(10) INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS with Brad Pitt, Melanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth and Diane Kruger. Directed by Quentin Tarantino (The Bridge, Walmer Park, The Boardwalk, Garden Route Mall).

TRYING to find words to describe Inglourious Basterds proves a difficult task because Quentin Tarantino’s latest delivery is simply brilliant.

Each chapter of this 1970s remake – Tarantino has divided it into five – keeps you on the edge of your seat as you discover twist within twist.

Not surprisingly, in-your-face violence is Tarantino’s trademark and may make you uncomfortable. But like news headlines that desensitise its readers after a while the bizarre becomes the norm. The scalping of The Basterd’s victims’ heads eventually desensitises the audience too. Now you may all think that The Inglourious Basterds are the main protagonists in this film-noir, but they are actually just brutal heroes (American Jews) who have been wronged by the Nazis and are out to kill every Nazi they can find. The film is set in France and the main plot revolves around the life of a Jew, Shoshanna Dreyfus (Melanie Laurent) who managed to escape being captured by the heartless, slightly psychotic Col (and detective) Hans Lander (Christopher Waltz).

Waltz has already received a Cannes film award for best actor in this film.

A fortunate opportunity arises for Dreyfus when, four years after her escape (she now owns a cinema), when the German military want to hold a German evening to celebrate the Nazi regime. The femme-fatale plots her revenge.

The Inglourious Basterds, made up of eight American Jews who are headed by Lt Aldo Rein (Brad Pitt) find out about this gathering and collaborate with German actress (and spy for the Allies) – Bridget von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) – at a supposedly inconspicuous venue.

Things get a bit heated when they have an uninvited guest.

In a montage of tempo (like that in classic German Expressionist films – like The Battle of Potemkin, 1925), the film meets its ultimate climax.

Music is used excellently, much like in Tarantino’s Kill Bill films. There are also references in the movie that pay homage to other stories, like King Kong and Cinderella.

All in all, violence aside, this unique film deserves credit for its great acting and well planned storyline, not to mention its excellent directing.