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Post by Matthew the Swordsman on Sept 10, 2017 15:14:52 GMT
What classics did you see last week? (modern films are welcome too).
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Post by Matthew the Swordsman on Sept 10, 2017 15:22:18 GMT
Film:
Roustabout (1964, USA, 97 minutes) - 7.5/10. Enjoyable Elvis Presley flick. I think one of the best things about this film is the colour, which is quite nice (courtesy of the Technicolor company). Presley's character isn't likeable as written, but Presley somehow makes him likeable. The film is set at a carnival, which provides a topic for most of the songs (of which there are 11).
The Masquerader (1914, USA, 12 minutes) - 7.5/10. Amusing Charlie Chaplin comedy set in a movie studio. By far the best part of the film was a brief but very amusing segment featuring Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, in which Arbuckle and Chaplin were annoying each other while in the dressing room of the Keystone studio.
His New Profession (1914, USA, 11 minutes) - 7.5/10. Another fun Charlie Chaplin comedy short. I found it interesting that Charlie was reading the magazine Police Gazette, a trashy tabloid of the era.
The Rounders (1914, USA, 13 minutes) - 7.5/10. Another Charlie Chaplin comedy, this time co-starring the underated Roscoe Arbuckle.
The New Janitor (1914, USA, 12 minutes) - 8/10. A Charlie Chaplin comedy with less slapstick and more plot. Actually, the plot is good enough that it could have been done as a straight drama.
Those Love Pangs (1914, USA, 12 minutes) - 7.5/10. Crude slapstick comedy with Charlie Chaplin. In one particularly nasty scene, Charlie thrusts a fork into the butt of Chester Conklin. But hey, I love these crude comedies. They relax me.
Cinderella (1911, USA, 14 minutes) - 7.5/10. Cute little adaptation of the famous story, done by the Thanhouser Film Corporation. I viewed it via DVD-R, but you can YouTube it if you want.
TV:
"Brian Henderson's Bandstand" - Episode telecast 12 June 1965 (Australia, 49 minutes) - 8/10. Entertaining presentation of pop music, with singers Pat Carroll (no relation to the U.S. actress), The Delltones, Laurel Lea, Bill & Boyd, Helen Reddy (appearing in a "new talent" segment), Gerald Heaslip, and U.S. pop singer Jimmie Rodgers. Unfortunately, the kinescope is in less-than-perfect condition, in particular there's a bad film splice during one of Laurel Lea's songs.
"The Rifleman" - Episode titled "The Sharpshooter" (telecast 30 September 1958, USA, 25 minutes) - 7.5/10. First time seeing this TV series. Enjoyable.
"Nu, Pogodi!" - Episode two (telecast 1970, Soviet Union, 10 minutes) - 7.5/10. Funny cartoon. I don't speak Russian but that didn't stop me from enjoying it.
"Brian Henderson's Bandstand" - Episode telecast 14 August 1965 (Australia, 50 minutes) - 8/10. A varied presentation of popular music, ranging from rock to traditional pop. Performers are The Delltones, Janice Slater, Sharon O'Brien, Normie Rowe, Michelle Edwards, Peter Blizzard & Tony Johnson, The Barry Sisters, and Freddie Paris. Kinescope has decent picture quality, but I've seen better kinescopes than this.
"The Rifleman" - Episode titled "Home Ranch" (telecast 7 October 1958, USA, 25 minutes) - 8/10.
"Camberwick Green" - Episode titled "Windy Miller" (telecast 10 January 1966, UK, 15 minutes) - 8/10. Cute episode of this children's series.
"Camberwick Green" - Episode titled "Mr Crockett the Garageman" (telecast 17 January 1966, UK, 15 minutes) - 7.5/10. I find it interesting that this episode depicts the owner of a petrol station as having the duty of putting petrol into the cars of the costumers. These days, those things are self-service.
"The Rifleman" - Episode titled "End of a Young Gun" (telecast 14 October 1958, USA, 25 minutes) - 8/10. With guest star Michael Landon.
"Bod" - Episode titled "Bod and the Rain" (telecast 29 October 1975, UK, 5 minutes) - 8/10. This episode is partially lost, as the "Snap" and "Alberto Frog" segments are lost. The surviving segment is very entertaining though. There's nothing like a 1970s little kids cartoon series when I want to relax.
