Ray's Thoughts
"Looking back at Inglourious Basterds from 2026, it is impossible not to consider the impending retirement of Quentin Tarantino. As the industry shifts heavily toward streaming, Tarantino has made his intentions clear: his next film will be his last. He has always cherished the communal cinema experience, making movies specifically for the crowd. He isn’t bluffing about walking away; with a London play in development, several books in the works, and projects like the David Fincher-directed Cliff Booth Movie, he is already pivoting away from traditional filmmaking to protect his legacy while he’s still in his prime.
There is a clear through-line from Inglourious Basterds to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, specifically the exploration of 'alternate history' where justice is finally, properly served. Tarantino thrives on subverting expectations, and he brilliantly plays with our historical perspective here. While the film is famous for the powerhouse performances of Christoph Waltz and Brad Pitt, the entire ensemble cast, Mélanie Laurent, Diane Kruger, Michael Fassbender, and even a young Léa Seydoux, deserves significantly more credit for making this world feel so visceral.
Years later, classic sequences like the basement shootout and the Bear Jew’s interrogation remain masterclasses in tension and release. However, the film truly hinges on Christoph Waltz. Tarantino reportedly couldn't find an actor to play Col. Hans Landa and was prepared to abandon the film entirely until Waltz walked into the room. It is a testament to his staggering talent that he won Oscars for this and Django Unchained, two roles that are polar opposites. I often alternate between the polished brilliance of this film and the indie energy of Pulp Fiction, but I’d argue this is likely his best. It represents his true artistic voice, beyond the meta-references of his earlier cult tributes. To think this almost started as an 'Expendables-style' mission movie starring Stallone and Schwarzenegger is ironic; what we eventually got is a significantly better, more profound story than what was originally planned."
The Cast
- Brad Pitt: Lt. Aldo Raine
- Christoph Waltz: Col. Hans Landa
- Mélanie Laurent: Shosanna
- Michael Fassbender: Lt. Archie Hicox
- Diane Kruger: Bridget von Hammersmark
Production Info
- Director: Quentin Tarantino
- Studio: The Weinstein Co. / Universal
- Budget: $70 Million
- Box Office: $321.5 Million
Did You Know?
- ● Language Mastery: Christoph Waltz performed his own lines in all four languages heard in the film (English, German, French, and Italian).
- ● The Script: Tarantino spent over a decade writing and refining the script, often stopping because he couldn't figure out a satisfying ending before realizing he could simply change history.
The Final Verdict
"As Tarantino pivots toward the West End and literary pursuits in 2026, Inglourious Basterds stands as his most polished artistic statement. It is a masterpiece of cinematic justice that proves words can be just as explosive as a basement shootout."
This trailer looks great! A lot more insight in to how the actual film is going to be than the first one…I couldn’t be more excited. I think it's almost become 'cool' to diss Tarantino and movies like that because it's almost as if all cinephiles only liked him when he was the underground, 'indie' film guy...now that he's big he has to walk on water. Silly.
ReplyDeleteI also thought it was great that they used “Comin Home” by Murder By Death in the second half of this trailer. It has this modern punk Johnny Cash vibe to it that really sets the mood for some Spaghetti-western style violence…hope its featured in the actual film, too.
Also, the extended version of this trailer can be seen at : http://displacedbrett.wordpress.com/2009/06/24/inglourious-basterds/