Movie Review: Inglourious Basterds

Sorry everyone for not keeping up with my blog; I have been super busy, but I can't think of a better film to resume my blogging duties with. For those of you who don't know yet, Quentin Tarantino is my favorite director. I named my son after him if that is any indication as to how much I love this director. Some may say that Quentin's movies are too violent and that is valid, but I argue that the violence is just a small fraction of his films. In addition to directing his films he also serves as the screenwriter. The dialogue in his films is superb and I must say he brings out the best performances in his actors. I don't think that there is room or time to list off the actors and their performances, for that you should watch ALL of his films, but I ask you to think of Uma Thurman's performances in Pulp Fiction and the Kill Bill Films. I challenge anyone to say that she has given a better performance than in those 3 films.

Adding to the canon of great films and memorable characters is Inglourious Basterds. Brad Pitt stars at Lt. Aldo Raine, the leader of a ragtag group of Jewish soldiers whose prime objective is to hunt and kill Nazi's. Working for the Nazi's is the diabolical Col. Hans Landa, played by Christoph Waltz who won the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for his performance in this film. Col. Landa is to this film what Hans Gruber was to Die Hard, the villain you love to hate. There is also Shosanna Dreyfus, played by the radiant French actress Melanie Laurent, who escaped Col. Landa's clutches early on but her family was not so lucky. Shosanna vows to avenge the death of her family culminating in an unknowing union with the basterds that could possibly end the reign of Hitler and his army.

As gruesome as the plot sounds, Mr. Tarantino distracts you from the ugliness with the humor. Brad Pitt looks like he is having the best time and his drawl adds to the fun. At no time do you feel like the atrocities the Jewish people endured is made light of. Instead Quentin asks the audience to play make believe with him--What if the US had the cojones to send in some crazy SOB's to finish Hitler off once and for all, one Nazi dirtbag at a time? I think you will be satisfied with his crazy idea. Vengeance is a theme at the heart of all Tarantino's films. I am a big believer in "reaping what you sow" or "karmas going to get you" so vengeance/revenge never comes into play for me, but for at least 2 hours, watching the underdog climb their way to the top is a fun and twisted ride. This movie is well worth the price of admission.

Claud's Heroes: Madonna

Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone Penn Ritchie, otherwise known as Madonna, entered my life in 1983 when the single "Everybody", off her debut album Madonna, was released. I was 7 or 8 years old at the time and music was a huge part of my young life, thanks to my father. This song quickly became my favorite and when the album was released my dad was awesome enough to buy me the tape (remember those). I would listen to the tape over and over again; memorizing every lyric as if it was gospel. The very first CD I ever owned was Like A Prayer. My dad bought it on the day of its release and when I got home there it was sitting in my room waiting for me. I still have that CD, albeit scratched to hell, but I will never get rid of it. Since that day I have purchased all of her CD's on the day of their release and do the same thing- I listen to it over and over again; memorizing every lyric as if it was gospel.

Videos were an integral part of an artist's career back in those days and she, along with Michael Jackson (yes, I am giving him props), was a pioneer in the way videos were presented. I would watch the videos and try to copy her moves. Almost every girl wanted to be like her and I was no different, I was hooked. Shortly after watching her in Desperately Seeking Susan, probably one of the best received performances of her career and one that definitely put her fashion out front and center, I went to school in my best "Susan/Madonna" outfit. For some reason this act infuriated a majority of the 6th grade girls and they wanted to pound my wannabe ass into a pulp (true story--my childhood friend Christin Pursley can attest to it). Thankfully the 6th grade girl's ire softened and my face and dignity were spared. At that time Christin was my partner in Madonna worship. We would sing her songs, dance along to the videos and one inspired day we even filmed two of our very own Madonna videos with my dad being the director and videographer. The videos were for "Material Girl" and "White Heat". Sadly those videos are lost somewhere in a pile of VHS tapes, but I can still remember them vividly, as well as my bad haircut.