"Mr. I Magination" - Episode titled "Annie Oakley" (telecast 16 March 1952, USA, 29 minutes) - 7.5/10. Fun episode of this semi-educational children's series. It was an anthology series, depicting historical people and characters, and aired live! This episode is about Annie Oakley. As a bonus, the surviving kinescope includes a promo for "What's My Line?" and a PSA for the Red Cross.
"Brian Henderson's Bandstand" - Episode telecast 20 November 1965 (Australia, 54 minutes) - 8/10. Episode of this long running pop music show. This episode is dedicated to the "starflight" talent contest, and admittedly all of the singers are obscure...but obscure doesn't mean bad!
"Autumn Affair" - Unknown episode (circa 1959, Australia, 16 minutes) - 7.5/10. Episode of Australia's first TV soap opera. This aired three times a week from 1958 to 1959, aired at 8:45AM on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It aired without commercials even though it aired on commercial TV. This wasn't live, but taped in advance. Viewed on YouTube (unfortunately, with extremely excessive digital compression):
Additional:
Watched clip from a 1962 Australian TV show, featuring the Delltones lip-syncing their cover of "Get a Little Dirt on Your Hands". Unfortunately, it's an old VHS transfer with poor sound. But which TV show does the clip come from?
Watched clip from "The Johnny O'Keefe Show" from 1962, with the Delltones lip-syncing their song "A Happy Pair". Unfortunately, the upload is sourced from a crappy VHS transfer.
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Post by politicidal on Sept 10, 2017 17:31:23 GMT
China Passage (1937). It's a pretty dated mystery movie about a stolen diamond onboard an ocean liner amidst the Chinese-Japanese War.
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Post by wmcclain on Sept 10, 2017 17:39:12 GMT
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Post by kijii on Sept 10, 2017 19:28:10 GMT
I've been enjoying TCM's salute to star of the month, Jennifer Jones, and filling in the gaps of those JJ movies I may have missed in the past.
Cluny Brown, IOM, captures that "Lubitsch touch" better than any of his other movies--except Trouble in Paradise.
Cluny Brown gives Charles Boyer some VERY clever dialogue, responses, and nonchalant arguments to simple requests. I believe this about is behavioral mores among the classes of England just before the War. For example, Peter Lawford takes the upcoming war very seriously: when asked what has done about it, he says he had written a letter to the Times. The movie is full of this great reparte. Lot's of fun!! I will try to insert an image here, but be kind...I am just a beginner at this. ![]() ![]()  Another new Jennifer Jones movie, for me, is Love Letters. This pairs Jennifer Jones with Joseph Cotton (again). In the beginning, it seems like another eerie melodrama something like Portrait of Jennie. However, it ends up as a real mysterious murder mystery, told in retrospect. One would never know "who done it" until the very end of the movie. It's a great movie and I would highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it. It did hold my attention in that there were so many strange circumstances throughout the movie.   Albert Nobbs (2011) Oh, what a sad, sad depressing movie about a woman who worked as a man servant in a Dublin hotel in 19th Century Ireland. However, to look on the bright side, the movie did receive 3 Oscar nominations, including one for Best Actress (Glenn Close), one for Best Supporting Actress (Janet McTeer). They are both pictured below as seen in the movie.  |
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Post by OldAussie on Sept 10, 2017 20:31:11 GMT
All revisits -
The Little Foxes (1941) 8.5/10
The Eagle (2011) 4/10
The Last Legion (2007) 2/10
One-Eyed Jacks (1961) 8.5/10
Midnight Run (1988) 9.5/10 Road movie, mismatched buddies movie, crime, action, comedy. Hits the bullseye in every category.
