And then there were two. With Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Bastards now scheduled to begin filming in October in time for Cannes 2009 (!), the script is making the studio rounds this week and the first two reviews have just hit the Web. The consensus: Holy Shit. Our pal El Mayimbe at Latino Review describes the screenplay—-which is divided into five chapters—-as a masterpiece, adding, “Hands down, the script was the most enjoyable read of the year for me so far.” And this dude is privy to a lot of scripts people.
The sentiments at Vulture are equally \m/: “If anyone is crazy enough to fund it, this movie is gonna be awesome.” Moreover, the cover sheet to their copy was seemingly handwritten by Tarantino, with the title spelled Inglorious Basterds [sic]. It even looks like one of those trendy faux-Michael Bay scripts, but an inside source tells me their descriptions, which parallel LR’s, sound legit.
So, what’s it about? You mean, besides the graphic scalping of countless Nazis circa WWII? The lead character that Brad Pitt has reportedly been offered is named Lieutenant Aldo Raine (which reminds me of of the Alpa Chino character in Tropic Thunder, but let’s move on). Raine leads a blood thirsty squadron of soldiers (neither review specified about the rumored “war criminals” aspect) called the “Bastards” for a final mission that involves ruining Nazi party plans to premiere a propaganda film in Paris. The chapters are said to form a storyline double helix of sorts, switching from the Bastards to the other main character, which Vulture describes as “a French Jewish teenager named Shosanna who survives the massacre of her family.” She is curating the premiere and has something up her sleeve for the Third Reich as well.
QT seems to have crafted an epic bugged-out Jewsploitation film, one that takes history for a loose and wild ride to hell and back. Latino Review describes one the Bastards, nicknamed The Bear Jew, as a suspected golem who skull-crushes Germans using a trusty baseball bat. Right now I am picturing Larry David and Adam Goldberg kicking Hitler’s decapitated head around as they puff Red Apple cigarettes (but it’s just my imagination). The head villain goes by “The Jew Hunter.” He’s a Nazi colonel named Hans and not to be messed with; of course, the Bastards don’t listen.
So, Tarantino is definitely going the IYFF route as he previously boasted. But how does the dialogue measure up and how does the script compare to his other works? Thankfully, the comparisons lean toward Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill rather than the absorbed homage that was Death Proof. For example, similar to the classic anime segment in KB Vol. 1, one chapter in IB will be shot in “French New Wave Black and White.” Mayimbe says the entire script is masterfully written…
“If you took the bad guy swagger of RESOVOIR DOGS, the uber coolness and structure of PULP FICTION, throw in the revenge angle of KILL BILL, set it in World War II – you get INGLORIOUS BASTERDS.”
Also…
“…it combines his love of old movies (war movies, Westerns, and even prewar German cinema), his attraction to powerful female protagonists, his love of chatter, and his willingness to embrace the extreme — visually and in his storytelling.” - Vulture
Awesome. Though I haven’t been too stunned by various dialogue excerpts so far, these are veddy promising reactions. Once again, millions of geek eyes look on Tarantino, and this time he seems more fired up than ever. More on Inglorious Bastards as it develops…
Discuss: Are you ready? What do you make of the early reviews for Inglorious Bastards?
July 9th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
I’m a huge QT fan i just dont know if he can pull this off without it being dumb and cheesy….
July 9th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Wow. I mean the idea sounded OK to me… I love the kill bills, Deathproof was good but i started to feel like the tarantino-chatter was starting to get old… So i havent really been super-keen on this.
But the more i hear, the more interesting it sounds.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
‘dumb and cheesy’?
come on, quent’s the complete opposite of dumb and cheesy. that’s one thing he attains over most filmmakers, the ability to naturally flow out story and dialog.
i’ll give it, death proof wasn’t as good as it should of been, but quent got carried away.
and i’ve heard arguments purporting how cheesy kill bill was, well–people confuse cheesiness with stylization and perceiving tributes, haha. plus it was brilliantly executed, very consistent.
i have the biggest adrenaline rush right now just from reading this, and god help me i read the script, i’ll go into a fucking shock coma.
to those who have read it:
is it historically appealing? as in, the dialog fits in, in a way, but yet all arcs historically appeal some way?
July 9th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
@ edward
Based on these reviews, Tarantino is not obeying anyone’s AP History book.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
HELL YES.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
QT = overrated.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Stalone for the Bear Jew
July 9th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Quentin not only has the star power to get any A-Lister on board, he is also a fucking genius. Yeah I said it, a genius.
Now you haters need to put on your gimp suits and hop in your box, because Quentin is back with more cool ideas than you could shake a lambs tail at.
Hopefully this movie will drop sooner than a Garcon can get me some coffee!
July 9th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
It doesn’t make much sense but whatevs…
Stallone for the Bear Jew ! ! !
