Glourious

I've just been to see Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds and I thoroughly enjoyed it. That it plays fast and loose with historical fact will not come as a shock. Actually slow and loose might be nearer the mark, as a number of reviewers have commented that the film drags and contained a lot of scenes which would have benefited from cutting. While I can see what they were complaning about, for the most part the leisurely unfolding of the story helps to build the tension. As a Tarantino film it contained a lot of his trademarks: brilliantly chosen (albeit anachronistic) music; an obvious love for the craft of film-making (and film-showing); a strong streak of black humour; sudden and extreme violence; strong and well-directed central performances from Daniel Bruhl, Melanie Laurent and Christoph Waltz. There are some surprisingly moving moments (surprising for a Tarantino film anyway). I look forward to seeing it again when the DVD comes out.