I saw this for the second time this morning. I liked the movie more on the second viewing and had fun re-watching the story unfold.
I'd had the script since it leaked, but resisted the temptation to read it until I'd seen the movie. I was surprised to see how similar the final movie is since some reviews & news items mentioned how much was cut/changed. We lose a handful of scenes and a few lines here and there, but nothing too significant. Many scenes play out nearly word for word as scripted (though I imagine much of the movie being subtitled helps).
As far as how it ranks with Tarantino's other films, I consider Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, and Kill Bill to all be excellent movies of about equal quality. I didn't like this movie as much as those three, but that doesn't mean it isn't great.
I think what I admired the most about the movie was the performances. Brad Pitt didn't necessarily impress, but he did a good job and the audience ate up his performance in both screenings. The more impressive performers were the movie's international cast - namely Christoph Waltz, Melanie Laurent, Daniel Bruhl, Michael Fassbender, and August Diehl. Many of these actors are able to shine with very few scenes. On my first viewing and prior to reading the script, I was surprised by how quirky and how much of a dandy the Landa character was, but Waltz expertly played scenes of absurd humor without losing any of his menace. Both Bruhl and Diehl bring a lot of humanity to their characters despite playing Nazis.
Unfortunately, I felt the Shosanna character wasn't very well developed. We basically learn enough about her just to care for the character, but not much by any means. Actually, I think this is true for many of the movie's characters. We don't learn much about them nor do they have much to do, but for the most part the actors shine and do a great job with the little they're given.
I'd had the script since it leaked, but resisted the temptation to read it until I'd seen the movie. I was surprised to see how similar the final movie is since some reviews & news items mentioned how much was cut/changed. We lose a handful of scenes and a few lines here and there, but nothing too significant. Many scenes play out nearly word for word as scripted (though I imagine much of the movie being subtitled helps).
As far as how it ranks with Tarantino's other films, I consider Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, and Kill Bill to all be excellent movies of about equal quality. I didn't like this movie as much as those three, but that doesn't mean it isn't great.
I think what I admired the most about the movie was the performances. Brad Pitt didn't necessarily impress, but he did a good job and the audience ate up his performance in both screenings. The more impressive performers were the movie's international cast - namely Christoph Waltz, Melanie Laurent, Daniel Bruhl, Michael Fassbender, and August Diehl. Many of these actors are able to shine with very few scenes. On my first viewing and prior to reading the script, I was surprised by how quirky and how much of a dandy the Landa character was, but Waltz expertly played scenes of absurd humor without losing any of his menace. Both Bruhl and Diehl bring a lot of humanity to their characters despite playing Nazis.
Unfortunately, I felt the Shosanna character wasn't very well developed. We basically learn enough about her just to care for the character, but not much by any means. Actually, I think this is true for many of the movie's characters. We don't learn much about them nor do they have much to do, but for the most part the actors shine and do a great job with the little they're given.
