What’s Aged the Best?
The World War II French Resistance atmosphere; Waltz's performance; the writing; the Morricone-sourced music; the 'what do you hear?' exposition device; the nods to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood; the actors switching between languages
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:50:56Read transcript
- The World War II French Resistance vibe: taverns, leather jackets, Melanie Laurent's high-waisted wide-legged pants with a cool sweater; a host loves Alan First (as transcribed) novels and the literature and film of the era, calling it capital-R romantic even if it was not as cool as the books make it seem, with no cell phones or Twitter.
- A run of jokes about the Bear Jew building his brand without social media, going viral and having a jamming clout score, and a staff presentation on clout; then the list: World War II France and the Resistance atmosphere, Waltz's performance, the writing, which is timeless, and the music, timeless because it is largely from past Morricone soundtracks.
- The 'what do you hear?' exposition technique, normally disliked, is seamless and effective here, letting the questioned character explain identity and purpose; it happens multiple times early in the movie, and spies always need to be asking for information.
- Two homages to forthcoming work: Once Upon a Time in Nazi-Occupied France, the film's original title, is chapter one, and Pitt's one attempt at another persona is the Italian stuntman Enzo Gorlami, while he plays a stuntman in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood; nobody goes up his own ass more than Tarantino, who has a shared universe without making a big deal of it.
- The way the actors switch flawlessly between German, French, Italian and English, or intentionally fail to, has aged the best for one host.