Reportedly in need of a big hit, The Weinstein Company are trying to convince director Quentin Tarantino to cut 40 full minutes from the epic World War II movie.
- Jun 10, 2009
AceShowbiz - "Inglourious Basterds" could be 40 minutes shorter if The Weinstein Company have it their way. The Wrap reported that the studio want director Quentin Tarantino to cut a full 40 minutes from the epic World War II movie in a bid to make the movie appealing to more people and thus squeezing more cash out.
"But here's what we know: the company needs a big hit, and soon. Quentin Tarantino's 'Inglourious Basterds' premiered to mixed reviews at the Cannes Festival," so wrote The Wrap in its article discussing Weinstein's financial problem. "Weinstein and co-producer Universal are both trying to convince Tarantino to cut it by 40 minutes. (It's now 2'40", and considered too long a sit, especially for American audiences.)"
Previously, it was reported that Tarantino was returning to the editing room to add some scenes he shot but did not assemble for the 62nd Cannes Film Festival's version. Variety's Anne Thompson reported that the additional scene will be in front of the La Louisiane sequence, writing "...it comes right before the La Louisiane sequence featuring Michael Fassbender and Diane Kruger as a British soldier under cover and a German movie star who wants to help him bring down the Third Reich."
Set in Nazi-occupied France, "Inglourious Basterds" begins when Shosanna Dreyfus witnesses the execution of her family at the hand of Nazi Colonel Hans Landa. Narrowly escaping the brutal murder, Shosanna flees to Paris, changes her identity and plans a revenge. Elsewhere, Lieutenant Aldo Raine assembles a group of Jewish soldiers known as The Basterds.
Joining forces with German actress and undercover agent Bridget von Hammersmark, they set on a mission to take down the leaders of The Third Reich. It will see Melanie Laurent, Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Diane Kruger, Eli Roth and Michael Fassbender among others. This ensemble movie is scheduled to open wide in theaters across the U.S. on August 21.