July 9th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
I can’t wait. QT is overdue for something epic.
July 9th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
It’s always been my personal opinion that Steven Soderbergh - stay with me for a sec - should have followed up Ocean’s 11 not with another Vegas romp, but done another film with the SAME CAST but a different genre. And that genre would have been a war film like Dirty Dozen or Where Eagles Dare. Think how AWESOME that would have been with Bernie Mac, George Clooney, Brad Pitt…
Well, it looks like we’re gonna get something like it but in the Tarantino style. Personally, I’d rather have seen a Soderbergh take on the genre, but I think most people would strongly go for Tarantino’s version.
July 9th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
excitement..rising…..constant.. anticipation level.. of… new.. movies.. draining strength.. cannot..go..on…
July 9th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
ya holy shit is this going to be presented in the correct order or messed around with some?
July 9th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
ALSO
LR tells me via Twitter that they can see QT splitting IB into two volumes. There has been renewed speculation about this of late, so if you guys and gals were wondering…
July 9th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Not reading it :(
I’m going to wait this one out.
July 9th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Tarantino is one of the few truly brave and original creators left in LA these days.
Bring it on, Quentin!
July 9th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
You know what script I’d rather read?
TDK.
July 9th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
how does that apply at all?
July 9th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Nice article Hunter. I can allways tell without looking when its you.
After reading, I’m totally on board for this !!!!
Btw I saw TDK today and its better than awesome. Will beat indy and iron man easy. ;-)
July 9th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Cool. Very cool. He hasn’t really produced anything of genius since Pulp Fiction, and it sounds like this might even top it (though I’m not holding out TOO much hope). As long as it’s not another Death Proof (the first half, anyway).
July 9th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Yeah totally agree Liz about death proof, second half was watchable.
July 9th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
WOOHOO!
The nazi-propoganda film aspect is new and sounds awesome. I can only imagine how fucking epic the ending is gonna be. I am stoked for what will probably become one of my favorite films. QT is the man.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
@hunter
i’m not too disappointed by that, but i am a bit let down. i hope it’s nothing too radical, and as a huge history buff, i’d like to see some appreciation and detail to it. that’s what was sooo great about leone’s stuff, he was incredibly detail in his vision down to dialog reaction. hopefully quent does the same!
July 9th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Would be awesome if it’s shot in black and white. Seeing color films all the damn time in theaters these days is nice and all, but it’s great when someone is brave enough to make a black and white film. ESPECIALLY if he makes it like Jean-Luc Godard would. I highly doubt a single person who’s posted here knows who Godard is. Godard is essentially a far more talented version of Tarantino who had his hayday in the 1960’s.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
@ mikel
Congrats.
Yours is the most pretentious comment I’ve come across since working at Slashfilm.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
mikel do you like indie music by any chance?
July 9th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
i’m with capn awesome, i usually don’t EVER look into news/spoilers for QT films, so this will be the last article i read…it’s gonna be a long year!
July 9th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
okay i am just gonna throw this out there and i am sure i speak for a few but
wtf does any of this mean
July 9th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
@ McLovin
Yours is the least pretentious comment I’ve come across since reading Slashfilm.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:38 am
French New Wave in 1944? Does Tarantino’s knowledge of film history only go back as far as 1970?
July 10th, 2008 at 1:39 am
This movie will not be any good, actually it will probably be an offensive rehash of the Dirty Dozen.
P.S. Godard and Tarantino are nothing alike at all.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:22 am
If he doesn’t cast Arnie as The Jew Hunter I’ll be bitterly disappointed.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Tarantino is the most inventive director alive, there’s no doubt about that.
I can’t wait to get a load of this movie!
July 10th, 2008 at 7:58 am
790
Dude… dude… How could you? The rest of us are out here waiting and you go see it without us… you bastard.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Lol , Better class……..
If it helps I watched it in a AVID bay. :-(
I’m going to have to see it next week on a regular screen. Didn’t see any trailers ether.
July 10th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I’m already hyped for this movie and this article only adds to the
excitement. I’m okay with 2 installments though it did drive me
bananas with Kill Bill…in the end it was worth it.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
“involves ruining Nazi party plans to premiere a propaganda film in Paris” - that’s about as exciting as the Jedi on a trade mission in Episode 1. What’s he going to do, shoot up a cinema? Yawn. I’d rather watch Where Eagles Dare, Dirty Dozen, The Dam Busters, Heroes of Telemark or a dozen other WW2 films again.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
WHY SO SERIOUS???
July 10th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
sounds great! but brad pitt??? no! that will ruin the whole movie.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
It took him this long to come up with a script about this?
Oh- but he made Death Proof.
Could it be that Quentin’s been played out? All of his homages/references or whatever else you’d like to call stealing from other movies seem affected now.
