Tag: race

video review : Inglourious Basterds

video review : Inglourious Basterds

“I think this just might be my masterpiece,” a character says to another just before the ending credits begin. It’s an obvious wink from director Quentin Tarantino. Inglourious Basterds is his best movie yet, even better than Jackie Brown and Reservoir Dogs, and he seems to know it. There’s no “might” about it. It’s a masterpiece. It’s also one of the best movies I’ve ever seen.

The story takes place during WW2 as Nazis, led by Hitler, seize control of France, killing Jews along the way. Their opposition? A small troop of Jewish soldiers whose primary goal is to kill Nazis and off their scalps for souvenirs. It’s a brutal battle with clever crossplots; scenes simmer with suspence until someone’s killed once their cover is blown; thrown in for narrative measure.

my rating : 5 of 5

2009

audio review : Black Messiah ( album ) … D’Angelo And The Vanguard

audio review : Black Messiah ( album ) ... D'Angelo And The Vanguard

Black Messiah sounds like it was made in the 1960s or 1970s during a funk/soul era dominated by the likes of Sly And The Family Stone. In that regard, D’Angelo is an outstanding talent. The retro soundscape he conjures via Voodoo magic, a virtual soundtrack for black people who consider race significant enough to get emotional about, is mighty convincing. From what my ears can detect, nearly every instrument is played live.

His talents plummet, however, when it comes to the composition of the songs themselves. The vocals, well-harmonized, too often lack melodies to match their gritty grooves. 1000 Deaths, the intro speech of which combines two of people’s biggest stupidities; racism and religion; captivates during the chorus, but the rest of the song is, well, dead. The rest of the album is better, but nothing compares to the best of the era it emulates.

my rating : 3 of 5

2014