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Post by claudius on Sept 10, 2017 22:25:25 GMT
September 4 to this hour September 10
THE FORSYTE SAGA (1967)"In the Dark" Dir: David Giles. The fallout has Bossiney- insanely enraged by Soames’ actions on Irene- searching for the man in the fog-filled streets with deadly consequences. Warner/Turner/BBC DVD
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN (2010) “Meeting” Nagato tells Naruto the story of how he came to be, starting with the death of his parents in a war zone, his meeting with Yahiko and Konan, to their search for Ninja mentors. Viz Media DVD
THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (1984) ”The Dancing Men” Dir: John Bruce. A happy couple is haunted by drawings of little stick figures that constantly appear. The second episode of the long-running Granada series and- because the climax’s setting is in the countryside- the first where Jeremy Brett dons the Deerstalker. MPI Video DVD
BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES (1992) “The Cat and the Claw Part 1” Dir: Kevin Altieri. Batman meets Catwoman. Guest stars Adrienne Barbeau and Kate Mulgrew. This was actually the first time I saw this episode since its premiere in September 5, 1992 (Saturday schedules were different from the weekdays, and Fox was never good at showing cartoon series in their original order). Thus starts a 25th anniversary viewing of the series (at least the episodes I have). Warner DVD
DETECTIVE (1964) “The Speckled Band” Dir: Robin Midgley. A bride tyrannized by her stepfather seeks the help of Sherlock Holmes. DETECTIVE was a British-TV anthology series featuring fictional sleuths. A try-out program for potential series, its episode of this Sir Arthur Canon Doyle tale (previously adapted for film- Raymond Massey’s 1931 film debut- and TV- with Alan Napier) resulted in Great Britain’s second series on the sleuth (first starring Douglas Wilmer and then Peter Cushing, with Nigel Stock as Watson) and eventually its first TV incarnation in color. BBC Video DVD.
In honor of the 20th Anniversary of Princess Diana Spencer’s funeral on September 6 1997, I viewed a NBC coverage of the state funeral (hosted and narrated by Tom Brokow and Jane Pauley) recorded by my mother that morning. I viewed about four hours, from the late Princesses’ coffin procession to her funeral (with guests including Tom Hanks, Tom Conti, Steven Spielberg, Richard Attenborough, Clive James, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, and the late George Michael and Pavorotti) at Westminster Abbey. With Elton John’s rewrite of “Candle in the Wind.”
BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES (1992) “On Leather Wings” Dir: Kevin Altieri. Batman is being framed by a bat creature robbing Pharmecutical companies. Guest-starring Marc Singer, Rene Auberjonois, and Meredith MacRae. This was the pilot to the series, airing that Labor Sunday in September 6, 1992. Warner DVD
BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES (1992) “Heart of Ice” Dir: Bruce Timm. Writer Paul Dini transforms the character of Mr. Freeze from a Mad Scientist to a tragic soul intent on revenge. Aired on Labor Day, September 7, 1992. Guest-starring Michael Ansara and Mark Hamill (NOT as you-know-who, although his enthusiastic association with this episode would lead to it). Warner DVD
BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES (1992) “Feat of Clay Part 1 and 2” Dir: Dick Sebast and Kevin Altieri. In this two-parter penned by Marv Wolfman (TOMB OF DRACULA, THE NEW TEEN TITANS) and Michael Reaves, Bruce Wayne is being framed for assault and theft, the real culprit a victim of vanity and a treacherous businessman (who I must say resembles Norman Osborn). Guest-starring Ron Perlman, Ed Asner, Brock Peters, and Ed Begley Jr. By the end of the cliffhanger, I was hooked for more. Warner DVD.
THE FORSYTE SAGA (1967) “Indian Summer for a Forsyte” Dir: David Giles. A few years pass after the death of Bossiney and Irene’s departure of Soames. Old Jolyon finds Irene visiting the new homestead that caused all this trouble.
SHERLOCK HOLMES (1965) “The Six Napoleons” Dir: Gareth Davies. BBC Video DVD.
SHERLOCK HOLMES (1965) “The Red-Headed League” Dir: Peter Duguid. BBC Video DVD.
BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES (1992) “It’s Never Too Late.” Dir: Boyd Kirkland. Batman gives an old mob boss a chance for redemption. Guest-starring Eugene Roche, Paul Dooley, Katherine Helmond, and John Vernon.
STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982) Dir: Nicholas Meyer. Nuff’ said. Theatrically speaking (for private viewing takes the majority cake in number), this is my second viewings via (in both cases) Cinemark’s Classic Series.
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Post by morrisondylanfan on Sept 10, 2017 22:48:23 GMT
Hi all,after watching the film 3 times,I've done the first IMDb review for this 1968 Iran Musical (hope I got the cast correct!)
