Welcome to our Reference Degustation where we take you through a six course menu of foot long quippy Tarantino debauchery. Fifth course: Inglourious Basterds.

Shift the heel in your jacket pocket and find your seat for a cathartic screening of cinematic history. Join the ranks of basterds with us with Inglorious Basterds this week.

Breakdown and Analysis

  • Oti Rankings: Inglourious Basterds, Jackie Brown, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill.
  • KT Rankings: Inglourious Basterds (tentative), Jackie Brown, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill.
  • We continue to be astounded at the ability for Tarantino to deliver at relatively small budgets.
  • Samuel L Jackson is to Pulp Fiction as Rosie Perez is to White Men Can’t Jump as Christoph Waltz is to Inglourious Basterds. We remain a Christoph Stan podcast for the remainder of the episode.
  • Oti has mentioned throughout the Reference Degustation he has tried watching this film at least 10 times. He was never able to get into the film and stopped every time. We find Oti now in love with the film.
  • When you start to elevate celebrities above reproach, you find yourself having to defend everything. As KT wasn’t under the Tarantino spell she could enjoy more deeply because there wasn’t an obligation.
  • We compare JoJo Rabbit to Inglourious Basterds and how the latter is better delivered in tone and themes.
  • For Tarantino to overcome the barrier Oti had in his mind is a truly immersive experience. Part of the branding that we love Tarantino for can also work against him when he demonstrates range via Jackie Brown & Inglourious Basterds.
  • After many decades KT is on board and understands the appeal of Brad Pitt. Sign her up to fan club newsletters.

General Questions

What are your views on QT’s approach to violence? For example, how he used contrapuntal music for the torture scene in Reservoir Dogs.  < JAMIE
Oti hasn’t witnessed violence until watching this film. It is brutal in it’s violent depiction despite Oti feeling like he is mostly desensitised to most. As if they borrowed the Mortal Kombat sound pack. KT observes how there were considered moments of violence that are paired with chilling dialogue. There is something intriguing about Christoph that draws you in even though we know it is dangerous. We are the moths to the Christoph Waltz flame. The way Hans Landa carried the calm dialogue leading up to the floor shooting. It was a two punch approach of violence: the framing of the dialogue and the brutality of the violence. The contextualising is what digs deeper into the portrayal of violence.

QT-verse theory (films within films) < ROB
Like Jackie Brown, this film feels insular and within it’s own world. Part of what makes it great and why we love it more.

Is QT the best contemporary director to match visuals & music? < JAMIE
KT felt reborn in the waters of Tarantino. He found a way to embed the score and soundtrack in a more cohesive way as opposed to Kill Bill. Tarantino is the best to match visuals and music in regards to tonality but not the best overall to do that.

Direction/Stylistic Choices

At what point does QT’s stylised, hyper-aware of itself dialogue become a hindrance to the film rather than part of the magic/charm? < BEN
The dialogue was one of the best elements of this film. He may not be Shakespeare but Oti had so much fun and was able to relate to the characters. We praise Tarantino’s penmanship and his ability to change our initial perceptions of him. The guy who gave us Jackie Brown is back!

Rewriting history < JULIO
We all know Hitler didn’t die like that. But Oti felt it was a lot of fun from a viewing experience. Surprise to everyone that the For Your Reference podcast has a mini catalogue on portrayals of Hilter deaths.

KT made a comment about how Aldo was not able to see the contrast between praising his white american history and his native american history.

California/Hollywood/Film/Genre < ROB
N/A.

Pop Culture References < JULIO
A lot of talk about contemporary films that we have added to our list.

Casting/Characters

Feeeeeeeeeeeeet < JULIO BRENT
Bridget’s feet and Hans Landa carrying out his own Cinderella with heel in pocket and all.

The reluctant hero < ROB
KT puts forward Hans Landa and tries to convince Oti. The film does not get to it’s conclusion without the decision by Hans. Oti retorts that there didn’t seem to be a conflict hence not meeting his criteria of being the reluctant hero. KT gives advice for story and life that there is value in being so useful that both sides need you. Oti presents Marcel however KT argues that the film still comes to it’s conclusion without Marcel. Drawing parallels to Bill O’Neal in Judas and the Black Messiah. Hans evaluates the benefits from either side and navigates accordingly.

Casting old favourites and reviving their careers < JULIO
Not so much reviving but boosting Christoph Waltz on western screens. Christoph Waltz lovefest indeed.

Racism/N word

Everytime I show one of his movies to someone that hasn’t seen them I always wait for the moment he or someone else drops that N word to see how they react. < BRENT
KT noticed a murmuring possibility that the N word was uttered by a couple of Frenchmen. We agree that it made sense given the context.

Are QT race related quips justified in this film? < PAUL
Racial slurs < JULIO
KT felt the racial quips played better than Kill Bill for example because Americans were made to be the butt of the joke as opposed to making fun of others. She took qualm in Aldo not having a comprehensive catalogue.

Why does QT insist on including himself (usually as a racist) when he can’t act? < BEN
Similarly, like Jackie Brown, the less Tarantino on screen the better the film.

Unrelated but vital points

  • Shouts to our patrons for voting on this film.
  • Oti does not give any indication after watching and did not prepare KT for pulling the Jackie Brown rug from under her.
  • KT asks for the same grace she lays out for non gendered Film Bros.
  • Oti proverb: Bad people don’t need smart people.
  • Kill Bill felt very collage-y in the white screenwriting tapestry of cinema.
  • The Harder They Colonise: Diseases and Bullets by Jeymes Oti Samuel
  • Oti makes a Keri Hilson reference.