Quentin Tarantino's iconic 'masterpiece' leaving Netflix in just days

Edinburgh Live

3 days ago

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Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, the 2009 war epic featuring a star-studded cast including Brad Pitt and Christoph Waltz, is often hailed as a 'masterpiece' by both critics and fans. The film, which was both penned and helmed by Quentin Tarantino, is available for streaming on Netflix, but viewers have limited time to watch it as it's set to leave the platform on June 16.
Inglourious Basterds took its title from Enzo G. Castellari's 1978 Euro War film The Inglorious Bastards, with Mr Tarantino opting for a quirky misspelling to add "a Basquiat-esque touch". Despite starting the script in 1998, Quentin hit a snag with the ending and chose to direct Kill Bill in two parts before returning to complete Basterds.
The film is a World War II revenge thriller that intertwines two main plots. The first one spotlights a merciless group of Jewish-American soldiers, known as the 'Basterds', who execute savage assaults on Nazis, whilst another narrative revolves around Shosanna, a French-Jewish woman who survived a Nazi massacre and is scheming her own retribution by utilising her cinema house as a snare for high-ranking Nazi officials.
Their individual pursuits for vengeance culminate in a dramatic climax that reimagines history, delivering a finale imbued with Quentin's trademark violence, suspense, and dark humour. Inglourious Basterds proved to be an immense box office success, raking in around $321.5 million globally against its $70 million budget.
The movie earned eight Oscar nods including Best Picture and Best Director while Christoph Waltz walked away with the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. In addition to his Oscar win, Christoph clinched the Best Actor gong at the Cannes Film Festival, not to mention BAFTA, Golden Globe, Critics' Choice, and Screen Actors Guild accolades for his riveting turn as Standartenführer Hans Landa.
The film also featured a top-tier performance from Hollywood A-lister Brad Pitt as Lieutenant Aldo Raine. Quentin shared his thoughts on Brad with GQ magazine, saying: "He's one of the last remaining big-screen movie stars.
"It's just a different breed of man. And frankly, I don't think you can describe exactly what that is because it's like describing starshine.
"I noticed it when we were doing Inglourious Basterds. When Brad was in the shot, I didn't feel like I was looking through the viewfinder of the camera.
"I felt like I was watching a movie. Just his presence in the four walls of the frame created that impression."
Critics praised the film overall, with particular admiration for its dialogue and visuals; one critic shared: "Dialogue is sharp, the imagery mesmerising and both come together to create a wildly entertaining film. Impossible to watch without wanting to be a Basterd yourself."
One film critic raved about Inglourious Basterds, saying: "A brutal, audacious, triumphant piece of filmmaking that hits harder than a baseball bat to the jawbone." However, not all critics shared the same enthusiasm, with one stating: "All the trademark Tarantino flourishes are here, the joyous splaying of gore; the self-referential dialogue; the artful artificiality and the juxtaposition of humor and violence, but they don't add up to much."
A different reviewer expressed a similar sentiment, writing: "For all its visual bravura and occasional bursts of antic inspiration, it feels trivial, the work of a kid who can't stop grabbing his favorite shiny plaything." On the other hand, an audience member gave the film a glowing review, saying: "Inglourious Basterds is Tarantino at his boldest - a genre-bending, dialogue-driven masterpiece that blends tension, humour, and brutal intensity with effortless style.
"From the unforgettable opening scene to the final shot, the film keeps you locked in with razor-sharp writing and a fearless approach to storytelling. The performances are phenomenal across the board, but Christoph Waltz steals the show with a chilling, magnetic presence that earned every bit of praise.
"The film doesn't follow the rules - and that's exactly what makes it so entertaining. Every scene is packed with purpose, often exploding in unexpected, satisfying ways."
One viewer expressed their admiration, saying: "Although Pulp Fiction is my favorite film all-time, Basterds is what I consider the finest of Tarantino's work. The most mature film of his excellent filmography," while another praised Brad Pitt's performance: "When you put comedy, action, story, Brad Pitt and Quentin Tarantino together, the only thing you can get is pure gold."
Another fan shared their thoughts: "Might be Tarantino's best effort so far. Gloriously gory and merciless brutality, plenty of action and twists. Great cinematography.
"Brad Pitt excels in this character, well all cast is just excellent in character. No nonsense in typical Tarantino fashion.
"Absolute must see, badass to the bone."
Inglourious Basterds is available to stream on Netflix until June 15.