Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds

In 1992, writer/director Quentin Tarantino seemingly came out of nowhere with his debut film Reservoir Dogs, which was an instant critical hit, and became legendary for it's quotable dialogue, which set the standard for all Tarantino films. But, he proved he was no one-hit wonder, his next film Pulp Fiction (1994), secured his name in Hollywood as a major filmmaker, it won the Palme D'or at Cannes and got him a Best Screenplay Oscar. His next film was the underrated Elmore Leonard adaptation, Jackie Brown (1997). He was quiet for 6 years, but returned with the kung-fu assault of the 2 Kill Bill films!! He was back, but what goes up, must come down, his next film was the first big flop of his career, Grindhouse (2007), which he did with friend Robert Rodriguez, an attempt to bring back the B-Movie Double Bill, it alienated audiences who didn't get it, but the critics loved it. It nearly brought The Weinstein Company to their knees, but they still have faith in QT, and so they want to try another film with him. Now, this one has been around for a very long time, he'd planed it not long after Jackie Brown, it's had rumour after rumour attached to it, there's been alot of false starts and all. But, this time, it's for real, QT confirmed it at Cannes this year, and it's FINALLY going ahead. Inglorious Bastards will see Quentin Tarantino do a World War 2 film, but will it see him back on top??

Not much is known about the films actual plot, but one report claims it's about a group of maverick soldiers, facing death by firing squad for numerous misadventures, but they are given one last chance to redeem themselves. They are to go behind enemy lines, into the the dangerous no-man's land of Nazi-occupied France, on a suicide mission for the Allied Forces. It's been described as a homage of men-on-a-mission war films such as The Great Escape, The Dirty Dozen, Where Eagles Dare and Cross of Iron.

There'll be some Tarantino fans who would rather he made a return to crime/gangster films like his first 3 films, but isn't every director entitled to a change if he wants to?? Tarantino has said he's always wanted to do a war film, and he will hopefully do well with it, it sounds like it'll be in the true spirit of the great war adventure films, and we all know Tarantino is best when it comes to homaging old films, bringing knowledge about them to the masses. (Alot of obscure kung-fu films appeared on DVD after Kill Bill, maybe alot of obscure but similiarly themed war films will appear on DVD after this...)

QT worked on the script in the 6 years between Jackie Brown and Kill Bill, in which he's been able to come up with a 600 page draft, rumours got around of it being divided up into 3 parts, which is yet unfounded. He's condensed and fine-tuned it since then, when Grindhouse was released, he said he would have the script ready within a year. He was true to his word, at Cannes this year, he said it would be filmed and completed in time for Cannes 2009!! A massive undertaking, but he and the Weinsteins shipped it around studios in Hollywood to produce it with, and QT was able to talk Universal Pictures into footing some of the bill. QT was also able to talk one big A-list actor to appear in the film, Brad Pitt!! Read it here!! A very good choice indeed, but other names have been attached to it, one name who has been attached since it was first announced is Michael Madsen, who is allegedly set to play 'Babe' Buchinsky. Other casting rumours turned out to be false, one of which was that Adam Sandler and Eddie Murphy were going to be in it, and then one big rumour got out that Arnie, Sly and Brucie were gonna appear. Again, proved false. Also appearing in the film are Mike Myers ( ), Michael Fassbender, Daniel Brühl, Diane Kruger and Eli Roth!! But, it'll be interesting to see who else QT casts for his platoon. Filming started in October 2008 in Germany.

Poster for a 1977 Italian war film called Quel maledetto treno blindato (known as Inglorious Bastards in America), which has inspired QT...



It'll be good to see what QT can do with a war film. Now, one other little problem of the film is the title, it'll be interesting to see if QT can convince the MPAA and studios to accept a film with a title like that, if not, QT has said he'll re-title the film as Once Upon a Time in Nazi-Occupied France, which is already the film's subtitle. Although he has since changed the title by two letters... He's reunited with his Kill Bill cinematographer, the great Robert Richardson to shoot it, and he apparantly wants John Williams to compse the score. Then again, these might be rumours as far-fetched as the casting ones, but it'll be exciting to see if it is true. Tarantino claims it will be "the best written script out of all of his work", it'll be good to see what he comes up with here.

BRAD PITT ON THE SET!!



He looks like a good soldier!!

From this report, it appears that QT wants the great Ennio Morricone to do the score for Inglourious Basterds!!

Makes a change from 60's-70's pop songs...

Heh Heh!! As well as acting in the film, Eli Roth is going to direct a Nazi Propaganda film which will appear within this film!! Will it be like Hostel again??

I have to admit that moustache suits Brad for this part, however others don't seem to think so... )

HERE'S THE FIRST TRAILER!! OH, HELL YES!! I love the look of that!! It doesn't give away TOO much, but this is gonna fuck Valkyrie up the ass!! I love the shot of Hitler screaming, "NEIN!! NEIN!! NEIN!! NEIN!! NEIN!! NEIN!!"

Now, I'm not a great fan of QT, but I am very much looking forward to this!

NEW POSTERS!!





Oh, and I learnt that Rod Taylor, (from Giant (1956), The Time Machine (1960) and The Birds (1963)), is in the film as, and you won't believe this, WINSTON CHURCHILL!! How's THAT for inspired casting?? But, Taylor isn't the only veteran cast, QT has also cast Oscar-winning actress Cloris Leachman in the small part of Mrs. Himmelstein. German actor Christian Berkel (from Downfall, Black Book and the baldie one in the glasses in Valkyrie) plays Eric the Barkeeper. Plus, QT has got his old mate Samuel L. Jackson to narrate the film!!

BEHIND THE SCENES FOOTAGE!!

Looks good, did anyone spot Mike Myers??

Loving this poster:

OH, JA!! HIER SIND EINIGE NEUE BILDER!!

Finden Sie diesen Film, oder ich der Führer HABEN SIE NACH!!

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Soundtrack listing!! Alot of Ennio Morricone, and the odd additions of Billy Preston, Giorgio Moroder and David Bowie!! Will it work!?

ITALIAN POSTER!!



FUCK YEAH!!

But, it looks like The Weinstein Company may not afford to release it!! Could this be the end of Bob and Harvey Weinstein?? Kevin Smith won't be making films for them anymore, will QT be next??

NEW TRAILER!!

YES!! YES!! OH, FUCKING YES!! NOW THIS WILL BE THE BEST WAR FILM OF 2009!!

Even before the film is released, there may be a sequel. Plus, here's an interesting fact, to get his dialogue translated into German, QT called upon German director Tom Tykwer, (who did Run Lola Run, Perfume and The International), to do that!!

Here's the soundtrack album...



Oh, and as for the rumours of the film being cut, QT says not, and it's now ONE MINUTE longer than it was when it premiered at Cannes...

NEW FRENCH TRAILER!!

"THAT'S A BINGO!!"

It's been given an '18' over here for 'strong bloody violence'. Why doesn't that surprise me??

On Eli Roth's MySpace page, Inglourious Basterds; The Game!!