Today’s class kicked off by viewing the opening cabin scene of Quentin Tarantino’s 2009 film, Inglourious Basterds –a masterclass in tension, largely due to Tarantino’s deliberate pacing and Christoph Waltz’s mesmerizing performance as SS Colonel Hans Landa. Tarantino employs long takes and a slow, methodical approach, enabling the dialogue and the subtle shifts in power to take center stage. The camera focuses intently on the characters’ faces, capturing every flicker of emotion and creating a palpable sense of unease. This cinematic control, combined with the confined setting of the cabin, amplifies the claustrophobia and the feeling that any moment could erupt into violence.
Waltz’s portrayal of Landa is a revelation. He effortlessly oscillates between charm and menace, delivering his lines with a disarming politeness that only heightens the underlying threat. His ability to command the scene with both verbal dexterity and subtle physical cues is remarkable. The way he savors words, changes his tone, and uses seemingly innocuous gestures to exert control is both captivating and terrifying. This scene establishes Landa as a uniquely chilling villain, and Waltz’s performance is central to its enduring power and cinematic brilliance.