Liam Cooke Be Real : Inglourious Basterds

In his award-winning movie Inglorious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino beautifully crafts a suspenseful plot rife with action and memorable characters that catch the attention and adoration of the viewer. This film takes place in an alternate timeline centered around WWII, where a paramilitary group known as the “Inglourious Basterds” dishes out their own vigilante justice against the brutal Nazi regime. Aside from these protagonists, the viewer also sees the perspective of an S.S. officer named Colonel Hans Landa (played by Christoph Waltz). By seeing this antagonist’s point of view, the audience gets a glimpse of the zealous hatred carried by these S.S. officers.

Christoph Waltz’s performance strikes fear into the hearts of not only his targets, but also the audience. The way he confidently strides into the home of a man who is sheltering Jews conveys the idea that he already knows that there are refugees hiding in the floorboards; Waltz is merely toying with the man. Denis Ménochet, the actor playing the interrogated man, conveys the slow, degrading mental breakdown of a man under pressure. In the scene, Waltz’s gentle and casual demeanor is juxtaposed with his black S.S. overcoat, creating an uneasy atmosphere in the room. Tarantino purposefully quiets the scene so that even the smallest noises are the only audible ones: the colonel drinking a glass of milk, the gentle patter of shoes, and cloth shifting. Tarantino goes into such detail with this movie that he has the actors switch from French to English so that the Jewish family hiding under the floor wouldn't know that they have been found. Tarantino also has Denis Ménochet respond to all questions being asked in very short, and concise answers mostly being “Yes” and “no” as if he has them written down in preparation to the visit, to not give away the whereabouts of the jews that he is sheltering.

The opening scene alone gives enough reason for a viewer to watch this movie, the camera shots, and seeing characters being broken down by interrogation while the smile fades from the interrogators face as the like in his eyes slowly dim, while at the same time Denis Ménochet knows he has been found out, and that his as well as his family's life is at risk for sheltering jews. The positioning of the camera and characters in this scene is pure genius, seeing Denis Ménochet character being broken down by questioning and then finally realising that the game is over, everything that he has been working to protect has come to a swift and cleaver end.  For these reasons I would give the movie Inglorious Bastards a 10/10 and post it as a Good, Good movie. It is truly one of tarantino's best pictures, and could possibly be one of the best movies of all time, every single movement of the characters and position of the camera is perfectly placed while also having a major significance in the overall movie. In conclusion i Give this movie a good, good rating, and is a must see film.