Inglourious Basterds

A great war movie can cement you among the greats: Kubrick, Kurosawa, Coppola, Spielberg – and with Inglourious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino earns his place amongst them.

Like many of his movies, Basterds is cruel and yet bold. It does what's necessary to stay interesting and keep you on edge. It doesn't care how much an actor costs or if fans love them – if they're meant to die, they'll die. That's what separates Tarantino from the other directors.

Every actor provides exactly what is needed from them. Waltz, a sinister cruelty. Pitt, humorous propaganda. Daniel Brühl, a reminder that the Nazis aren't just uniforms but people, something that makes his evil views even more unsettling.

Tarantino's flair is an acquired taste and this is definitely not for those unfamiliar with his style. It highlights the charm of his previous movies and whilst the story is quite intimate, it never gets lost amongst the larger-than-life war epics.