# Inglourious Basterds is Possibly the Stupidest Best Picture Nominee I've Ever Seen. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 9, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246 "2012-10-09T19:40:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/21 "2012-10-09T20:35:57Z")
Matches what I remember as well. A very interesting time to be alive. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/22 "2012-10-09T20:36:44Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > And what the hell are all these interminable talking scenes in what’s supposed to be a taut thriller? I think I’ve identified your problem. The movie is not supposed to be a taut thriller. It’s really (like so many of Tarantino’s movies) a tribute to cinema. It has elements of thriller, war movie, spy movie, period piece, comedy, action… but it doesn’t solely belong in any of these genres. Much of the beauty of a Tarantino script is the dialogue. Yes, it’s anachronistic and fantastical. No one talks like that - and mob assassins don’t talk like Samuel Jackson in _Pulp Fiction_ either. It’s stylized. And man, what style! I didn’t expect to like _Basterds_, and I only watched it reluctantly when it got nominated for BP - and I was blown away by how great it was. Not the best picture of the year, but it absolutely deserved its nomination and Waltz deserved his trophy. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/23 "2012-10-09T20:39:12Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Of course, in order to enjoy the movie, you do need to have an imagination. That seems to be considered unnecessary by some. You also have to have an utter disregard for logic. An admirable quality I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/24 "2012-10-09T20:39:36Z")
Tarantino is, to my mind, about all and only style over substance. (This isn’t meant as a negative remark). If you’re criticizing the substance of the film, you’ve probably missed the point. ---
**Author:** ![Suil\_Dubh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Suil\_Dubh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suil_Dubh)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/25 "2012-10-09T20:43:14Z")
I’m behind this OP 100%. Silly, silly movie. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/26 "2012-10-09T20:45:38Z")
Two Many Cats, you had the same reaction my stepfather (the avid WWII buff) did in the theater. He sat over there, harumphing, sighing, and mumbling “What the hell is going on here?!?” Coming out of the theater, he declared it the worst movie he’s ever seen. 9 months later it was on HBO, and he declared it the funniest WWII movie he’s ever seen. I think once you accept that the movie is basically a movie where they cut costs by hiring all the actors, artists and soundstages from the studio next door where an \*actual \*WWII movie is being filmed, you can relax and just enjoy it. Also, for a quick and easy way to create spoiler boxes, just highlight what you want spoiled, click the ‘ **B** ’ Bold function, and replace the ‘B’ with ‘spoiler’ ---
**Author:** ![Telperion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telperion/32/509_2.png) [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/27 "2012-10-09T20:47:43Z")
There’s no way it’s stupider than that movie about how everybody in LA is secretly a racist and incapable of driving without causing an accident. And that movie won, too. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/28 "2012-10-09T20:53:19Z")
I don’t expect **Django Unchained** will be an historically accurate portrayal of slave era Mississippi either. But that’s not why I go to see Tarantino films. I go for the slow tension build up dialog scenes he crafts. And bringing revenge fantasies to life. It’s escapism film making that can raise my pulse. He makes his movies a thrill ride reminiscent of Hitchcock. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/29 "2012-10-09T20:56:21Z")
It wasn’t even the worst movie nominated that year…_cough_ **Up**. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/30 "2012-10-09T20:59:14Z")
Thanks **Munch** for helping me out with the spoilers. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/31 "2012-10-09T21:15:12Z")
_Inglorious Basterds_ had terrific characters, excellent acting, superb scenes and was an utterly craptastic movie. Watching it was as satisfying as eating unsalted air-popped popcorn. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/32 "2012-10-09T21:59:04Z")
Tarantino’s flicks look like they take place in our world, but they don’t. They’re not even alternate history, where everything is just as serious as it was in reality but something different happened. It’s a completely alternate fictionalized universe of Tarantino’s making, just as Star Trek is Roddenberry’s. _Kelly’s Heroes_ is more accurate than _Inglourious Basterds_. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/33 "2012-10-09T22:09:51Z")
It’s a fantasy movie. Specifically a Jewish fantasy. Why should fantasy movies only involve dragons and dwarves? ---
**Author:** ![GovernmentMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GovernmentMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GovernmentMan)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/34 "2012-10-09T22:13:38Z")
Who spoke 4 languages? Landa spoke 3, a few spoke 2, and most only 1. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/35 "2012-10-09T22:20:25Z")
> [@GovernmentMan](#): > > Who spoke 4 languages? Landa spoke 3, a few spoke 2, and most only 1. Landa spoke 4: German, French, Italian, and English. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/36 "2012-10-09T22:51:54Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I’m beginning to doubt the accuracy of _Pulp Fiction_ too. Five years? I’ve only had my watch up my ass for _one_ year, and let me tell you it is not comfortable. Can I take it off my wrist yet? You said it was only for a minute… ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/37 "2012-10-09T22:57:29Z")
If we’re nominating others, my daughter, age 15, just watched Life is Beautiful. I hate this movie with the passion of, well, a lot of passion. Hate, hate, hate. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/38 "2012-10-09T23:06:41Z")
It would have been a great movie if everything went wrong at the end and the war just continued and all the fictional characters died. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/39 "2012-10-09T23:35:09Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > I think I’ve identified your problem. The movie is not supposed to be a taut thriller. > > It’s really (like so many of Tarantino’s movies) a tribute to cinema. It has elements of thriller, war movie, spy movie, period piece, comedy, action… but it doesn’t solely belong in any of these genres. > > Much of the beauty of a Tarantino script is the dialogue. Yes, it’s anachronistic and fantastical. No one talks like that - and mob assassins don’t talk like Samuel Jackson in _Pulp Fiction_ either. It’s stylized. And man, what style! > > I didn’t expect to like _Basterds_, and I only watched it reluctantly when it got nominated for BP - and I was blown away by how great it was. Not the best picture of the year, but it absolutely deserved its nomination and Waltz deserved his trophy. Exactly. Tarantino makes movies that are about other movies. He’ll take all the movies in some genre, boil them down to their essence, and then use that to make a movie that’s a perfect distillation of the genre. _Inglourious Basterds_ isn’t about World War II. It’s about World War II movies. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246/40 "2012-10-10T00:06:32Z")
I thought it was a fantastic movie. When I go to a Tarantino movie I never know what’s going to happen and I was honestly surprised by a number of things that happened during Inglorious Basterds. I loved it at the beginning when they switched to English and they actually bothered to have a reason for the characters to speak English. Another thing I really liked about the movie is that I found the German characters to be more sympathetic than the heroes. Okay, Landa wasn’t very sympathetic, but he was likable. It’s just a rare movie where the villains seemed like better people than the heroes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inglourious-basterds-is-possibly-the-stupidest-best-picture-nominee-ive-ever-seen/637246.md?page=3)