Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Quentin Tarantino is one of the only directors in our times that creates for audiences a true cinematic experience. He does it again with his latest opus, Inglourious Basterds. The film is sort of a remake of an obscure Italian B-movie from the 70s, but other than the name, time and location of the film, it's pretty much a completely different movie. Like many Tarantino projects, this follows multiple storylines than eventually intersect.

The Inglourious Basterds are a commando group of Jewish Americans dropped into France during the Nazi occupation of WWII. Brad Pitt is the head of the group. All the characters are strong and unpredictable. They scalp a lot of Nazi's. There is so much more to the plot, but that's all I care to share at this point.

The movie is beautifully shot by cinematographer Robert Richardson, who is popular with Scorsese and Oliver Stone. The pop soundtrack was limited in this Tarantino release, but present and appropriate. Also missing was the strong language usually found in his films. The language issue is this film is that there is dialogue in English, French and German. There are a lot of subtitles to be read.

Tarantino takes time in the film to also show off his knowledge of both French and German cinema knowledge of the 40s. There are references to films and actors from that time in both countries. It's not often to get a modern film referencing UFA (the principal studio during that period in Germany). There is also a salute to the old nitrate film stock.

The R rating comes mostly for the graphic violence, i.e. realistic scalping! (153 minutes)

District 9 (2009)

District 9 does what hasn't been done in a long time. On a relatively meager budget, it manages to pull off a convincing sci-fi/action/morality tale. The film takes place in the present. A large spacecraft has stalled above Johannesburg, South Africa. Aboard were a bunch of sickly aliens who look similar to humanoid craw fish. They are kept in a secured concentration camp-like area called District 9. The area has become a slum and the government decides to evict them all...action ensues in the process.

There is the obvious correlation of this story to South African apartheid, but also a bigger statement on how we treat each other and other living things. Everyone becomes expendable.

The film is presented somewhat in a reality show ala Cops fashion but then morphs into a regular narrative driven film. The movie is cast with unknowns which helps bring you into the story without being distracted by a celebrity face. The CGI aliens are very realistic and also are not a distraction. The pacing is just right as you move through the story in almost real time.

I walked out of this thinking, "this is a great movie!" I think most people would feel the same way. The film is Rated R for the violence and language...think Humans and Aliens...blowing up, literally. (112 minutes)