Hopefully, I’ll have a script review of Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Bastards in shortly. After marinating on it for a few days, I don’t feel that it’s the knock out of the park that’s been widely reported. One character vital to the script that suffers from weird incongruities is the main antagonist, Colonel Hans Landa aka “The Jew Hunter.” The trades now report that QT will be in talks this week with Leonardo DiCaprio for the role. Last week, Brad Pitt was said to be in talks for the lead role of Lieutenant Aldo Raine, an American soldier from Tennessee who is an out-and-out shitkicker and Nazi nightmare.
Below, I’m going to discuss the parts they’re up for, but it’s spoiler-free. Watch out for the comments, though.
Pitt’s casting would be spot on for the part. We’ve seen him go convincingly gruff and murderous in Fight Club, Se7en, and he can lay on a thick accent, as seen in A River Runs Through It. He’s the right age to play a leader and mythical father figure to his fellow squad of “Basterds.” But while I’m a fan of DiCaprio’s work, he’s just not right for The Jew Hunter, especially if he’s facing off with Pitt. All talent aside, this movie needs to veer away from pretty men. No offense, pretty men. Landa already borders on caricature on the page—he’s also not scary enough for the head ambitious Nazi doosh when the plot’s stakes go high—and while DiCaprio cleans up well and has the eugenics down, let’s face it: Pitt’s Aldo would squash DiCaprio’s Landa with his hands tied. Think the macho mismatch that was Bill the Butcher and DiCaprio’s Amsterdam in Gangs of New York, if Amsterdam rarely got his hands dirty.
These characters need to be equally deadly and even matched for the sake of creating nail biting, if pulpy, tension. DiCaprio would be fine (ironically enough) for the super powered world of Captain America, but anchoring the nastier side of a WWII juggernaut? Not so much. This is not a case where Brains vs Brawn will do the trick. I want to hate Landa’s guts and fear him, not wonder if my girlfriend is having a better time.
Discuss: Leonardo DiCaprio for Col. Hans Landa? Brad Pitt for Aldo? Are these guys too pretty?
Comment: /Film reader, Steve, says that DiCaprio would be better suited for the character of celebrated Nazi soldier, Fredrick Zoller. This would be ideal casting.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:43 am
I’d rather see Leo and Brad suit up for a Marvel film. But that’s just me.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:46 am
I’m sure everyone is excited about all of these casting rumors and I also consider myself a huge QT fan, but I don’t think he’s cut out for a period piece. It really worries me through rumors that he could not even spell Boston properly. Makes me wonder how many historical inaccuracies there will be and whether will it ruin the movie.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:52 am
I’m not a QT fan, I’ve always hated his movies.
His screenplay is floating online and there isn’t anything good to say about it.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:55 am
I think that this movie could up the anti in the war movie industry, but I completly agree that DiCaprio is not the right person for the role. When I think of badass Nazi I automatically picture Ed Harris’s Major Konig from Enemy at the Gates. This guy is going to need to be more BA then that.. I think “Blood Diamond” or “Man in the Iron Mask” showed us Leo’s dark side. I dont think he has it in him for this role. What about David Morse?
July 16th, 2008 at 11:59 am
@ Chuck Phoenix
Agreed. A character like Ed Harris’s Carl Fogarty in A History of Violence is more in line with what I’m picturing for Hans.
July 16th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I can’t see Leo as the Jew Hunter . I think he’s actually more appropriate for Fredrick Zoller. He’d knock that one out of the park.
July 16th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
haha @ Hunter and Chuck, Ed harris with an eye patch or like a white eye would be a badass jew hunter.
July 16th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
How about Edward Norton for the Jew hunter?
July 16th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
These casting reports are just rumors remember. Tarantino makes some of the most savvy and inspired casting decisions of anyone in the industry. Whoever he chooses, I trust him.
July 16th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I don’t think DiCaprio is too pretty, I always just think of him as an actor playing a part. it’s not to say that he’s not a good actor or that’s he’s too pretty to be a soldier or too small or whatever — just that whenever I see him in a movie, I never forget that it’s him playing a role. Maybe it’s my fault. But when I see Pitt or someone like him, I buy him first as the character.
But, as has been said, I trust QT’s casting and DiCaprio can act.
(I haven’t read the script yet, so, based on character stuff, I can’t vehemently argue either way whether Dicaprio is appropriate.)
July 16th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
a river runs through it? i’d say Snatch would be a better example of Pitt’s accent capabilities
July 16th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
But wasn’t Uma Thurman too pretty for Kill Bill (which was the intention)? Having DiCaprio in IG would, like Thurman in KB, only intensify the movie’s ‘movie-ness’.
