The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus — A Surreal Farewell to Heath Ledger: A Highlight Reel Look Back

🎞️ THE HIGHLIGHT REEL

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

The man who tried to cheat the devil.

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The Art of Inglourious Basterds: Poster Gallery & Design Trivia

The Art of the Basterds

A Gallery of International & Teaser Posters

Selling "A Baseless, Bastardized View of History"

The marketing campaign for Inglourious Basterds was as bold as the film itself. Eschewing traditional WWII movie tropes, the posters focused on blood, weaponry, and the "Basterds" themselves, promising an ultraviolent, alternate-history epic that only Quentin Tarantino could deliver.

The Iconic International "Bloody Bat" Design

🖼️ Poster & Marketing Secrets

• The German Ban: In Germany, the use of swastikas on film posters is strictly prohibited. The German marketing team had to create unique designs that replaced the symbol with bullet holes or completely different layouts.
• James Ensor Inspiration: Tarantino noted that the color palette for some of the teaser posters—vibrant yellows and deep reds—was inspired by the expressionist paintings of James Ensor.

• Character Teasers: Before the full trailer dropped, a series of "Wanted" style posters were released for each Basterd, focusing on their preferred weapon (The Bat, The Knife, The Gun).

• The Misspelling: The deliberate misspelling of "Inglourious Basterds" on the posters (and title) was never fully explained by Tarantino, other than stating it was an "artistic stroke."

Key Poster Variations

The "Ensanguined" Bat: Features the blood-stained baseball bat of the Bear Jew, symbolizing the film's brutal tone.

The Shosanna Cinema: A more "European Noir" style focusing on Mélanie Laurent in front of her theatre.

The Aldo Raine Profile: A close-up of Brad Pitt with his hunting knife, primarily used for the U.S. theatrical release.

The Visual Language of Revenge

The Inglourious Basterds poster campaign is often studied by graphic designers for its "Minimalist Aggression." While most war movies of the 2000s used desaturated blues and grays (think Saving Private Ryan), Tarantino’s team opted for high-contrast yellows, deep blacks, and "Tarantino Red." This wasn't just a stylistic choice; it was a psychological one—positioning the film more as a Spaghetti Western set in WWII rather than a traditional historical drama.

🔍 Poster Easter Eggs & Secrets

The Scalp Counter: On the original teaser poster featuring the Bowie knife stuck in a Nazi helmet, if you look closely at the wood grain of the handle, there are tiny notches carved into it. These represent the "100 Nazi Scalps" Aldo Raine demands from his men.

The "A" and "U" Mystery: The misspelled title on the posters—Inglourious Basterds—is written in a font that mimics Tarantino's own handwriting. Fans have theorized the "A" in Basterds is a tribute to the 1978 Enzo G. Castellari film, but Tarantino simply told David Letterman, "It’s a Basquiat-esque touch."

The Hidden Hitchcock: The character poster for Shosanna Dreyfus (Mélanie Laurent) was framed to mirror the lighting of classic Alfred Hitchcock heroines. The "Theatrical Noir" aesthetic was used to separate her storyline visually from the gritty, outdoor look of the Basterds' posters.

The Bear Jew’s Bat: The famous "Bloody Bat" poster had to be airbrushed for certain international markets. In some regions, the blood was changed to a dark "oil-like" substance to bypass strict censorship laws regarding the depiction of realistic gore in public advertising.

Ultimately, these posters did more than just sell a movie; they established a brand identity. By the time the film hit theaters in August 2009, the image of the "Bloody Bat" and Aldo Raine’s scarred neck had become shorthand for a new kind of cinematic revenge. Even today, the Inglourious Basterds theatrical one-sheet remains one of the most sought-after items for film poster collectors.

Deep Dive Further

Brad Pitt Spotlight Full Highlight Reel Review

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Oscar Predictions 2009

I usually participate in an Oscar pool at my job at Laser Blazer. But this year I'm working for Mahalo on Oscar Night. I thought since I'm not participating in an Oscar awards contest this year, it would be fun to post my predictions right here on my site.

For all the world to see.

I think for the record, I will state which film or artist I think WILL win the Oscar and which film or artist SHOULD win.




