Inglorious Basterds

Review by Ty McLemore

Director

Quentin Tarantino (also wrote the screenplay)

Lead Actors

Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Melanie Laurent, Eli Roth

Producer

Lawrence Bender

Plot synopsis

A Jewish woman, Shoshanna, (Melanie Laurent) seeks revenge on the Nazi colonel who years earlier murdered her family in a French farmhouse during World War II. Her plan involves hosting an elaborate party for high-ranking German officials at a theater she owns, with the intent of leveling the building with high-yield explosives.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) leads a group of Jewish-American soldiers called “The Basterds” into Nazi-held France to hunt and kill Germans. The Basterds also learn of the party and Hitler’s presence there and marshal their resources to kill or capture him and end the war early.

Shoshanna and The Basterds’ paths converge with incredible, unbelievable consequences.

Who Would Like It

Anyone fond of Tarantino’s work or World War II aficionados.  Here he takes on the complexity, brutality and seriousness of World War II and masterfully blends in comedy, quirkiness, suspense and wit.  Tarantino is now in the heavyweight class of directors.

Who Might Not Like It

Non-Tarantino fans or those sensitive to war movies or graphic violence.

Highlights

Most notable is the opening scene where Colonel Hans (Christoph Waltz) and farmer Perrier engage in a cordial, yet tense 30-minute discussion on Shoshanna’s family’s whereabouts - which is necessary in understanding the majority of the movie.  This was an audacious move, given that movie audiences today need constant visual and auditory stimulation onscreen every 10 seconds.

Another involves several allied soldiers impersonating SS Officers in a tavern.  Their cover is blown when one of the men uses an inappropriate hand gesture to order more beer for their table, which includes real SS Officers. A brief standoff is punctuated by extensive gunfire which kills nearly everyone inside. The violence in this movie appears quickly and unexpectedly, then abates just the same as if not to overshadow other elements in this nearly 3 hour flick.

Defiance (from Netflix)

Director:

Edward Zwick

Stars:

Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell

Plot Synopsis

This movie starts in 1940 in rural Belarusse, as the Naxis are invading and killing jews and driving them from their homes. It centers around the Bielski brothers who learn early on in their movie that their family was betrayed and slaughtered by SS soldiers.

We first meet Zus Bielski, played by a stern-faced Liev Schreiber who hasn't looked this good and focused since "A Walk On The Moon" which was made several years ago. He is accompanied by Asael Bielski, played convincingly by Jamie Bell. Asael is a pivotal character and seems to play the conscience of the family throughout the movie.

These two Bielski brothers, aware of the gravity of the situation, decide to flee to the forest and find refuge there. They soon meet with Tuvia Bielski - a worthy competitor to Zus Bielski, and as the movie progresses their sibling rivalry will prove comforting amongst all of the chaos.

The Bielski brothers decide to take refuge in the woods where they have been playing "fort" and exploring in their whole lives. What they don't expect is to find that the woods are crowded. Other Jews have had similar ideas. The Bielski brothers, who seemed to be village goofballs and school drop outs in the normal world, soon take positions of leadership of a growing forest society.

The Nazis are always close behind, they are never safe, food is sparse and let us not forget about the harsh winters in that part of the world. The Bielskis will be challenged in just about every possible way as they try to survive to just one more day of freedom.

Who Would Like It
Any world war II  history buff will enjoy the movie's attention to historial and geographical detail. There are many fighting and war scenes from this director Edward Zwick who brought us Glory and Blood Diamond. I think that Daniel Craig fans would enjoy this as long as they know who won't be wearing any tuxedos and that there are absolutely NO martinis in this movie what so ever!

Sandout Scenes
There are a lot of war and fighting scenes with Schreiber, who decides to fight with the russians. There are several revenge scenes that are hard to take but will make you think. There are several "forest" relationships that bud amidst all the murder and mayhem that are touching.

Summary
Zwick paints a harrowing picture of this dark time in the world but manages to eek out some humanity and hope, just as his protaginists the Bielski brothers did.

Rating:

 Three Mike and Ike packages out of a possible three. This is absolutely a must see.

Henry V -Laurence Olivier's

Henry V (1944)
The Chronicle History of King Henry the Fift with His Battell Fought at Agincourt in France

Director:

Laurence Olivier

Stars:

Laurence Olivier, Robert Newton and Leslie Banks

A special category and award was made for this movie by the Academy. What is so enthralling about this movie is how it starts, in a theatre of the round, the Globe perhaps. And you, as an audience member, yawn, not wanting to be involved in another lame Shakespeare play. But Olivier knew this. So quickly, as the gialogue progresses, we are thrown into the black, by that I mean there is a black back drop to the actors, as if they're in some sort of alternate universe.