I think DiCaprio is on a roll, and it would be interesting to see him in a Tarantino movie.
July 16th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I don’t think speaking gibberish would constitute as an accent. One thing that has impressive me about Leo is his accents. He seems to put a lot of hard work into them and it really shows when he’s on screen.
July 16th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Pitt and DiCaprio may be “pretty”. But they can act their fucking asses off. So it doesn’t bother me at all. They’re good at getting into their characters.
July 16th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Hmm…anyone think that having Leo play a character called The Jew Hunter would hurt his chances of playing Captain America?
July 16th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I’m not too sure about DiCaprio being in this movie. However, I do remember A LOT of people complaining about Heath Ledger playing The Joker. So we’ll see.
July 16th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
That and people we complaining their taints into crazy disorder over Daniel Craig as James Bond. I thought both Heath and Daniel were gonna rock the shit.. I still cant see leo as a Jew Hunter.. but you do have a point JIMMY. Cheers
July 16th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
since you mention bill the butcher in here, i’ll throw it out there…
how sweet would it be to see daniel day-lewis in a QT war epic!
July 16th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Does anyone know where to get a copy of the script?
July 16th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Yes, reading the script would be great.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Mel Gibson would be mah-vah-less.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Peter, I’d be more interested to hear your thoughts on why you hate Quentin’s guts, than to hear your views on the script you read off your iPhone.
Something tells me this movie IS going to be what other people believe it to be.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Sorry thought it was Peter on the post….But I think Slash Film does have a bias.
And to answer the question…..
No guy should EVER worry about how “pretty” another guy is, or should be. Pitt has proved his worth. DiCaprio can be a dope Jew Hunter.
I vote Ron Perlman for the Golem.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
While I think DiCaprio can do crazy, I kinda agree that the role needs someone menacing and don’t know if DiCaprio can pull that off.
What about Clive Owen? Him vs Pitt makes a better face-off.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
DiCaprio would be a horrible Landa and he’s too old for Zoller. Ideal casting would be Tim Roth as Landa and someone like Joseph Gordon Levitt for Zoller.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Jeezus: on the podcast I said I had only read the beginning and what I had read was good.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Also, I don’t hate Tarntino’s guts. I loved Death Proof, Kill Bill, Pulp and R Dogs.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Thanks peter,
I’ve already begun to eat my shoe. No worries.
I immidiately think of Ed Harris when I think of Jew Hunter types, because of his role in Enemy at the Gates.
I don’t have a lot of info on what characters will be in the script. Anyone know where I can read up on this?
July 16th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
People still think of DiCaprio as the pretty boy from titanic…
He can act his fucking ass off, it he wanted too he could be the pit bull in no country for no men.
July 16th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
* old
July 16th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
i’m with deez. MEL GIBSON AS JEW HUNTER.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Hunter is threatened by handsome fellows.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
everyone said heath ledger wasn’t fit for a menacing part and look how that turned out
July 16th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
I’ll second Daniel Day Lewis as the Jew Hunter.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
hunter, its funny that you focused on the looks & size & mismatch of dicaprio - because there’s this new movie coming out called the dark knight, where Heath ledger is just way too pretty & mismatched against the larger Christian bale. There’s no way it will ever work & I’m glad you were able to call attention to this before QT makes the same mistake.
Hopefully they’ll invent ‘movie magic’ & ‘talent’ someday, then we can just cast whoever is best for the role. Excellent article, guy.
July 16th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
@ orange
Unleash the snarker-than-thou delivery, by all means.
Have you read the script? DiCaprio runs the same risk here as Tom Cruise in Valkyrie. He’ll also need to speak fluent Italian, French and German as well as English for this part. It’s not beyond him, but I just can’t see it.
Also, I mentioned that DiCaprio is a very talented actor, but can you name a role where he’s done menace? Your point about Ledger is moot. The Joker is iconic, he calls for a lanky anarchist under make-up and green hair. It allows for a total transformation. The head WWII Nazi here is a lot different. Also, I was never one of those who didn’t like Ledger’s casting, so I don’t get your point.
If you have read QT’s script, and it sounds like you have not, then I highly doubt you’ll picture DiCaprio in this role. This character could easily come off like a low-grade Peter Sellers character if he’s not played by an actor who captures the inherent evil and authority needed.
I agree with what Justin says above as well, DiCaprio is always DiCaprio on screen, similar to Cruise. That’s not a bad thing, but when you’re attempting to personify an entire Nazi party with one character, this would not be a smart move.
Also, don’t call me “guy.” It’s fucking annoying, like some jock at a board meeting.
July 16th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I ain’t your guy, buddy.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Two words: Bruce Campbell.
Think about it. Process it. Embrace it.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Who gets to be the angry fucker with the bat?