Soltan ghalbha (1968) 10
Taking inspiration from Bollywood, the screenplay (whose writer(s) is not credited,and now appears to be lost in time) covers a 10-15 year period with a striking Musical Melodrama,where the rich Melodrama romance between Saeid and Setareh is weaved with mountains of tragedy and fitting moments of light. Sung before the Iranian revolution, the screenplay features extremely risqué elements,such as Setareh being pregnant out of wedlock and the torn cover of a Quran.
Turning the volume up on Saeid's voice as Setareh sinks deeper into depression, the screenplay gives the relationship between Setareh and Khorshid an incredibly earthy atmosphere,via Setareh's blindness giving greater responsibility of care to Khorsid,and tightening the mother/daughter bond. Opening with startling dissolves over Setareh's face, director Mohammad Ali Fardin (who also appears) overcomes some sudden jumps suggesting this 2 hour 8 minute print is not the full movie, with a masterful elegance of songs going from the loved-up high emotions of the opening, to the emotive final murmur.
Separating the couple for at least a decade,Fardin makes the passage of time weigh heavy on Setareh and Khorsid in coiled wide-shots dipping into their blind pain.Known as the Sultan of Pop,Aref Arefkia gives a rousing performance as Saeid,thanks to Arefkia being able to hold the Pop with a haunted shade of something unresolved. Joining Arefkia from the world of Pop, Ahdieh Badiee gives a magnificent performance as Setareh,whose love for Saeid and Khorshid Badiee keeps at the heart,even as Melodrama surrounds it. Catching an earful of Saeid's tunes, Lelia Forouhar gives an incredible performance wise beyond her years as Khorshid,whose care for her mum is expressed with a gradual maturity, as the king of hearts plays.
The Spanish Main (1945) 6
Setting the cannon alight, director Frank Borzage & cinematographer George Barnes get into the swashbuckling atmosphere for RKO's first colour production, with explosive cannon battles at sea,and the clanging of metal sword-fights.While the amount of action is limited,Borzage keeps the bottle of rum pouring out with rich reds and towering castles giving the flick a sense of Adventure.Clearly having the most fun with the baddie,the screenplay by George Worthing Yates/Herman J. Mankiewicz and Æneas MacKenzie give the dialogue a funny boo-hiss crunch,which does very well at setting Don Juan Alvarado up as the final boss.
Covering the screen with exposition texts at various stages, the writers get unsteady in which direction to sail the film towards,with the various tangled betrayals dimming the action set-pieces.Swinging over to RKO after Warner Brothers turned the project down, Paul Henreid gives a dashing performance as Capt. Laurent Van Horn,whilst Maureen O'Hara gives the film a splash of glamour as Contessa Francesca. Chewing the ships, Walter Slezak gives a superb performance as boo- hiss Don Juan Alvarado,with Slezak stealing the bounty with the biggest slices of Parma ham.
Kong: Skull Island (2017) 8
Running at a lean 104 minutes, director Jordan Vogt-Roberts & cinematographer Larry Fong aim at a prime pulp mood, lit by misty yellow filters taking the viewer back to 'Nam, and seamless blending of real and CGI camera moves, stylishly looking deeply into Kong's eyes. Whilst Fong has gone for black on black in his recent work with Zack Snyder, Vogt-Roberts pushes the darkness aside for a lush green backdrop. Closely working with editor Richard Pearson, Vogt-Roberts allows the detailed monster designs (inspired by Japanimation ) and Kong to be fully displayed with extended takes that give the action scenes (which includes a tribute to Cannibal Holocaust!) a mighty crunch,as each of Kong's fighting moves lands with a thump.
Climbing the 2nd stage of a franchise,the screenplay by John Gatins/ Dan Gilroy/Max Borenstein and Derek Connolly nicely follow Vogt- Roberts path by keeping the tale nicely pulpy,as the post-'Nam time period is used to send the gang on a thrilling jungle Adventure flick, where nasty thunderous monsters lurk round ever corner. Tasked being pesky humans for Kong, (played by an excellent, motion- captured Terry Notary and Toby Kebbell) Tom Hiddleston/ Brie Larson and Jason Mitchell give good performances as well-meaning "Conrad" (talk about subtle!) Weaver and Mills,whilst Samuel (yel)L. Jackson and John C. Reilly howl with a wonderful madness as Packard and Marlow,who each find themselves trapped on Skull Island.
