MovieChat Forums > Inglourious Basterds (2009) Discussion > Putting out fires with gasoline

Putting out fires with gasoline

posted 8 years ago by hafabee
12 replies | jump to latest

Did it take anyone else out of the movie when this 1980's David Bowie song started playing to open up the 3rd act? Not that there wasn't other tonal disparity moments in this movie to take you out of the experience, it jumped from great world war 2 drama to farce like it was on a trampoline. But that Bowie song was particularly jarring, and weird to hear considering that it was a big dance number back when I was a kid and really did not feel that it belonged in a world war 2 film, even in a movie with such an eclectic tone as this.

[–] stevekaczynski 8 years ago

A Tarantino touch. I have yet to see the film in its entirety, although maybe one day I will because the isolated scenes I have viewed on Youtube suggest it might be interesting. Its plot bears little resemblance to the actual events of World War II, and that being the case a Bowie song would not seem any more out of place than other elements. Oddball in Kelly's Heroes is quite out of place too.

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[–] JimFLSTSB 8 years ago

What are you doing here if you've never seen it? Get out there and watch it!

[–] TrentnQuarantino (9443) 3 years ago

I sent to see this movie in the theater ... remember theaters? The opening scene upset me so much I left the theater and went to see a different movie. Later I saw the movie and in a way I really like it, but not in the holistic sense of the whole movie, but each scene was put together for maximum effect, and that is an art in a sense. Still, I remember being very creeped out by that opening scene and the entire 3rd Reich coming down on a poor French farmer's head for doing the human and right thing. It was clever, very clever, maybe too clever.

Another very tight scene was the basement bar scene.

[–] bravomailer 8 years ago

I agree. Using that music shows how undisciplined and adolescent Tarantino is.

[–] Bogong-the-Magnificent 8 years ago

I disagree, the Bowie/Moroder song 'Putting out fire' was the perfect accompaniment to the Shosanna character putting on her "war paint" (both in the sense of seductive make-up and also in the sense of camouflage before going into battle). The song starts slowly and builds up to a not-quite-crescendo as she finishes the job and heads out the door to battle. It perfectly reflects her steely determination.

The track was originally the main theme to the under appreciated 1982 version of Cat People, exactly the sort of film Tarantino adores and the sort of film where he often finds his actors and soundtracks.

BTW, Cat People starred Nastassja Kinski, an actress Tarantino desperately wanted to play Bridget von Hammersmark. He apparently flew to Germany just to persuade her to take the part, but after Kinski again refused the role, Diane Kruger was cast. That's the thing about Tarantino, love him or hate him, so much in his films is complex and multi layered.

[–] bozo_500 (13391) 5 months ago

Wow crazy the NK didnt want to be in it, it could've been abit of a comeback role for her like so many other actors appearing in QT films. Maybe she didn't approve of the Nazi Germany stuff (plus all the foot fetish stuff and having to get strangled in the very disturbing death scene)

The actress who played Shosanna looked a little like a young version of NK

[–] mcgmcgmcg 8 years ago

So what.
They played a 1970's Jim Croche song in D'Jango.
It's a different universe.

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[–] SeventhStranger83 8 years ago

It didn't ruin it for me because I love the scene and choice of song but I know some are purists when it comes to that.

[–] Fletch (166) 7 years ago

Someone mentioned this already but it’s a hallmark of his films. I understand the point about it being jarring. Yet it’s something I’ve always liked and never more than here.

[–] FilmBoy (1188) 3 years ago

It's memorable that's for sure. I'm still thinking about it.

[–] Wuchak (8855) 2 years ago

I thought the song was a great addition to the movie. It was previously used in "Cat People" (1982) and that's probably where Tarantino got the inspiration for using it.