It would be a crime if Quentin Tarantino is denied Best screenplay and Best director…ditto for Christoph Waltz and the very highest acting nod. Personally I feel best picture is more than deserved, and I hope Inglourious Basterds does get nominated and win. Best Screenplay and Best Director really belong to Tarantino — 
for this film - I think as the year winds up this will become self-evident. Once people get used to the level of innovation in film-making that has been introduced through Tarantino’s latest. Ive been to several different theatres and many different showings of this film, and for all the dismissive ‘fanboy’ talk - the reality is the film plays most effectively with the decidedly neutral and (interestingly enough), more mainstream crowds, at the more close knit and specifically Tarantino loving venues the initial nights were ebullient, but after that wave passed, the aftershocks are being felt in the larger community. And the aftershocks are strong and palatable. Lots of females, a wide range of ages, races, and oddly somehow even more attentive and responsive than the initial fervour. I’ve noticed the laughs are more frequently in response to little jokes, ones that are not always anticipated by the people laughing at quintessential Quentin signature flourish…this is a subtle thing and does not extend to every fan or non-fan of course…and less in simple recognition of Tarantino standard in jokes. Even those are appreciated really well, with those unfamiliar with the trademark riffs and cadence, because they play on both levels,
The multi-layered aspects that employ both humor and pathos, also seem to be felt on both levels a bit more (dare i say it?) in the audiences that don’t seem to fit the ‘fanboy’ descript. it’s an amazingly layered film, and I’ve seen it come across very successfully with a whole different set of laughs in the minute to minute steady laughs, then different levels of serious regard, depending on where the audience is coming from.
It’s been frequently very surprising just how engaged different audiences are and why and how, based on unanticipated and maybe even misunderstood factors. I predict this film is going to resonate in unexpected ways and ultimately be understood to extend to the many on a very serious level overall —which does not subtract from the number and frequency of laughs. That’s part of the genius of it. Over time the overall value and meaning will be reconsidered with some hefty gravity.
Whatever strategy is employed to catch the oscar vote will hold little power compared to the word of mouth that gets and keeps this film’s presence in the academy’s point of focus.
