel L Jackson has few moments where he narrates too.
Score/Soundtrack
Tarantino is one of the smartest directors with the mixture of culture and pop culture in his soundtrack. While there is no typical score, there are vintage and classical music played at times, as well as music by the legendary Ennio Morricone – and even David Bowie’s Cat People.
Overall
Practically flawless in every way. Still a Tarantino film at heart, and nearing one of his best films.
5/5
Ryan's Movie Reviews 