The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 4 - 'Inglourious Basterds’

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• The hosts firmly established *Inglourious Basterds* as their Quentin Tarantino pick for the 25 best movies of the 21st century, prioritizing it over *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood*.  Copied to clipboard!
• Christoph Waltz's performance as Hans Landa is highlighted as a generational, captivating, and perfect melding of actor and role, marking his breakout American debut.  Copied to clipboard!
• The film is celebrated for its masterful scene writing, its revisionist history narrative offering catharsis, and its status as a relentlessly entertaining, 'forever movie' that is easy to rewatch.  Copied to clipboard!

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Podcast Introduction and Cheez-It Ad

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(00:00:00)

• Key Takeaway: The episode begins with a lengthy, humorous advertisement for Cheez-It crackers.
• Summary: The hosts open the podcast with a lengthy, self-aware advertisement segment dedicated entirely to Cheez-It crackers, followed by an ad for Blue Buffalo dog food.

Introducing ‘Inglourious Basterds’

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(00:01:06)

• Key Takeaway: The hosts introduce the film as number four on their ‘25 for 25’ list, calling it a masterpiece.
• Summary: Sean Fennessy and Amanda Dobbins introduce the episode, confirming the film is number four on their list. They list the main cast and express their deep affection for the movie.

Tarantino’s Pick and Scene Writing

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(00:02:19)

• Key Takeaway: Tarantino’s selection was firm, and the film exemplifies the ‘secret art’ of writing unbelievable scenes.
• Summary: They discuss the rule of one film per director and why Inglourious Basterds was chosen over other Tarantino options. Sean praises Tarantino’s mastery of scene writing over plot mechanics.

Rewatch Experience and Set Pieces

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(00:03:40)

• Key Takeaway: The film is relentlessly entertaining, featuring two of the century’s great set pieces.
• Summary: Sean describes watching the movie again just hours before recording. They identify the opening sequence and Operation Kino as major set pieces, alongside the final revenge sequence.

Tarantino’s Filmography Context

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(00:04:59)

• Key Takeaway: The hosts compare Inglourious Basterds to other Tarantino works like Kill Bill and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
• Summary: They discuss other eligible Tarantino films (Death Proof, Django Unchained, Hateful Eight) and the debate between this film and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

The Search for Hans Landa

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(00:06:25)

• Key Takeaway: Tarantino struggled to cast Hans Landa until finding Christoph Waltz, leading to a career-defining performance.
• Summary: They detail how long Tarantino worked on the film and the difficulty in casting the complex role of Hans Landa, praising Waltz’s captivating debut.

Transcending Pastiche and Movie References

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(00:09:03)

• Key Takeaway: This film marks the moment Tarantino transcended being seen merely as a synthesizer of movie history.
• Summary: The hosts discuss the film’s influences (The Dirty Dozen) but argue it feels like Tarantino’s unique invention. They note how movies themselves are integral to the plot (diegetics).

Revisionist History and Catharsis

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(00:10:52)

• Key Takeaway: The film offers satisfying catharsis by rewriting history, especially regarding the annihilation of Nazis.
• Summary: They analyze the impact of rewriting history, noting that subsequent films show Tarantino is rewriting ‘movie history.’ They discuss the emotional weight of the revenge plots.

Brad Pitt and Eli Roth Performances

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(00:14:12)

• Key Takeaway: Brad Pitt’s affected accent is perfectly balanced against Christoph Waltz’s energy, and Eli Roth commits fully to his role.
• Summary: They analyze Pitt’s unusual line readings and accent, and praise Eli Roth’s enthusiastic portrayal of the Bear Jew.

Favorite Scenes: The Tavern Sequence

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(00:16:13)

• Key Takeaway: The tavern sequence is highlighted as a favorite, showcasing tension, dialogue, and the famous three-finger gesture.
• Summary: The hosts debate favorite scenes, settling on the tavern sequence, which includes the Heads-Up game and the tense conclusion involving the three-finger signal.

