Inglourious Basterds by Quentin Tarantino

The latest flick by writer/director Quentin Tarantino is Inglourious Basterds, based on the italian movie "Quel maledetto treno blindato". Starring are Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth (horror movie director), BJ Novak (The Office), Mélanie Laurent and Julie Dreyfus (Sophie Fatale in Kill Bill). With cameos by Mike Myers and Sam Jackson's voice.

To Nazi-occupied France is sent a US guerilla command led by Lt. Aldo Raine (Pitt) to kill as many nazis as possible. The Basterds are blood-thirsty jew mercenaries who terrorize SS and Gestapo soldiers because of their out of control manners of killing them.

Like prior Tarantino's films, the storytelling is divided by non-linear chapters and the dialogues prime over all. Gory, funny and entertaining as only the eccentric director can make it happen. Also, with references to his prior films and a twisted take on the Nazis (From Minister of Propaganda, Goebbels to the newbie nazi officer). Superb performance by Waltz as nazi Col. Hans Landa, who dominates the screen entirely and speaks perfectly in german, french, italian and english. Two-hour and a half tour de force film, who is definitely one of his best films yet. Run to see it!

The International by Tom Tykwer

The International is the latest feature film by German director, Tom Tykwer (director of Run Lola Run and The Perfume: The story of a Murderer). Starring are Clive Owen and Naomi Watts with a little cameo by Ben Wishaw (The Perfume and I'm not There).

An action-thriller that follows Interpol agent Salinger (Owen) with the help of NY D.A.'s officer (Watts) attempting to uncover an arms deal scheme by a International bank based on Luxembourg. They travel through Berlin, Milan, New York and Istanbul following the bank's greedy manners to control arms deals in Third World African and Asian countries.

Tykwer's take on international action-thrillers (think Bourne's series) is actually very good. It has an intelligent social commentary on how these international banks control governments, corporations and individuals by generating an infinite debt. The photography throughout the European, Asian and American cities is stunning. The camera shots and the editing construct a suspense storytelling that keeps you wondering how it's going to end.

Owen's performance is very credible but Watts' role seems like an excuse to add a female character to an entire testosterone driven cast. The NY Guggenheim scene exceeds the shots-fired barrier for my taste but one thing I sure like was that it did not end in an Owen-Watts romance like a predictable film of this type will end. Kudos to Tykwer for an enjoyable social-awareness feature that stands alone in that sort of modern Hollywood genre.