Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds

[Hurmoth]

Tarantino Talks 'Inglorious Bastards' and His Slave-Ghost Story That Didn't Make 'Grindhouse' Cut

In a new, in-depth interview with British magazine Sight & Sound, Quentin Tarantino, who I had the pleasure of meeting at this year's Sundance, goes into all his upcoming and most of his past projects, and gives a detailed update on exactly where he is with his next feature, a war movie called Inglorious Bastards. "I've got tons of material and a lot of stuff written but now I've figured out what to do, I gotta start from page one, square one," Tarantino says, seemingly putting to rest any notion that this thing will be going before the cameras in the next year or so. "I started just before I came on this trip and brought the stuff with me but I haven't had a chance to continue yet. But maybe on the flight back home I'll come back into it. I love writing in other countries." No further details about the plot or potential casting is given, just that quasi-confirmation that the film is in his cross-hairs at the moment.

Tarantino also talks at length about Grindhouse, admitting to being depressed and disappointed over how the film was received at the box office, but defending his longer, original cut of Death Proof as the definitive one and arguing that it stands on its own quite well. Tarantino also talks about the process of getting involved with the double feature in the first place, and reveals that he first wanted his contribution to be a Candyman-style horror film about the ghost of a slave that terrifies a group of white girls. "The first idea was a bunch of young college history students that were going through a tour of the plantations of the old South. And there's a ghost of an old slave that is part of negro folklore. Jody the Grinder actually went down and bested the devil, by ****ing him. And so the devil put him on earth for all eternity to **** white women."

So why didn't this idea make the cut? "I would probably have had Sam Jackson playing that part," Tarantino continues," and it was really good, but then I didn't have anywhere to go with it, because if you have a story about a killer slave with supermacho powers done in the style of a slasher film, then even if he's doing it today, and even if the white girls are innocent, how can you not be on the slave's side?" Tarantino goes into many other areas in the interview, talking about his writing process, the books he's reading, the British movies he'd like to make one day, and even his plans for eventual retirement.

[Rappy Veteran]

Sounds rather good!

[Bant Veteran]

A war movie should be interesting... I sorta feel like Tarantino needs to spread his wings a lil and try something different, hopefully this project allows that.

[Hurmoth]

INGLORIOUS BASTARDS to be 2 separate films!!!

Hey folks, Harry here - Some days when I open up my mail, I literally feel like the luckiest son of a bitch to draw a breath. In the last couple of weeks - Quentin Tarantino sat down with Enzo Castellari to do an interview with Enzo regarding his awesome exploitation Men on a Mission film... INGLORIOUS BASTARDS... yes, the same title as the film that Tarantino is apparently set to be making soon.

Now - there's been some movement on this project at long last. Quentin has been writing on it for over 6 years. And it was always about to be his next film. We've heard casting from Arnold, Sly & Bruce to Tim Roth, Sam Jackson, John Travolta and on and on and on... We've had interviews from those personalities talking about talking about talking with Quentin about the movie... but what's the real story?

Well at Cannes - Quentin began talking a bit about how he was set to start shooting. And yet - when? Where? What?

It seems years ago at Venice - Quentin sat Enzo Castellari down and discussed INGLORIOUS BASTARDS with him. And watched Enzo's film for the first time on the big screen. He'd seen it a few times as a younger man on Channel 5 - a mythical magical station that apparently ruled the known universe. I never had Channel 5. I had parents with friends with tons of 16mm film prints. I'm not complaning.

This interview is meant for Severin Films' DVD release of Enzo Castellari's INGLORIOUS BASTARDS and was conducted in Quentin's home in Los Angeles, where he was hosting Enzo during his stay in Los Angeles.

The first big thing we learn is that Quentin has been writing almost non-stop on INGLORIOUS BASTARDS - and that the premise is the basic jumping off point from Enzo's original - that you had a bunch of hardened criminals on a military transport during World War II - that got ambushed by the Nazis. Everyone but the criminals gets killed and the prisoners decide to make their way to neutral Switzerland - and must fight the Nazis and the Allies to get there. It's a true No Man's Land scenario.

Well, as Quentin has been writing this - he's done so much research into the actual events of World War II as well as the cinema of World War 2 - that the story kept growing and growing. It became too big for one film - so he's turned it into 2. That's right, INGLORIOUS BASTARDS will be two movies... not unlike KILL BILL.

So that's the big news that I found from the interview.

In addition - the casting we've all heard for all these years... wasn't casting, but conversations that Quentin has had, that have grown to mythic levels. For the first time, Quentin has decided not to write for the voice of actors he's decided to cast in advance. He felt that one can do that, but then they're limiting what they feel an actor can do with the part. He's decided to write the characters with no specific actor in mind. To allow the character to be everything that character can be and to actually find an actor to become that character. What a novel notion.