Best Short Live action film:

Will Win: On The Line

Should Win: ?

I have no idea....this is a shot in the dark. Maybe later on I'll actually watch all the films nominated and make an educated guess. But for now....I like the title of this film.




Best Documentary Short:

Will Win: The Witness From the Balcony of Room 306

Should Win: ?

Same thing here. Just a shot in the dark.




Best Visual Effects:

Will Win: The Dark Knight

Should Win: The Dark Knight




This film should sweep all the technical awards. The film technically was just awe inspiring. Especially in IMAX.



Best Sound Mixing:

Will Win: The Dark Knight

Should Win: The Dark Knight





Best Sound Editing:

Will Win: The Dark Knight

Should Win: The Dark Knight





Best Animated Short:

Will Win: Presto

Should Win Presto



I've actually seen all the films in this category. All though they all have their strengths Presto is simply superior to all of them. If your looking for a dark horse though This Way Up could sneak in here.




Best Song:

Will Win: Jai Ho

Should Win: Jai Ho

I think it's catchy. If it doesn't win O Saya will, Peter Gabriel's song was great too.




Best Score:

Will Win: Slumdog Millionaire

Should Win: Slumdog Millionaire

I can't even remember the soundtracks to the other films...which is a good sign for Slumdog.

Best Make-up:

Will Win: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Should Win: Hellboy 2



Half of the characters in Hellboy 2 weren't even human. But nobody saw this movie so I doubt it'll win.




Best Film Editing:

Will Win: Slumdog Millionaire

Should Win: Slumdog Millionaire



Lots of stuff going on in the film and it was well put together.




Best Documentary Feature:

Will Win: Man on Wire

Should Win: Man on Wire



Lots of buzz surrounding the film. I found the film interesting but over-rated.




Best Costume Design:

Will Win: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Should Win: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

I think they are going to throw this movie as much love it can get, except when it really counts.




Best Cinematography:

Will Win: Claudio Miranda for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Should Win: Wally Pfister for The Dark Knight



Benjamin Button is the obvious pick here, but Pfister did some amazing work on The Dark Knight. The scenes in IMAX were just breathtaking and the action was all incredibly captured.




Best Art Direction:

Will Win: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Should Win: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button




Button is the sexy pick here.




Best Foreign Film:

Will Win: Waltz with Bashir

Should Win: ?

I'm embarrassed to say that I haven't seen any of the nominated films in this category. A situation that I will remedy when they become available on DVD.




Best Adapted Screenplay:

Will Win: Slumdog Millionaire


Should Win: Doubt



Slumdog will win here but John Patrick Shanley's adaptation of his own play is exceptional, especially when you consider that the students in the film are not in the stage version.




Best Original Screenplay:

Will Win: Milk

Should Win: Milk



I think this is where the film will make it's mark. Even though it deserves much more.




Best Animated Film:

Will Win: Wall-E

Should Win: Wall E



No-Brainer.....had a strong argument to be nominated for Best Picture.




Best Director:

Will Win: Danny Boyle

Should Win: Gus Van Sant



See: Best Picture



Best Supporting Actress:

Will Win: Penelope Cruz

Should Win: Penelope Cruz



Really tough category. All really great performances, but Penelope Cruz stands out for her deranged and sexy character from Vicky Cristina Barcelona.




Best Actress:

Will Win: Kate Winslet

Should Win: Meryl Streep




I honestly think Winslet should've been nominated for her performance in Revolutionary Road. I think she deserves to win for that performance. Meryl Streep's performance was fantastic in Doubt, unique and multi-dimensional. But she's going to get votes taken away from her because she's the great Meryl Streep and is always good, which is a shame.




Best Supporting Actor:

Will Win: Heath Ledger

Should Win: Robert Downey Jr.




If there's any lock it's that Ledger is going to win. But Robert Downey Jr. deserves kudos for pulling this difficult performance off. Comedy is always underestimated during awards season. But the truth is, it's the most difficult type of performance to pull off. Substitute Downey Jr. with any of the nominated actors in his Tropic Thunder role and you'd have a disaster. Now if you reverse that formula and put Downey Jr. in any of those other roles, he'd probably knock it out of the park.

