American-edged Germany in memorable film

I finally saw Inglourious Basterds today and I came out deeply satisfied. Lately, I’d been watching a series of war and post-war movies set in Germany or German-occupied countries. All were marvelous, including German films Der Tunnel (The Tunnel) and Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others) – originally called Sonata for a Good Man, and the Dutch masterpiece Zwartboek (Black Book).

I was pleased to see some similar faces such as Daniel Brühl and Diane Kruger, both who played similar characters in Joyeux Noël, a fantastic multi-country co-production. And unforgettable was the smoking-hot Til Schweiger, who played basterd Hugo Stiglitz. But mostly, it was the flawless acting which allowed me to be surrounded by the scenes and not be put at arm’s length like many flashy Hollywood films prefer to do.

Kudos to you, Herr Director. If I ever see your towering presence again in Austin, I will salute you. Maybe a Heil Tarantino would be in order.

Other foreign actors I’d love to see more of in American films (and in meatier roles) are:

• Marion Cotillard
• Benno Fürmann
• Guillaume Canet (who is also a promising new director)
• Jason Statham
• Jean Reno
• Carice Van Houten
• Sebastian Koch, and others I’ll mention later.

Anyway, if you haven’t already seen it, do. It’s not a blood-fest. It’s a well-thought-out dramatic piece with plenty of bits of comedy to entertain.

A delight!