Saturday, September 12, 2015

Inglourious Basterds (2009): Alternate WWII History



     Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds (2009) offers an alternate history as to how World War II came to an end. In the "what if" storyline, a group of guerrilla Jewish-American soldiers and spies head a covert operation to end the war in one act, burning a cinema to the ground during a crowded film premiere attended by all of the top Nazi officials… including Joseph Goebbels, Hermann Goering and Adolf Hitler himself. Think of the atrocities, loss of human life and destruction of art and culture that could have been averted. Tarantino took his time with developing this exercise in historical tinkering, having written the beginnings of the script eleven years prior to filming. His signature style, rapt with interesting dialogue, visual flare and violence, permeates the screen. The cinematography is vibrant and the lighting often recalls Film Noir aesthetics. The cast does a great job, including Brad Pitt as Lieutenant Aldo Raine, Christoph Waltz as the sadistic SD Standartenfuhrer Hans Landa, Diane Kruger, Melanie Laurent, Michael Fassbender, Eli Roth, Daniel Bruhl, Til Schweiger, Julie Dreyfus, Sylvester Groth as Joseph Goebbels and Martin Wuttke as Adolf Hitler.

Christoph Waltz: Inglourious Basterds

Christoph Waltz: Inglourious Basterds

Christoph Waltz: Inglourious Basterds

Brad Pitt: Inglourious Basterds

Christoph Waltz: Inglourious Basterds

Brad Pitt: Inglourious Basterds

: Inglourious Basterds

Christoph Waltz: Inglourious Basterds

Brad Pitt: Inglourious Basterds

The Bear Jew: Inglourious Basterds

Melanie Laurent: Inglourious Basterds

Melanie Laurent: Inglourious Basterds

Christoph Waltz: Inglourious Basterds

Melanie Laurent: Inglourious Basterds

Brad Pitt: Inglourious Basterds

Melanie Laurent: Inglourious Basterds

Brad Pitt: Inglourious Basterds

Diane Kruger: Inglourious Basterds

: Inglourious Basterds

Diane Kruger: Inglourious Basterds

Winston Churchill: Inglourious Basterds

: Inglourious Basterds

: Inglourious Basterds

Melanie Laurent: Inglourious Basterds

: Inglourious Basterds

Brad Pitt: Inglourious Basterds

Joseph Goebbels: Inglourious Basterds

Adolf Hitler posing for portrait: Inglourious Basterds

Melanie Laurent: Inglourious Basterds

: Inglourious Basterds

: Inglourious Basterds

: Inglourious Basterds

: Inglourious Basterds

Melanie Laurent: Inglourious Basterds

: Inglourious Basterds

Adolf Hitler: Inglourious Basterds

: Inglourious Basterds

: Inglourious Basterds

Diane Kruger: Inglourious Basterds

Christoph Waltz: Inglourious Basterds

: Inglourious Basterds

Melanie Laurent: Inglourious Basterds

Diane Kruger: Inglourious Basterds

Diane Kruger: Inglourious Basterds

Diane Kruger: Inglourious Basterds

Christoph Waltz: Inglourious Basterds

Melanie Laurent: Inglourious Basterds

Diane Kruger: Inglourious Basterds

Melanie Laurent: Inglourious Basterds

Diane Kruger: Inglourious Basterds

: Inglourious Basterds

Diane Kruger: Inglourious Basterds

Diane Kruger: Inglourious Basterds

Diane Kruger: Inglourious Basterds

Brad Pitt and Diane Kruger: Inglourious Basterds

Melanie Laurent: Inglourious Basterds

Christoph Waltz: Inglourious Basterds

Christoph Waltz, Brad Pitt and Diane Kruger: Inglourious Basterds

Melanie Laurent: Inglourious Basterds

Adolf Hitler: Inglourious Basterds

Melanie Laurent: Inglourious Basterds

Hermann Goring: Inglourious Basterds

Diane Kruger: Inglourious Basterds

Christoph Waltz: Inglourious Basterds

Diane Kruger: Inglourious Basterds

Melanie Laurent: Inglourious Basterds

Joseph Goebbels and Adolf Hitler: Inglourious Basterds

Melanie Laurent: Inglourious Basterds

: Inglourious Basterds

Diane Kruger: Inglourious Basterds

: Inglourious Basterds


"Inglourious Basterds"- movie trailer

Friday, September 11, 2015

Portrait of Stephen Salisbury II - Worcester, Massachusetts. by Travis Simpkins

Stephen Salisbury II, 1878. American Antiquarian Society. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of
Stephen Salisbury II
(1798 - 1884)
Landowner and Philanthropist
Patron of the Arts
Member of the American Antiquarian Society
Massachusetts State Senator
by Travis Simpkins


based on a 1878 painting by Daniel Huntington
Collection of the American Antiquarian Society



The Salisbury Mansion: Worcester Historical Museum


For more info please visit:


Stephen Salisbury II. by Travis Simpkins. Salisbury House- Worcester, MA

Candida Moss and "Conversations with Great Minds." by Travis Simpkins

Dr. Candida Moss, 2015. by Travis Simpkins


Portrait Sketch of
Candida R. Moss, Ph.D.
Historian & Bible Scholar
Theology Professor of
New Testament and Early Christianity
University of Notre Dame
by Travis Simpkins



Candida Moss, Ph.D. - Conversations with Great Minds



For more info, please visit:


Candida Moss. by Travis Simpkins. Conversations with Great Minds