The opening sequence of Quentin's film is apparently going to be something extraordinary - as Enzo Castellari was geeking out big time just thinking about what Quentin had told him. Classic.

Also - during the interview - as Quentin began talking about Enzo's use of Slow Motion - Enzo's enthusiasm for the technique all but convinced Quentin to stage what he has called a sequence in his film - as an epic slow motion scene - but he was still debating it.

This is a great interview between these two - Quentin and Enzo talking about Fred Williamson is simply classic. The interview is nearly 40 minutes and very entertaining. It'll also be a great preview of where Quentin is beginning with his next project. The dvd comes out July 29th in a special 3 DVD edition. The film is a jewel. Really something special.

[sanctified Veteran]

Why I have the feeling that a war movie by Tarantino would be quite similar to Apocalypse Now?

[Rappy Veteran]

Oh why 2 movies again :( the UK hates that concept and it took like 6 months for both Grindhouses.

[Hurmoth]

Oh why 2 movies again :( the UK hates that concept and it took like 6 months for both Grindhouses.

I don't think it will be two movies connected like what Grindhouse was. I think it will be more like Kill Bill where one will come out say 2010 and the sequel will come out in 2011 (think Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, etc.).

[Rappy Veteran]

Oh right that'll be better then.

[Hurmoth]

I was wrong BTW... Kill Bill was released Autumn 2003 and Spring 2004 respectively. So I imagine this will be done that way. Six months apart instead of a full year apart.

BTW, Tarantino stated he wants the film to premiere at Cannes 2009.

[toadeater]

Why I have the feeling that a war movie by Tarantino would be quite similar to Apocalypse Now?

He's been talking about this project for years. Originally, he said he wanted to do something like Kelly's Heroes or the Dirty Dozen. Maybe now he's changed his mind?

[Rappy Veteran]

I was wrong BTW... Kill Bill was released Autumn 2003 and Spring 2004 respectively. So I imagine this will be done that way. Six months apart instead of a full year apart.

BTW, Tarantino stated he wants the film to premiere at Cannes 2009.

Wasn't he wanting to make another Kill Bill but loads of years down the line.

[Hurmoth]

^ Yes, he was working on one with the little girl (can't remember her name right now) as a teenager who wants revenge on "The Bride".

BTW, he's been working on this script since between Jackie Brown and Kill Bill.

[sanctified Veteran]

He's been talking about this project for years. Originally, he said he wanted to do something like Kelly's Heroes or the Dirty Dozen. Maybe now he's changed his mind?

I was talking just from my mind, its just that I think he could create a similar movie, at least in the asthetics department.

[Rappy Veteran]

Well, after years of inactivity, it?s all kicking off on the Inglorious Bastards front.

Quentin Tarantino delivered his script to five studios last week, for their perusal and possible financial backing. Then, said script leaked all over the internet. Even Empire?s dad has read it by now.

Then came word that Tarantino had lined up no less a figure than Brad Pitt to play Lt. Aldo Raine, aka Aldo The Apache, the grizzled leader of the Bastards, a hardcore unit parachuted behind enemy lines in WWII France, with orders to kill as many Nazis as humanly possible.

In fact, Tarantino, it seems, flew to France this week just to court Pitt who, of course, is over there at present with his missus, Angelina Jolie, having just become a father yet again.

But now it seems that another A-lister is now circling a project that has, historically, been linked with the likes of Bo Svensson, Adam Sandler, and Eddie Murphy.

Leonardo DiCaprio is reportedly very keen on playing the ostensible bad guy of the piece, a Nazi colonel named Landa - nicknamed The Jew Hunter - who?s so slimy, manipulative and utterly self-possessed that he could become one of QT?s finest villains. When you consider the opposition ? Mr. Blonde, Elle Driver, Stuntman Mike ? that?s quite a compliment.

Tarantino is apparently meeting DiCaprio on Thursday, so it?s all coming together rather quickly. With Tarantino and Harvey Weinstein, who?s producing the movie, also meeting with foreign distributors this week to secure funding for the film, it?s a good time to be talking about a cast that might feature Pitt and DiCaprio, two of the most bankable actors in the business.

Bear in mind, though, that nobody has signed on the line that is dotted just yet. But our mouths are already watering.

/empire

[Hurmoth]

Sadly, I don't care for either Pitt or DiCaprio :(

But, with that said, if they signed on, it wouldn't keep me away from seeing the film and enjoying it. I have, historically, not liked Pitt and DiCaprio films.

[Rappy Veteran]

I loved Gangs of New York but that might because of DDL rather then Caprio.