How about something truly original, QT?
July 10th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Mikel I’m gonna have to agree with Hunter on this one, you’re the kind of film geek often categorized as a film snob. You think that because you know more about movies that you are better than others. By the way, it isn’t like Jean Luc-goddard is a hidden talent he led the French new Wave movement of the sixties. Go to the IMDB film general board and mention goddard and you’ll have an onslaught of fanboys comments exponentially more pretentious than yours.
Yours truly,
Cmac8219
July 10th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Oh and on the topic of Inglorious Bastards, I can’t describe my excitement. Tarantino is an excellent filmmaker, probably not the best working right now, but a damn good filmmaker nonetheless. Let’s just hope he remains as studious as he promises, and gets the film out by Cannes.
July 10th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
I just got the script today ;)
July 10th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Do tell, Dylan???? ;-)
July 10th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can’t be any more articulate than that right now.
July 10th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Do tell what? I got the script from a friend :D
July 10th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
If I say do tell about the script what do you think I mean. Can you read the script, do you have a high school diploma or are you full of shit? (Here I’ll break it down for you) Any opinions on how the film will play out, after reading it the officail script ?
What am I typing klingon?
July 11th, 2008 at 3:45 am
Well I’m in high school but I am not bullshitting you. I haven’t finished the script yet I am still on Chapter #1. So far its pretty damn good.
July 11th, 2008 at 3:46 am
By the way thanks for being rude
July 11th, 2008 at 5:50 am
I got the script last night as well. I haven’t read it yet, and I can’t decide if I’m going to. I can’t spoil this movie for myself! The anticipation, however; if effin killing me.
July 11th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Yeah Dylan, that was rude of me. Sorry bout that. ;-)
July 12th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
I’ve read the script.
It’s pure genius on many different levels.
Even the QT haters will have to admit it when all is said and done.
July 13th, 2008 at 8:34 am
QT is one of the best writers ever!
July 13th, 2008 at 8:47 am
“…one chapter in IB will be shot in “French New Wave Black and White.””
Surely Tarantino wouldn’t so blatantly reveal where he steals all his material from, would he?
But another ode to Karina would be totally sweet.
July 14th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I found a link and downloaded both parts of the script with the handwritten title page.
Has anyone confirmed whether or not this is authentic?
July 17th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Warning: the script is amateurish and sloppy, hugely disappointing and borderline embarassing. The amazing reviews it has been getting so far stagger belief - it’s opened up my eyes as to how many hacks and hype merchants work in this industry.
I’m a fan of Pulp Fiction and From Dusk Till Dawn, enjoyed Reservoir Dogs, Jackie Brown and Kill Bill, disliked Kill Bill 2 and Death Proof. IB isn’t as bad as Death Proof and KB 2 but it’s in the same league. It genuinely sad because the film could have blown everyone’s testicles off - the potential is so great. Unfortunately, IB has the excitement of a horny 14 year old but fails to exploit and fulfill the possibilities it conjures up.
In terms of the future of this film there are 3 possibilities as I see them: 1) it will not get made 2) the script will be substantially re-written 3) it will get made, bomb, and possibly ruin Tarantino’s career.
People have got to wake up to the fact, that in the face of the film’s already extraordinary hype, this is going to be a mammoth disappointment.
August 8th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Hi all - im new here (obviously)
Inglorious Bastards? - Sorry QT but DeathProof was dull in a new way i had yet experienced. - ESPECIALL when compared to the fantastic Planet Terror that accompanied it -
IB? - another 2 parter? - sorry but Kill Bill 2 was not worth the wait - jackie Brown was average, pulp fiction was great but that was back in 94 - Reservoir Dogs is still his best movie -
to me QT has become a psuedo-version of Soderberg - IE - “It dont matter if i filmed waste in a bowl and give it a cool title - get brad pitt in it and it will make shedloads!”
Sorry for sounding so negative - But Quentin - if you read this -
Make something new! - no more “homages” to genres that you like - give us something completely new! - i dont wanna watch City on FIre, i dont wanna watch The Bride or a Dirty Dozen remake - sorry i mean “Homage” -
looking at the above post - i aagree wholeheartedly - but am hoping that it bombs and BOMBS hard - DEATHPROOF hard - maybe then he will bother to write something that doesnt Borrow, lend or steal from another movie.
August 9th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I am having some trouble finding a copy of the IB script. If anyone could send me a copy (jesse.bloch@gmail.com) I would really appreciate it.
Thanks,
J
September 4th, 2008 at 9:33 am
witt says:
“Warning: the script is amateurish and sloppy, hugely disappointing and borderline embarassing.”
I say:
“BULLSHIT.” This is hovering around “best scripts ever read” territory.” Period.