‘Inglourious’: Reviving a Grindhouse Staple

With Quentin Tarantino’s latest cinematic obsession, Inglourious Basterds, I couldn’t help but think, “There you go, society — a gory flick about killing Nazis — let’s see you fume and fuss over that one.” I really must learn to stop goading the easily incensed.

In a recent issue of Newsweek, author Daniel Mendelsohn questions the wisdom of a film where Jews are shown to be exacting bloody revenge on their tormentors. To his lasting credit, Mendelsohn does not go the fuming moralist route, but only questions whether this is appropriate considering this particularly vile chapter in human history. The implication is that showing Jews engaging in brutal revenge scenarios can do nothing for the memory of a people so kicked about by history’s brutes.

Vote…or Be Tortured?

No, this blog has not become a clearinghouse for edgy PSAs, though Hollywood does seem to be on something of a “scare ‘em into doing what they should do anyway” kick lately. However this one has to be my favorite of the moment.

With its “Only You Can Silence Yourself” campaign, DeclareYourself.com urges people to vote by none-too-subtly reminding them that if they can’t be bothered to get up off their lazy asses and go to the polls, they deserve what they get. At least that’s what I think the message is. Or maybe when you bind and gag Jessica Alba (above), that’s its own message.

Yet the first thing I thought of when I saw these images was that similar posters must be circulated around dictatorships to urge people to “vote” for the encumbent lest they or their family members wind up in similar circumstances (I’m looking at you, Mr. Mugabe).

Either way, isn’t it nice to see the much-maligned aesthetics of horror being adopted for a good cause? (Shudder...)