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Post by Nalkarj on Sept 11, 2017 12:19:23 GMT
morrisondylanfanI'd never even heard of The Spanish Main, and I'm a complete sucker for anything pirate-related. And Borzage directed it? "Curiouser and curiouser," as Alice put it. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
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Post by Lebowskidoo 🦞 on Sept 11, 2017 17:50:01 GMT
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Post by Doghouse6 on Sept 11, 2017 18:08:49 GMT
morrisondylanfan I'd never even heard of The Spanish Main, and I'm a complete sucker for anything pirate-related. And Borzage directed it? "Curiouser and curiouser," as Alice put it. Thanks for bringing it to our attention. It's a great deal of fun, and everything a pirate movie needs to be. Henreid sheds the near-funereal stoic reserve so familiar from his WB pictures and allows a dry sense of humor to twinkle, Maureen O'Hara is a properly fiery heroine and Binnie Barnes might have stolen the show as a very butch Anne Bonney had Walter Slezak not been on hand in another of his slyly-comic villain roles. And all in glorious Technicolor. It deserves to be better known. |
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Post by Nalkarj on Sept 11, 2017 18:15:19 GMT
morrisondylanfan I'd never even heard of The Spanish Main, and I'm a complete sucker for anything pirate-related. And Borzage directed it? "Curiouser and curiouser," as Alice put it. Thanks for bringing it to our attention. It's a great deal of fun, and everything a pirate movie needs to be. Henreid sheds the near-funereal stoic reserve so familiar from his WB pictures and allows a dry sense of humor to twinkle, Maureen O'Hara is a properly fiery heroine and Binnie Barnes might have stolen the show as a very butch Anne Bonney had Walter Slezak not been on hand in another of his slyly-comic villain roles. And all in glorious Technicolor. It deserves to be better known. Excellent! Thanks, Doghouse. I recently saw The Black Swan and greatly enjoyed it, even if Laird Cregar walked away with the picture as Sir Henry Morgan. I suppose Slezak does [nearly] the same thing here? I recently purchased (and quickly read) a copy of David Cordingly's Under the Black Flag, one of the finest guides I know to both real-life and fictional piracy. Great book, and it inspired me to seek out some more of these movies. As with westerns, I wish more of them were made nowadays, but I suppose I should note that Spielberg is supposed to film an adaptation of Michael Crichton's Pirate Latitudes, which was a rip-roaring swashbuckler of a book. |
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Post by wmcclain on Sept 11, 2017 18:21:44 GMT
I recently purchased (and quickly read) a copy of David Cordingly's Under the Black Flag, one of the finest guides both to real-life piracy and fictional piracy that I know. Great book, and it inspired me to seek out some more of these movies. As with westerns, I wish more of them were made nowadays, but I suppose I should note that Spielberg is supposed to film an adaptation of Michael Crichton's Pirate Latitudes, which was a rip-roaring swashbuckler of a book. If you like that sort of thing, George Macdonald Fraser's THE PYRATES is a riot. Unrelated to any screenplay of the same name, it takes place in the Hollywood Golden Age universe and includes casting tips: Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone, etc. |
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Post by Nalkarj on Sept 11, 2017 18:29:36 GMT
If you like that sort of thing, George Macdonald Fraser's THE PYRATES is a riot. Unrelated to any screenplay of the same name, it takes place in the Hollywood Golden Age universe and includes casting tips: Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone, etc. Thanks, Wmcclain. I still have yet to read even a Flashman book (I know, I know), but I'll definitely put The Pyrates on my list of "books by George MacDonald Fraser that I have to read." By the way, one of these days I'd like to start a thread on the screenwriting work that Fraser did. Quite some interesting credits there. |
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Post by Doghouse6 on Sept 11, 2017 18:41:47 GMT
I recently saw The Black Swan and greatly enjoyed it, even if Laird Cregar walked away with the picture as Sir Henry Morgan. I suppose Slezak does [nearly] the same thing here? I recently purchased (and quickly read) a copy of David Cordingly's Under the Black Flag, one of the finest guides both to real-life piracy and fictional piracy that I know. Great book, and it inspired me to seek out some more of these movies. As with westerns, I wish more of them were made nowadays, but I suppose I should note that Spielberg is supposed to film an adaptation of Michael Crichton's Pirate Latitudes, which was a rip-roaring swashbuckler of a book. Ahh, Laird Cregar: what a commanding presence, and a bitter loss with what would presumably have been so many roles ahead of him. Hard to believe he mustered so much authority with all but his final two films made before the age of 30! Thanks so much for the Under the Black Flag shout-out. |