Then, suddenly, if I remember correctly they are outdoors and then after that there are horses in full gallop hurling towards the camera. And then we are in a full fledged combat zone.

This is the play where the king goes and describes himself as a commoner (many say that's what Shakespeare or the Earl of Oxford, whoever directed these plays, did) and he goes to talk to his troops the night before a big battle. And I seem to remember there being a rousing speech and him motivating the troops.

Henry V, I think, was very much revered in his day. That is what I would say with my limited scope of history. If you are truly into film and acting, check out Laurence Olivier, don't be scared of him, he was in a movie with Dustin Hoffman in the seventies, and if you don't know who Dustin Hoffman is, God help you, but just think about Justin Bieber except a talented accomplished actor, with a big nose.

Rating Key:

1 Mike and Ike means this movie is not even worth the cost of a Mike and Ike's, let alone a movie ticket.

2. Two Mike and Ike's says pay the matinee price but don't expect miracles.

3. Three Mike and Ikes is a great movie you should see in the theatre if you can but then if not, you should rent.

 

Major League

Major League (1989)

 Director:

David S. Ward

Stars:

Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen and Corbin Bernsen

PLOT SUMMARY
I think this comedy could find relevance to modern-day Dodger's fans.

This is IMBD.COM's summary: The new owner of the Cleveland Indians puts together a purposely horrible team so they'll lose and she can move the team. But when the plot is uncovered, they start winning just to spite her.

I remember very well the group of misfits that was put together. Talk about Bush League - a catcher with two bad knees, a pitcher with a 110 mile an hour fastball who thinks the strike zone is in the stands, a speed demon who can't hit - the list goes on and on.

But, much like life, like it or not, they are stuck together. And their owner wants them to lose. Somehow, the coaches are crazy enough to get these guys to work together, and suddenly, out of nowhere . . . they start winning.

THINGS YOU MIGHT LIKE
What an ensemble! Dare I say I wish they had ensembles like these today! Pre-IRS trouble Snipes, Pre-"Bi-Winning" Charlie Sheen and the great Tom Berenger, who I last saw in "Training Day". Worth noting too is that Dennis Haysbert plays a very amusing character who is constantly trying to evoke voodoo magic so that he can hit better. And of course, the voluptuous and beautiful Rene Russo, whose sex appeal also lies in the fact that she knows baseball.

They make a life-size cardboard picture of their somewhat attractive owner who could be described with an expletive, and each time they win a game, they strip off a piece of clothing from the cutout.

ART REFLECTS LIFE?
I think the greedy owner who knows and cares nothing about the game is especially relevant for Los Angeles residents who have been betrayed and sold down the dirty LA river by the Mccourts. Keep in mind, this is an old movie, but there are certainly some timeless themes.

It is important to mention and remind people how incredible Charlie Sheen was as the incorrigible "Wild Thing" who was brought up from a prison league to play. They have to teach him how to tame his fastball, but they don't try to tame his heart. He becomes known to fans as "Wild Thing", and when he comes out on to the field, they play the most popular rendition of that song. He is one of my favorite movie characters of all time. And Sheen doesn't overdo it, he just plays it.

This is an ode to a real-life "Wild Thing" who struggle this year and last to maintain equilibrium. My hope is that young people could watch this movie and realize why Sheen, who was one of the most entertaining leading men of his time, is relevant.

THINGS YOU MIGHT LIKE

Wesley Snipes' "Willie Mays Hayes" is another character I loved and cared about. I would paraphrase this movie as a child for years after watching it. What's special though is the bond that these misfits create. That is an age-old recipe for a movie, and in this one, it worked. It was not contrived.

For me this movie out-Bull Durhams Bull Durham, maybe because there are more characters and it's about the major leagues and not the farm leagues. Also, there is nothing wild about Kevin Costner, but Snipes and Sheen, who have had real-life struggles recently, fit the bill.

Rating: Three Mike and Ikes out of a possible three which implies excellence in film making.

Charlie Sheen as "Wild Thing" who is prescribed glasses to help him hit the strike zone.

A sort of wierd, unfortunate celebrity that resulted from Sheen's social media melt-down and eventual depatrture from his sit come "Two and-a-half Men"

Henry Fool

Henry Fool (1997)   Director: Hal Hartley Writer: (uncredited) See more » Stars: Thomas Jay Ryan, James Urbaniak and Parker Posey

This movie was exceptional. It was a masterpiece. A poem. By a man who now directs operas in LA and over seas. This movie will rule your world.

It's about a man who is a poet but he doesn't know it. And another man who tries to bring it out of him. It talks about work, responsibility, etc.

Some of the action is very wierd and stylized. It's about the main character whose name is Henry Fool if you can imagine that!

Geoffs Movies is a full-time movie review blog. Movies are color. Movies are light. Movies are life!