20 for 2009 - Inglourious Basterds

I'm a fan of Incontention.com and very much enjoy the work of Kris Tapley, however ysterday he published his most anticipated films for 2009 and Tarantino's war epic is down as his least anticipated film. In the comments Kris justifies this by saying "that script is a piece of shit", however it is still bizarrely less anticipated than Emmerich's 2012 and, if you assume every film not on the list is more anticipated than Basterds, Road Trip 2 comes higher on Kris' things to do in 2009.

I will confess that I've not actually read the script. Partly due to not wanting to spoil my enjoyment of the finished film and also even with my limited experience of short films I'm only too aware of the chasm that exists between a script and a final product. But I do include amongst those I am looking forward to for a couple of reasons.


Primarily because every Tarantino film is worth seeing. You might not like them, you might think they're poorly made and overly self-referential, but you cannot deny that Quentin is a major influential force in American cinema.

This may be a controversial opinion, but I'd also like to see a War film where it's not all doom and gloom. Yes War is hell, but war films need not be. I believe it's time for a film that harks back to the manly adventures of The Dirty Dozen and Where Eagels Dare.

Of course I am taking Kris' concern on board as there are still 18 films coming higher on my own anticipated list. The way the script has been leaked and ripped apart on the net may work for or against the film, but the casting certainly seems way off the mark. Mike Myers, Eli Roth, Rod Taylor as Churchill - thank goodness for the German cast who seem to be a much better selection. And I cannot possibly object to any casting of Brad.

He also has assembled a great crew headed by Robert Richardson (Platoon, Kill Bill, Casino) as the DP and Sally Menke, his regular editor, returns.

This could be a disaster - but whatever it is it is a must see for 2009.