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Post by wmcclain on Sept 11, 2017 19:18:01 GMT
Thanks, Wmcclain. I still have yet to read even a Flashman book (I know, I know), but I'll definitely put The Pyrates on my list of "books by George MacDonald Fraser that I have to read." By the way, one of these days I'd like to start a thread on the screenwriting work that Fraser did. Quite some interesting credits there. I have a hard time appreciating Flashman, but I have enjoyed other Fraser books. His WW2 memoir QUARTERED SAFE OUT HERE is very fine. He served in Burma and somewhere he defends Errol Flynn against the grief he got for Objective, Burma! (1945), saying (a) actors don't write the films they are in, (b) the Americans had their own sector in Burma and why shouldn't they make a film about it? I also reference his HOLLYWOOD HISTORY OF THE WORLD which is great fun, if colored by his boyhood film enthusiasms. His BLACK AJAX would make a great screenplay about bare knuckles boxing, racially charged, and a true story. |
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Post by morrisondylanfan on Sept 12, 2017 0:00:44 GMT
morrisondylanfan I'd never even heard of The Spanish Main, and I'm a complete sucker for anything pirate-related. And Borzage directed it? "Curiouser and curiouser," as Alice put it. Thanks for bringing it to our attention. Hi Salzmank, for the last year and a bit the BBC have been running a very good season of showing mostly lesser-known RKO productions over the weekend,which has included many that have not come out on UK DVD such as Carnival Story and Dance, Girl, Dance. Warner Archive has put Spanish Main out: www.amazon.com/Spanish-Main-Paul-Henreid/dp/B00A33J90GAnd as a preview to RKO first all-Technicolor film since Becky Sharp 10 years earler: |
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Post by mikef6 on Sept 12, 2017 2:00:34 GMT
A Damsel In Distress / George Stevens (1937). A feast of great Gershwin songs and Astaire dancing. The plot, as typical in ‘30s musicals, hardly counts. Astaire plays Broadway star Jerry Halliday who is in England to win the hand of Lady Alyce Marshmorton (Joan Fontaine). Or something. There is the usual mistaken identity complication. Along for the ride is George Burns and Gracie Allen. The musical highlight is Fred with a set of drums dancing to a jazz arrangement of “Nice Work If You Can Get It.” Fred does six impossible things within a three-and-a-half minute unbroken take. Fontaine, lovely and charming, even does some hoofing. She is given a few simple steps to do with Fred and it delights immensely.
FUN FACT: 1) During the period of the nine films of the Astaire/Rogers collaboration at RKO, Fred made only one movie outside the partnership, viz., A Damsel In Distress. During that same period, Ginger made 10 movies other than the ones with Astaire.
2) Choreographer Hermes Pan won the Oscar for Best Dance Direction for the funhouse dance in A Damsel In Distress. 1937 was the last of only three years that this Oscar category existed. Gracie begins by singing “Stiff Upper Lip” and then she, George, and Fred dance for about five minutes. Glorious.
Inglourious Basterds / Quentin Tarantino (2009). The opening scene, set in France during the Nazi occupation of WWII, is a great one as Col. Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz ), never breaking his outward demeanor of your friendly caring best friend, delivers a deadly threat to a French farmer and his family who are hiding a Jewish family. When the farmer cracks and reveals the Jews to save his own daughters, the fugitives are all killed except for one teen girl who escapes. A brilliant, if not great, opener. But then the title Basterds appear led by Brad Pitt whose performance is all caricature with not a single moment of truth in it (and I am sure he was doing exactly what Tarantino was directing him to do). Pitt’s acting was bloody awful and that applies to the rest of the cast of the team of Basterds, all supposedly Jewish avengers. In the early going, Tarantino attempts a Hitchcockian breaking of audience identification by having a main character who an audience would expect to live, die. The first time it worked. Yeah, it was a shock. But then it happens two more times. Those times it was just annoying. I know that QT has a huge fan following who will accept just about any wild thing he throws out there…but I’m not one of them and just couldn’t swallow IB.
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