No joke.

Wouldn't you like to see Downey Jr. as the Joker?




Best Actor:

Will Win: Mickey Rourke

Should Win: Mickey Rourke




I'm trusting that the Academy realizes that this is a one shot deal for Rourke. It's a performance we're likely never going to see from him again. The role was tailor made and I'm not sure there are going to be other roles like this out there for him. I'm not saying Sean Penn doesn't deserve the award as well, but I think Rourke's performance is going to be seen as legendary in the years ahead.




Best Picture:

Will Win: Slumdog Millionaire

Should Win: Milk




I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Slumdog Millionaire not only shouldn't win best picture....it shouldn't even be nominated.

Yeah...that's right I said it and in two years you're going to say the same thing too. You're going to be staring at your Slumdog Millionaire DVD on your shelf and think to yourself...

What in the hell was I thinking?

Then you're going to trade it in at Laser Blazer for three bucks with fifty other people and it'll end up in the 4.98 bargain bin with Crash and A Beautiful Mind.

I'm not exactly sure how all this Oscar buzz got started for this film, but in my opinion it's a DEEPLY flawed and at best mediocre motion picture.

Everybody wants to call the film unique and ground breaking, but it's really not. I found the film formulaic, commercial and at times just plain silly.

In any event, Milk is the most important film in this category. Especially in light of recent events and should be recognized as such THIS year. Especially since the Brokeback Mountain debacle.

Instead, a love story about a dude on Who wants to be a Millionaire?.....which was friggin canceled folks...is going to win the most prestigious award in film.

Seriously?

For the record the Best five films that SHOULD HAVE been nominated for Best Picture were Milk, Che, Nothing But the Truth directed by Rod Lurie, Revolutionary Road and Doubt.

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Chaka in Land of the Lost (2009)

Ain't It Cool News has released the first image of the character of Chaka in the new Will Ferrell film Land of the Lost.

I think the movie could be an enjoyable mix of nostalgia, trademark Will Ferrell humor with great action and impressive special effects.

For whatever reason, this image of Chaka makes me giddy with anticipation. The idea of actually remaking this silly show from my youth busts me up to no end.



Also in case you haven't seen it yet, here's the teaser poster for the film.




Yes, that is indeed Danny McBride in the film as Will. Anna Friel plays Holly.

Classic.

*Update:

Here's the new super bowl spot for the film as well.

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My Favorite Films of 2008

2008 was a very disappointing movie year for me.

For every mildly enjoyable picture that I watched this year, I saw three horrible films. I'm not exactly sure why this year was different than most. I suspect the writer's strike played a part in it. Perhaps it might have been the current bleak political and world climate which have made films seem more frivolous and insignificant this past year.

In any case, until this past week, I couldn't even fill out a top ten list.

To be completely honest, some of these films I found deeply flawed and mediocre.

But I've started a tradition here, so I felt it necessary to keep it up for posterity.

I think it's important to note that I haven't been able to watch the four hour epic Che yet. Considering the subject matter and the presence of Benicio Del Toro, I can pretty much guarantee the film would land on this list. But since I haven't seen it. I can't put it on here....but when I do...I'll be sure to adjust accordingly.

So without further ado.





Honorable Mention: Slumdog Millionaire

This movie is overly sentimental, naively optimistic at points and to be completely honest extremely over-rated. But I did enjoy the sense of escapism and the film's desire to share with the audience a world that we weren't familiar with. I just wish the themes were a little more poignant then just "Love conquers all." Although I admit in this day and age it's not a horrible message to spread. It's just not realistic or believable. Speaking of unbelievable, the final question for the Who wants to be a millionaire? bit in the film...Give me a break. I don't care if the show is a version for the planet Mars and featured Martian contestants...that question was too friggin easy.




10. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

This is a big old fashioned Hollywood film. In some ways it reminded me of the works of Tim Burton. It's refreshing to see David Fincher create a movie like this. Although it mostly works, the film happens to be strange, awkward and also unintentionally creepy in some points. But the twist on the experience of aging is creative and poignant, while the ending is heartbreaking and memorable.


9. Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Fun, breezy and charming, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is both a return to form and a unique film for Woody Allen. I enjoyed the personality test of attraction that Woody Allen presented with the different female characters in the film. But what I found most enjoyable was Javier Bardem's return to romantic lead, which almost makes the viewer forget about his chilling performance in No Country For Old Men....almost.



8. Wall E

The adventures of a little robot and his longing for companionship set in the backdrop of a post apocalyptic earth touches and surprises me every time I watch it. That it can amuse my two children while my wife and I get a little break makes it even more impressive.



7. The Wrestler

The story itself is simple, as well as formulaic and in the end I'm not exactly sure what it wants to say and even if it's worth saying, but as a pure acting piece the movie is an impressive showcase for Mickey Rourke, Evan Rachel Wood and Marisa Tomei. Rourke is fantastic, arguably the best overall performance of the year.


6. Taken

Imagine if Robert De Niro in Ronin or Val Kilmer in Spartan were after someone. Now imagine that the reason why they are after that person....is that they kidnapped his daughter to sell her as a sex slave.

Stand back and watch the fireworks fly.

This was my favorite pure action film of the year. Ironic, since I believe the film failed to earn an American release and most people don't even know it exists. I suspect it's because of the subject matter of sex trafficking and slavery. Pretty much box office poison in this day and age. But I found the movie thrilling, exciting and fulfilling in a way I wasn't expecting. Perhaps it's because I have a daughter now and I sympathized with Liam Neeson's character more than other traditional protagonist in other action films. I know it's an unusual choice but there's no denying I got sucked into the suspenseful story more than most films this year.



5. Revolutionary Road

Emotionally brutal and at times unbearable to watch, the film really captures the dynamics of a volatile marriage in a way which is rarely captured in film. Not only do the moments ring true, there is a strange sense of therapeutic enjoyment in watching the troubled characters naively stumble through their lives. I think this accounts for the comparisons to Sam Mendes previous work American Beauty. But I think this film is more raw than American Beauty and in the end more powerful. Fine performances all around. Kudos to Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet who carry a movie together with their excellent acting instead of with a sinking ship.



4. Milk

Extremely timely, politically charged and featuring a moving sympathetic portrayal by Sean Penn and a chilling, as well as strangely sympathetic performance from Josh Brolin. But what I was most impressed with was Gus Van Sant's excellent direction, which really painted a fascinating and human portrait of the visionary leader. The film also provides an interesting look at the complicated time period and the seeds which were planted that have carried over into the volatile political climate that we have today. Probably the most important film of the year, although I couldn't help thinking while watching the film that it might have been better served with more real gay actors in the film.


3. Gran Torino

This movie was one of the funniest and most thought provoking films of the year. Although the ending is pretentious and a bit out of place, I thought the themes of the film were powerful and moving in a way I wasn't expecting. Issues such as masculinity, family and community are some of the points that the film presents and Clint Eastwood explores them here better than any film has done in a long time. Did I mention how hilarious the film is? What can I say, I'm a sucker for inappropriate humor.


2. Nothing But the Truth

I admit I'm an unabashed Rod Lurie fan.

I just think that he's one of the most underrated writer/directors working today. Nobody is making well made character studies like this in Hollywood anymore and it's a real shame. This film features wonderful performances from the terrific ensemble cast. The movie's story is suspenseful and powerful, while taking the audience on an unpredictable roller coaster ride. It all leads to a thought provoking ending that will have one examining their personal beliefs and debating the themes of the work for days later.

And finally.....





1. The Dark Knight

What can I say....I'm a total geek.

This film had everything I want in a movie. Action, suspense, strong story, fascinating characters, great acting, and excellent direction. Even had a breathtaking IMAX presentation. The fact that the movie is about a guy who refers to himself as Batman shouldn't take away from the accomplishments of the cast, crew and director. Christopher Nolan created an excellent and superior follow up to an already fantastic film. I said this before and a lot of people have called me crazy. But the film was so good that I almost don't want to see a part 3. I honestly think it can't get any better. Why drum up another adventure and try? Besides Heath Ledger's well publicized great performance, I think Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman and my new favorite actor Christian Bale deserve equal credit for delivering my favorite film of 2008.

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