[Pygmy_Hippo]

I just hope it's better than Death Proof!!

I got the "idea" of Grindhouse, and loved Planet Terror for what it was - but Death Proof was just the worst piece of cinema I have ever seen:

40 mins of scene setting and banal dialogue (witty meandering dialogue is great - Woody Allen rules, old QT movies had the charm) :(

3 mins of "Get IN - the movie has started!!!!" :woot:

30 mins of "oh God they're talking again" :crazy:

15 minutes of fairly boring car chase and some b-move actresses giving a hollywood legend a bit of a shove. :|

I really don't like the film!! :D

[Hurmoth]

^ You do realize that's what most of QT's films are: talking. Take Pulp Fiction for example. What actually happened in that film that wasn't talking? Even the opening scene has more talking than most films in their entirety.

I understand where you're coming from, Death Proof was long, no doubt about it, but I loved it. I think hardcore QT fans loved it from what I've gather. Most of the reviews I've read proclaimed Death Proof the stronger of the two and Planet Terror just a thrown together slasher/zombie film for gore fanatics. I disagree with that, but I did enjoy Death Proof a lot more myself.

But to each their own.

[Pygmy_Hippo]

^ Oh yeah - I do know that QT films are dialogue heavy - that is what makes them special. I just felt that with DP it felt more like some low-rent knock-off wannabee writer trying to be "Tarantino-esque".

I got the feeling that DP didn't fit in with it's "Grindhouse" tag. Planet Terror was hilariously bloody awful - but then it was trying to stay true to the Grindhouse ethos and did it with a bit of verve and a nod and a wink.

I do love the rest of QT's stuff - even the much maligned Jackie Brown - but as you rightly say "to each their own" (unless we're talking about Sex and the City - I do have to draw a line somewhere!!!!)

[Hurmoth]

^ :laugh: We can both agree on Sex and the City.

I understand what you're saying though. While I enjoyed Death Proof, it didn't fit with Planet Terror. QT should have tried to make something as alive as what PT was. Or they should have at least put DP first, that way the audience isn't put on this roller coaster ride for the first hour and a half to only be put in a car with grandma behind the wheel.

[Pygmy_Hippo]

^ :laugh: We can both agree on Sex and the City.

I understand what you're saying though. While I enjoyed Death Proof, it didn't fit with Planet Terror. QT should have tried to make something as alive as what PT was. Or they should have at least put DP first, that way the audience isn't put on this roller coaster ride for the first hour and a half to only be put in a car with grandma behind the wheel.

+1 :D

I think part of my disappointment was that I was expecting something more akin to From Dusk till Dawn - ie it would start out heading in one direction and then do a complete 180, I thought that after the first round of kills it woud degenerate into a bats**t insane cars/kills/exploitation kinda movie (which I took to be a Grindhousey thing) So probably the problem was with me.

I'm currently watching the Planet Terror-y Doomsday - only half an hour in and i've lost count of how many films it's ripping off!! Not bad i 'spose in a Bravo channel way! :D (DISCLAIMER - I haven't seen it all yet - and oh boy can my opinion change!)

HOLY THREAD HIJACK BATMAN!!

(sorry guys - my fault! Back on topic - Inglorious does sound amazing - especially if they can do as rumoured and crowbar Schwarzenegger and Stallone in there somewhere!)

[Rappy Veteran]

Breaking News: Universal Pictures have partnered with The Weinstein Co to produce Quentin Tarantino?s World War II film Inglorious Bastards. Oh, and there was a 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Southern California? According to Variety, Tarantino and Harvey Weinstein met with five studios last week, and ended up choosing Universal over Paramount. Seems like a bad decision to me since a film like this needs a strong marketing team behind it, something neither the Weinstein?s or Universal seems to have. Paramount would have been the better choice in the respect. Heck, look what they have done for DreamWorks. Principal photography is scheduled to begin this fall in Germany and France, with both Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprico in talks to star.

/source

[Hurmoth]

WAHOO!!! One step closer to getting this film made. Look forward to seeing this.

[Colin.B]

I've been hearing about this film for ages and I kind of gave up anticipating it :(.

[Rappy Veteran]

Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Bastards has found its first cast member and, oddly, it's a director. Eli Roth (Hostel) is in talks to play Sgt. Donnie Donowitz, described as a "baseball bat-swinging Nazi hunter". Roth has already acted for Tarantino, having played a small role in Death Proof, his half of Grindhouse.

Variety's article also confirms that Brad Pitt is in talks to play Aldo Raine, the leader of the film's band of Jewish soldiers who exact revenge on the Nazis who have occupied France. The cast is expected to be finalised shortly so that filming can get underway in the autumn.

/source