Inglourious Basterds
Sometimes the last few
chapters of the story are the best.
Part 1 – Basement
Massacre.
I have been a Quentin
Tarantino fan ever since I was in the 6th grade. My mother
adored his movies and I clearly remember when she first showed me
Pulp Fiction. Never before had I seen a movie made that way, so
perfectly written and edited. It wasn't long before I saw Reservoir
Dogs and I was hooked. I think I was the only girl my age that had
posters from that movie plastered all over my room. I had the biggest
crush on Mr. Blond and Mr. Orange and loved everything about the
Tarantino movies I was being shown. Soon I had watched Dusk Till
Dawn, True Romance, and Jackie Brown. In fact when Jackie Brown was
released I clearly remember my mother bought my sister and I kangaroo
hats that were seen in the movie. I had so many happy memories
watching these movies with my mother. We both loved the characters,
quotes, story lines, and of course the soundtracks. Of course I was
blown away when I was able to see Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 in
theaters and knew that there was no cinema fan like Mr. Tarantino.
This was a movie fan who took all the best elements of the movies he
adored growing up and shaped them into some of the best films made in
the last twenty years.
I loved Grindhouse and it
took me more than a couple viewers to finally warm up to Death Proof.
I hate to say this, but I found most of the female characters very
unlikeable. For once Tarantino's dialog just wasn't working for me.
As a huge fan of his and car movies from the 1970's, it really wasn't
my cup of tea. Lucky enough, a few years passed and finally all those
rumors of the Tarantino's WWII epic began to come true. Never before
had I been so excited and had been following so closely the making
and development of a movie. Finally in the summer of 2009 Inglourious
Basterds was released. 2009 was an awful year for myself. I had just
lost my mother, and somehow this movie finds a very special place in
my heart. My mother was very interested in Jewish culture back in war
times, and I have a feeling she would have not only liked this
movie...she would have loved it. I really can't explain how blown
away I was with this film, but I think a huge reason why it's in my
top fifteen favorite movies of all time is simply because I know how
much my mother would have enjoyed it.
This is a movie I had
discussed, analyzed, and adored ever since I saw it in theaters.
Tarantino honestly took the ruined ashes that were left from Death
Proof, and skyrocketed them to the heavens with this movie.
Now of course this movie
is utter perfection, and I feel that when Brad Pitt and BJ Novak are
smiling down in the last shot at the audience, Aldo's life of “This
may be my masterpiece.” it was Tarantino saying that this movie is
his masterpiece and even if he makes dozen of awesome movies after
this...Basterds is one for the record books.
Instead of going over how
much I do love this movie, I'm going to focus on the last forty-five
or so minutes of the movie. After lots of brilliant tension building
scenes, memorable moments, and breathtaking scenes...it was the last
few chapters of the movie that truly stood out for me. Now I'm sure
in the future I'll be going over the first half of the movie...but
tonight I'll be talking about when the movie in my eyes really
started to pick up and the crazy journey Tarantino was taking us on
was quickly beating away to a jaw dropping ending.
Let's start with the
basement scene.
In my eyes this was the
best written scene in a film in nearly thirty years.
In a small Nazi-occupied
village in France, the Bastards hire on British officer Archie Hicox
who specializes in German cinema. Meeting with secret agent British
spy Bridget von Hammersmark, a very popular and beautiful German
actress, they made meet up in a small basement pub in the village at
night. Taking two of the German born members of the bastards (Hugo
Stiglitz and Wilhelm Wicki) disguised as SS officers. They believe
the meeting with go smoothly as they go over the latest events in a
huge movie premiere held by some of the highest ranking members of
the SS. Believing there will be more French than Germans in the bar,
the officers are all quickly stunned to see a whole group of officers
who are enjoying themselves in the bar celebrating the birth of one
of the officer's sons.
Wanting to play it cool,
the three men simply sit down as von Hammersmark joins them,
pretending that she had been waiting for them. It isn't long before
one of the drunken officers notice how off Hicox' accent sounds, and
brings the attention of a Major who has been drinking silently in the
back.
Quickly things go down
hill...
This film reminds me a lot
of the movie The Great Escape. This whole movie was filled with
tension filled moments. This is the absolute worst. Never before in
theaters had I been so nervous or on the edge of my seat. Back at
school when I watched this scene with a friend he made a very good
point. He said...”Everything that could go wrong for them...went
wrong.” The pacing of this scene was complete perfection. From the
moment all of the officers stand up to salute Hicox, Stiglitz, and
Wicki as they freeze on the stairs, you can't help but feel like your
one of them. This is what I have to say is the worst luck in the
world. We were introduced to these three characters and feel every
drawn out moment in that basement.
I think one of the
greatest moments in this scene has to be when Hicox makes the fatal
mistake in holding up his three middle fingers to order the glasses.
I was floored with Tarantino's directing at this moment. Just how
such a small settle detail was caught. I loved how the moment Hicox
did it you see clearly on his face, along with everyone else...that
they were caught. Just how right away everyone's face drops and they
know that this is it. How long the bartender pours the glasses, and
how finally the Major comes out telling them he knows they aren't
German. The exchange between the two is amazing. I love how the Major
clearly tells Hixcox that they aren't getting out of that basement
alive. That if they do indeed try to go out fighting, blood is going
to be spilled. Hicox's last words in American speaking The Kings is
beyond memorable. Just the expressions on the men at the table,
knowing that their going to die. Can't help but get chills.
I love how literary all of
the build up violence happens in less than thirty seconds. How this
horrible shoot out massacre happens and all these characters we just
met and honestly felt for are killed before our own very eyes. I'm
sure I'm speaking for a lot of people...this movie left me totally
speechless.
The basement scene and
massacre is film perfection at it's greatest and trust it, even as
Shosanna is getting ready later in the film to Cat People, I was
still left in total awe from the bloodbath I just witnessed.
Stay Tuned for part 2 of
my thoughts of the rest of this mind blowing movie!
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