Inglourious Basterds in cinema now Certificate 18

Set in World War II in Nazi occupied France Quentin Tarantino introduces us to his Basterds – a team of Jewish soldiers lead by American Lt Aldo Raine (Pitt). Tarantino gives us his spin on World War II. The Basterds are a team of Nazi hunters striking fear in the Third Reich as they hunt the German army planning intent on getting Raine his 100 Nazi scalps.

The film also concerns Shosanna (Laurent) a woman who survived the massacre of her family and ends up in Nazi occupied Paris running a cinema. Her life is changed when her cinema is chosen to host the Nazi’s latest propaganda film, which provides her with the opportunity to exact revenge on the Nazi officer who killed her family.

To say this is just a war movie is far to simple, Tarantino again produces a clever multi layered story full of colourful characters, quick dialogue (and wonderful accents), great set pieces, violence combined with a great sense of humour. It also a mixture of a Sergio Leoni western and the Dirty Dozen. I expect the flashes of violence and the clever and quick dialogue this was the first Tarantino film where I laughed throughout.

The characters, even the ones where we only see them in snapshot, are all fully formed, there is also such a great comic (and sinister) used of accents it adds to the many twists and turns of the film itself. There is also a real build of tension in scenes, whether you are anticipating the specialist skills of the ‘Bear Jew’ or the outcome of the Nazi premier.

It’s a very good movie, I really enjoyed it – although I didn’t find it as smooth of stylish as my favourite Tarantinos like Pulp Fiction. Its quick multi layered and clever and it will keep you on your toes to the final scene. One word of warning is that when the violence happens it really happens – its worth watching though if you can stomach it.

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Cast:

Brad Pitt – Lt Aldo Raine
Melanie Laurent – Shosanna Dreyfus
Christoph Waltz - Col Hans Landa
Eli Roth – Sgt Donny Donowitz
Michael Fassbender – Lt Archie Hicox
Diane Kruger – Bridget von Hammersmark
Daniel Bruhl – Fredrick Zoller
Til Schweiger – Sgt Hugo Stiglitz
Gedeon Burkhard – Col Wilhelm Wicki
Jacky Ido – Marcel

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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button out on DVD now

Based on the 1921 short story by F Scott Fitzgerald The Curious Case of Benjamin Button opens with Daisy (Blanchette) dying in New Orleans as hurricane Katrina comes to town. She asks her daughter to read from Benjamin’s diary, and so the begins the tale of his unusual and incredible life.

Born an old man, abandoned by his family but found by Queenie a carer at a home for the elderly Benjamin (Pitt) grows younger daily while the residents arrive age and die around him. Daisy comes to visit her grandmother and so begins a lifelong friendship and love.

It was a real pleasure to watch this film, I had thought that it was either just a vehicle for Pitt or was going to be too romantic and soppy but it wasn’t it was great. Firstly I wondered at the amazing subtle effects and sight of a child sized old man protected and accepted in the home for the elderly Its fascinating to watch the years drop off, while the love of his life, Daisy ages. The film draws you in with a mixture of humour and curiosity and before you know it your hooked!

The film is funny amusing, and also very moving. By presenting a life in reverse the audience is made to think about love, loss and the happiness that can be found in life. Watch it, I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Director: David Fincher

Cast:
Benjamin Button – Brad Pitt
Cate Blanchette – Daisy
Julia Ormond – Caroline
Taraji P. Henson – Queenie

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Burn After Reading

Burn After Reading …. Out on DVD now.

Heres the cast and character breakdown for the Joel & Ethan Coen Brother’s follow up to the Oscar winning No County For Old Men; John Malkovich plays a CIA agent Osborne Cox who is forced to quit his job because of an alohol problem he is married to Katie played by Tilda Swinton whos character is having an affair with US Marshall Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney). Thrown into the mix is Frances McDormand and Brad Pitt two misguided gym workers one driven by getting her need to get her plastic surgery paid for and one who believes he is in control when the two stumble across a secret CIA dossier lost at the gym where they work.

This is about as far removed from No Country For Old Men as you can get, its a spoofed up twisting funny crime caper from the Coen stable, full of ridiculous self important characters who stumble through the film largely unaware of anything other than themselves. The characters In Burn After Reading are more like those in Oh Brother Where Art Thou? rather than the serious brooding atmosphere of the recent Oscar winner. Part of the pleasure for me watching the film was the way the movie ‘A’ listers happily make fools of themselves and do it with such style.The movie contains spys, bingo wings, internet dating, goofy dancing and a great lines. Its not a movie that is going to be groundbreaking but it will make you laugh out loud and keep you entertained as the main characters stumble from one farcial situation to the next stumbling their way through the clever and funny script right down to the last line. Its well worth a view and available on DVD now.