July 16th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
And, I have to agree with Hunter’s latest comment here. DiCaprio just doesn’t have it in him to play a serious, almost realistic (unlike the joker), villain.
These kinds of characters are incredibly hard to portray because you can’t really overact and still have the audience believe your performance.
You have to be real and part of being real is looking the part, the other part is being a talented enough actor (and, don’t get me wrong, DiCaprio does not lack talent) to convince millions of people that you are the person you’re portraying for ~2 hours.
I’ve not much
July 16th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I was going to say “I’ve not much acting experience, just a dozen or so plays, but I think anyone who’s seen a lot of movies in their time can understand and respect the different sort of roles an actor must be faced with”
July 16th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
If Tarantino didnt think Decaprio was right for the part he wouldnt offer it to him , also Tarantino has never miscast anyone in any of his films. I think leonardo Decaprio will surprise a lot of you, he’s a good actor (better than Pitt) and I would bet he can pull it off.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
I don’t know anything about the script, but the devil can be the scariest when he looks like he wouldn’t hurt anything. Blonde hair, blue eyes, a smile, and a hair trigger for bloody violence. Works for me.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Pretty much what Gary said.
I have never had a problem with any of Tarantino’s casting. He always surprises me with the people he goes with and nails down actors for the parts you never thought they would pull of. I’ll take whatever he throws at me over you goons any day.
Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuccck iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
i think anybody tarantino wants would be right. tarantino is a flawless casting director. except of course when he casts himself.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
All this big studio talk with Brad Pitt and Leo attached just doesn’t sit right with me. I want the indie QT back with talented no names, though I did enjoy Death Proof. I do respect Leo.
And he should look towards Viggo Mortenson as the Jew Hunter. Kurt Russel should be Aldo.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Hunter,
Tarantino is an artists and the script is his canvas what he puts on film you would never be able to imagine before you see it, So let the artist do the imagining and you can do what you do best by speculating about and critiquing his and other artists work.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
If anyone is looking for the script, I have just one word for you: Torrents.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Captain Awesome is my favorite poster.
@Hunter:
“Have you read the script?”
Come on man, don’t use this defense unless you’re willing to share the script. I garuntee that QT could out cast a movie (especially one he wrote himself) better than you any day of the week.
If he picks DiCaprio, he has a reason, and to that I say…
Did you write the script?
July 16th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
I don’t know how you guys can read scripts like this and not ruin the movie for yourselves. It makes sense why some of you get so invested in who gets casted since you get really taken by the script you do read.
Stuff like this would ruin the film experience for me completely. A synopsis? sure. But reading the final script? That’s just drilling it for me. And I couldn’t do it.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
@ Gary
…and you do what you do semi-best, and comment on my speculating about an artist’s superlative casting ability. Oh, Internets.
@ The Jezzus
The script is everywhere by now. Consult torrents et al. QT is one of my favorite directors and possesses one the greatest eyes for casting of all time, so I agree that QT could “out cast” a movie over me. Great point.
This post is no different than reading a book and discussing who should play what part with your friends. The only difference here is that a lot of people are saying “DiCaprio would be great! Shut up.” with no basis except that DiCaprio is a good (and high profile) actor, and that QT is rumored to be meeting with him. So be it. Pick a book that you haven’t read/read much about and cast the main antagonist with your favorite actor. Aren’t familiar with Captain America/but DiCaprio would be perfect. Etc. This game rocks.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
hunter:
sorry to ask this completely off question topic, but a friend of mine is saying that where the wild things are is having some trouble with their re-shoots. was it you that had an insider on the production? i’m just curious to know, as the shoots were supposed to end at june.
and as for di caprio,
did you see him in blood diamond? that sure as fuck wasn’t jack from titanic.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
@ Captain Awesome
I’m going to address this in my script review, b/c Inglorious Baste/ards is one of the most leaked scripts in recent memory.
What we are experiencing now is fandom having access to new screenplays at an unprecedented level/speed. #1 you can’t stop this trend, b/c the Internet is the Internet, #2 as long as /film gives a heads-up that spoilers will be tossed around, there’s no problem with us discussing them. content is content, #3 personally, i think it’s great that more people and fans are taking an interest in screenplays. while it’s sure to drive the talent crazy (and some fans), screenplays should not exist behind closed doors. if this is what you believe, then we have different stances on information in general. #4 you can’t be involved in the entertainment industry as a writer and avoid scripts. there can be a kill-joy aspect, sure, but it’s not much different than reading up on movies for months, years in advance. or reading a book and then watching a movie that is usually “loosely” based on it, or vice versa. #5 From my standpoint as a writer/journalist/reader, screenplays can be as interesting (and often more so) than the finished films.