When I was young there was nothing I wanted more than to go to a Madonna concert. My biological mother (or the one who shall not be named--a little Harry Potter Voldemort reference for you) always said she would buy me a ticket and she never did. I did not see Madonna live until she performed at the Hollywood Bowl for Arsenio Hall's 100th or 1000th show. I cannot remember what the event was called but I remember what she performed- "Fever" and a duet "The Lady is a Tramp" with Anthony Kiedis from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I had nose bleed seats but it didn't matter because I was finally in the same vicinity as my hero. Most people know I am a frugal person but that would be last time nose bleed and Madonna concert would be uttered in the same sentence for me. The next time I would see her was for The Drowned World Tour in 2001 and I spared no expense. My eternal partner in crime, my cousin Norma, was at my side as we walked into the Staples center and I began tearing up at the site of our seats. It was probably the best concert I have ever been to. Since then I have not missed a tour and have been lucky enough to include friends and family along for the ride but my constant concert companions are always Norma, my bonus sister Heidi, and our sister in Madonna worship Shannon. I am not being biased when I say that a Madonna concert is truly a spectacle for the eyes and ears. The sets are amazing, the choreography is flawless, the costumes are fierce, and she always brings it. There is NO lip-synching-yes I am referring to all of the little pop tarts out there who think that dancing and lip-synching to their prerecorded, auto tuned songs makes them stars; Madonna is LIVE in every sense.

Madonna's movies and personal life are always ridiculed, and I admit to not always approving of her choices but after 26 years I am still in awe of her and continue to be a loyal fan. Her birthday is August 16th and I wrote this post to say happy birthday to a woman who has inadvertently been involved in some of my best memories as well as creating more than 50% of the songs on the soundtrack of my life. To all my readers--please give it up to a true artist and sing along and dance to one of her songs tomorrow.

Essential Madonna CD's:

ALL OF THEM!!!!!

Essential Madonna Films:

1. Desperately Seeking Susan

2. Truth or Dare

3. Evita

Movie Review: Funny People

By now most of you have seen the preview/trailer to Funny People. If you haven't, allow me to give you a brief breakdown. Adam Sandler plays George Simmons, an extremely successful comedian who is diagnosed with a terminal illness. He takes a young comedian named Ira, played by Seth Rogen, and hires him as his personal assistant. Ira is ecstatic because George is one of his comedic idols. It is not too long before Ira discovers that George is a huge PRICK (that is phrasing it nicely). Fame has turned him into a self-indulgent, narcissistic ass. He has no real friends, has lost touch with his family, and betrayed the only woman he has ever loved. Ira urges George to reach out to these people in his time of need. In the midst of all the emotional healing George discovers he is in remission. Has being so close to death changed George for the better? I am begging you to watch the movie to find out.

I am a huge Adam Sandler fan; I will watch anything he is in. The comedies are always worth watching but what I truly relish are his dramatic performances. Not too many people flock to his dramas, and if you are one of those people please rethink it and netflix Punch Drunk Love (2002) and Reign Over Me (2007), my favorite of the two. In Reign Over Me Adam plays a widow who is in extreme denial over the loss of his wife and children; the film is moving and his performance is quietly haunting. Funny People is a dramedy, in the same vein as Spanglish, so it is not your typical Adam Sandler movie. Yes it's got the comedy in spades (the stand-up scenes are hilarious) but it also has heart and allows Adam to explore his dramatic range and I am all for it.

Funny People is reminiscent of the film Punchline (1988), starring Tom Hanks as a tortured comedian and Sally Fields as a bored housewife looking to morph into a great comic (definitely worth watching). The critics are taking the film to task for giving too in depth a glimpse into the stand up world. I found that aspect fascinating. I admire what Judd Apatow, the writer and director, put on screen. He is one director who can mix sensitivity, sex, and comedy effortlessly. Watch The 40-year old Virgin (2005) and Knocked Up (2007) if you don't believe me. I look forward to his evolving as a storyteller and hope he does not let the critics discourage him in tackling serious films.

Seth Rogen gave a different performance in this film. Instead of playing the self assured agro male he has played in recent films, Ira was an insecure, sensitive, sweet guy. I enjoyed seeing him in this role. It displayed his range and showed audiences that he is more than a go-to funny actor.

I do not want to leave the rest of the cast out in my praise. Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman, Leslie Mann, and Eric Bana were all funny and made up an amazing supporting cast. I could go on and on about the movie but I think it would be best if you all saw it for yourself. It is not a funny happy joyride, but it reminds us that even in our worst moments there is always room for laughter.