Michael Fassbender’s Bond-esque Role

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(00:18:25)

• Key Takeaway: Fassbender’s performance contained sequences reminiscent of a classic James Bond, showcasing his range.
• Summary: They discuss Fassbender’s role as Lt. Hicox, noting his linguistic skills and the spy-thriller elements of his scenes, wishing he had been cast as Bond.

State Farm and Nespresso Ads

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(00:21:32)

• Key Takeaway: The podcast features sponsorship messages from State Farm and Nespresso.
• Summary: Mid-segment advertisements for State Farm insurance and Nespresso coffee machines.

Melanie Laurent’s Emotional Performance

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(00:22:05)

• Key Takeaway: Laurent masterfully conveys both French defiance and deep personal tragedy as Shosanna.
• Summary: Amanda discusses the sadness inherent in Shosanna’s plotline and how Laurent communicates the necessary anger and tragedy for the revenge to feel earned.

Tarantino Universe Connections

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(00:24:49)

• Key Takeaway: The film explicitly links to True Romance through character lineage, confirming Tarantino’s connected universe.
• Summary: They detail the connections: Aldo Raine is Floyd’s grandfather, and Donnie Donowitz is Lee Donowitz’s father.

Sam Jackson Narration Flourish

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(00:26:13)

• Key Takeaway: Tarantino’s confidence allows for unique structural choices, like Sam Jackson explaining nitrate film.
• Summary: They praise the brief appearance of Sam Jackson explaining the flammability of nitrate film, noting other directors lack this confidence.

Diane Krueger’s Performance Under Duress

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(00:26:51)

• Key Takeaway: Krueger effectively communicated dread in her death scene despite the character’s glamorous and cunning nature.
• Summary: They discuss Krueger’s casting and her crucial, wordless performance during the basement shootout sequence, which relies heavily on her facial expressions.

Landa’s Knowledge of Shosanna

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(00:29:28)

• Key Takeaway: The hosts conclude that Hans Landa definitely knew Shosanna was the girl from the farm during their restaurant meeting.
• Summary: They debate whether Landa recognized Shosanna at the restaurant, concluding that his subsequent psychological warfare confirms he knew her identity.

Mixed Reviews and Lasting Legacy

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(00:33:09)

• Key Takeaway: Despite initial mixed reviews regarding its historical liberties, the film is now widely considered Tarantino’s best.
• Summary: They discuss the initial controversy and how, 15 years later, the film is highly regarded, often preferred over Once Upon a Time in Hollywood by their peers.

Tarantino’s Self-Assessment

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(00:34:50)

• Key Takeaway: Tarantino himself identified Inglourious Basterds as his ‘best’ film.
• Summary: They reference Tarantino’s quote identifying this film as his ‘best,’ Once Upon a Time as his ‘favorite,’ and Kill Bill as the film ‘only he could make.’

Oscar Losses to The Hurt Locker

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(00:37:01)

• Key Takeaway: The film was nominated for eight Oscars but only won one, losing six major categories to The Hurt Locker.
• Summary: They detail the major Oscar losses, particularly Original Screenplay, to The Hurt Locker in a year dominated by that film and Avatar.

Standing In For War Films

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(00:39:03)

• Key Takeaway: This film represents the category of period war movies, standing in for films like Dunkirk and 1917.
• Summary: The hosts list several other excellent 21st-century war films that did not make their list, including Dunkirk, 1917, and Master and Commander.

Spaghetti Western Influences

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(00:41:33)

• Key Takeaway: Tarantino views Inglourious Basterds as his spaghetti western, heavily influenced by Sergio Leone.
• Summary: They list influences like The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly and note Tarantino’s use of Morricone music and Leone-esque close-ups.

Conclusion and Next Episode Tease

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(00:42:29)

• Key Takeaway: The hosts wrap up their discussion, thanking the audience and venue, and tease the next film.
• Summary: Sean expresses his satisfaction with the film’s ranking at number four. They thank the American Cinematech and the Egyptian Theater before teasing the next episode, which will cover ‘Wicked for Good.’