Inglorious Basterds Set for Release
Tarantino’s Latest Film to be Released at the End of August 2009
Aug 9, 2009
Set in Nazi-occupied France during the Second World War, Inglorious Basterds is a comic take on the classic War Film, taking on aspects of the classic greats such as Kelly’s Heroes and The Dirty Dozen. This is a new direction for the eclectic director who never seems to rest on his laurels in his film making. Tarantino has stated in interviews that the film is basically his take on the spaghetti western, but ‘with second world war iconography’.
Inglorious Basterds: The Story
A renegade squad, lead by Brad Pitt’s Aldo ‘the Apache’ Raine, are caught behind enemy lines fighting what is basically as guerilla war against the Nazis in occupied France. Launching ambushes, the group does away with their enemies in particularly nasty fashion, but are always careful to leave one alive so he can tell the tale and fan the terrible legend of the Basterds that did the deed. Raine is reportedly a thick accented, vengeance driven hillbilly from the mountains of Tennessee and is one f the film’s main protagonists, who is supposed to represent the ‘freewheeling outlaw’ of the western genre.
Tarantino has stated in many interviews that he has always been interested in working with Pitt. In a recent appearance UK BBC talk show, Tonight with Jonathan Ross, he said that he never came across the right material for the world renowned actor, who starred in such critically acclaimed films as Snatch and Fight Club, until he started writing Inglorious Basterds. In the interview he declared that he wrote the character of Raine with Pitt in mind, to the point that if Pitt wasn’t available for the part the film would be effectively ruined. Luckily his schedule was clear to work with the legendary director.
But Pitt’s Raine isn’t the only protagonist. The second storyline to run through the film follows the revenge mission of a Jewish-French woman named Shosanna Dreyfus as she seeks revenge on the Nazi SS that murdered her family. Laurent is played by French actress and filmmaker Mélanie Laurent, who is reported by Tarantino to have stayed in character for the entire time of filming.
Quentin Tarantino's Past Successes
Tarantino’s original hits include Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, which both received massive critical acclaim. Two definitive films of the crime and gangster genre, Tarantino moved onto films such as Kill Bill, a nod to the classic kung-fu revenge films of the 70’s, and the Grindhouse project, a take on old 70’s exploitation films, on which he worked with long time collaborator, Robert Rodriguez. Tarentino has never been one to take the easy road and that seems to have worked out for him a treat.
The film’s title is taken from an old Italian war title called Inglorious Bastards, which, although inspired him, his new release is said not to be a remake in. However, to pay homage to the piece, the director, Enzo G. Castellari has a part as a SS officer. To further homage the genre, Tarantino, always applauded for his choice of music for his films, uses classic pieces from past war films as a soundtrack. This has received a mixed response, especially from talk show host Jonathan Ross.
Critical Interest
However, critical interest in the film has been great. At the Cannes Film Festival, where the film premiered, the film reportedly polarised critics, some saying that it was ‘entertaining’ rather than ‘a masterpiece’. However, it did receive an eleven minute standing ovation from the audience. If nothing else, experience shows that one can never expect anything less than pure entertainment from a Tarantino film.
The film is set for release on the 21st August in the UK and USA.
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