Thanks for bringing this up. It’s a cool topic.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
@ edward
The latest is that Jonze is still working with WB on reshoots. Even after the reshoots are finished, keep in my mind that this film will not be ready for presentation: editing, more creative decisions, bargaining, marketing et al. There is a lot of work to be done/discussed, so don’t expect the “work in progress” flags/rumors to be taken down for some time. Hopefully the situation doesn’t escalate again, and as of now, it seems to be going semi-smoothly. Jonze is still on, basically. We’ll post about it if anything is major. WB released some “moving forward” statements, nothing worth reporting.
Per Blood Diamond, yeah, but he doesn’t do Titanic in most of his films. The problem is not DiCaprio, it’s the role in question.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
hunter:
thanks, glad to hear. my pal said something about the studio actually taking the kid out now. the decision was apparently made AFTER the june shoots. and apparently spike is flipping, or something.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
oh, my favorite part is how you know what works for the script better than QT.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
@ orange
Again, great point. Because you’ve never disagreed with casting choices in the past. Riiiight. Sleep it off.
July 17th, 2008 at 12:05 am
allright, now i got time to respond: i just think its poor judgement to make such matter-of-fact claims about an actor, when tarantino obviously knows what he’s doing. dicaprio is better than 90% of the guys out there, and while he was vicious-ish in blood diamond, yer right that we haven’t seen him turn the screws completely - yet. so that means he’s uncapable of it?! that’s the definition of being narrow minded. the ledger reference is very relevant, & you can’t say it’s not and have that be yer argument against me. especially since many other people have brought that up here, and when was the last film we saw him get vicious in? oh, right - none. but what do ya know, he was able to reach down and get nasty. i’d put leo in heath’s class of talent ANY FUCKING DAY.
relax on the ‘guy’ comment, i was just havin fun. flipping out about it makes me wanna use it all the more.
July 17th, 2008 at 12:10 am
holy shit, i’m a drunk now cuz i disagree?!
July 17th, 2008 at 12:48 am
@ orange
Listen, if you want to see DiCaprio smoke a Calabash and strike fear all over the land until his stand off with Pitt’s character, fine. I think the character calls for a more physically intimidating and slightly older presence to balance out his sly wit and really poor decision making.
One issue I have with the script (which I think is pretty great btw) is that the Nazis are not depicted as a tough enough adversary, so when the Basterds roll over them, it’s not as fun/epic as it should be. Combine that with the coinciding quixotic storyline with the theater and the Jewish teen, and I think DiCaprio’s The Jew Hunter risks a lower/less believable intimidation factor compared to Pulp’s Marcellus, KB’s Bill and Jackie Brown’s Ordell (all great antagonists). I would also prefer a less “Hollywood” actor in this role. If you don’t, that’s fine, but why not add who you think would make an ideal Jew Hunter if you’ve read the script? Surely, this is not your first choice.
As for the Joker, I always liked that Heath Ledger had an air of unknown. Moreover, I stated above that I didn’t understand the reader’s point because it was made to seem that I was anti-Ledger or something. Haha. His lack of a huge hit/huge star status benefited that iconic role (same with Bale), and allowed him to sink in and disappear. Nobody knew what to expect, and that’s why so many people were pissed off about the announcement. This is different. DiCaprio might be a better actor, but I think he’s more predictable, no matter the role. From prior experience reading QT’s scripts, usually his casting clicks, no matter how left field. This doesn’t. If you want to offer any reasons why he’s such a great choice after reading the script, go ahead. If you want to announce that “QT is always right,” you’ve already done that a few times.
July 17th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Now get Schwarzenegger, Willis and Stallone. COME ON MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Even throw Harrison Ford in the mix!!!
I would love to see Ahhhhhhhhhnold as the main Nazi!!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, GET TO DA CHOPPAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!
July 17th, 2008 at 9:37 am
yer right, i was thinking daniel craig at first, but dicaprio was a pleasent suprise & he is far from predictable imo. on second read with leo in mind, it worked just fine for me, especially since i hoped to see a side of him i haven’t yet.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I think Brad and Leo would be great for this. DiCaprio can absolutely play a tough guy, and a very convincing one.
July 28th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Read the beginning of the leaked script… totally can picture DiCaprio in this role. He has come a long way since ‘Gangs of New York’. Did you see The Departed? He acted circles around Matt Damon and was a total badass in it. He even did great against Jack Nicholson which is an amazing feat in itself.
August 4th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Daniel Day Lewis as jew hunter would be perfect, imagine someone like Bill the Butcher hunting you
August 6th, 2008 at 11:40 am
The Jew Hunter?!?!?!?!?! LMFAO!!!!!!!