Violent cult filmmaker Quentin Tarantino has created one of the most unusual takes on the classic war picture with this odd film that pays homage to the old 1970's exploitation film genre as well. In 1977, a cult film, INGLORIOUS BASTARDS starring Fred Williamson(BLACK CAESAR) debuted that was a great influence for this film, although the plotlines of both stories are very different. And the result has been a nomination for Tarantino's film for best picture by the Academy Awards this year.

Odd and violent, the story involves a young woman who escapes the brutal Nazi slaughter of her family, to start a new life running a cinema in France, only to have fate cross her once again when the Nazi colonel who ordered the killings four years earlier wants to use her cinema to premiere a new Nazi war history propaganda film. While she plots to kill this Nazi officer by burning down the theater because of the very high flammability of film stock, another plot to kill the top Nazi leadership at the theater is being plotted by tough American special operations officer, Lieutenant Aldo Raine(Brad Pitt) is leading a tough group of Jewish soldiers in a plot as well.

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS is a strange film, and hardly a conventional war movie by any means. Yet, the movie is masterfully made and one of the best by Quentin Tarantino. The movie will likely not win the best picture award. Yet, the film is good enough to be nominated, which says much about the quality of it.

The bottom line: A very good and artistic film on many levels. +++(three stars, or good).