'Inglourious Basterds' Oscar campaign gets off to a roaring start

After running up a huge gross of more than $250 million worldwide since its late August opening, director Quentin Tarantino's WWII epic "Inglourious Basterds" is now shifting gears from its initial marketing phase as a "popcorn picture" to serious Oscar contender.

Thursday that campaign seemed to begin in earnest for the Weinstein Co. when Tarantino was honored with the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's Kirk Douglas Award for excellence in film at a black-tie gala at the Four Seasons Biltmore resort in Montecito, a voter-rich area with close to 100 Academy members in residence at various times.

Festival organizers threw a lavish cocktail party and sit-down dinner featuring generous clips of such Tarantino landmark movies as "Reservoir Dogs," "Jackie Brown," "Kill Bill" and of course "Inglourious Basterds." Among those in attendance were Douglas and wife Anne, who were seated next to the honoree, star Diane Kruger and the film's producer, Lawrence Bender. Festival director Roger Durling and board President Jeffrey Barbakow (former MGM/UA head) both made amusing and well-received remarks. Comedian and Santa Barbara resident Dennis Miller shared a table with "Basterds" co-star Samm Levine along with the entire Barbakow clan, including wife Margot and sons Bennett and Max.

During dinner, the 92-year-old Douglas and his wife were clearly enjoying their conversation with Tarantino, who later said he was obsessing on the legendary star's more obscure movies from his " '70s Italian period." The Douglases also responded heartily to all the clips on display, especially "Basterds" and "Pulp Fiction."

Tarantino promised to come back during the festival in February to program a Douglas film tribute series. During tells me that "Posse," a personal favorite of Tarantino's, is the first film set to screen. Douglas starred in and directed the 1975 western. 

Douglas was very funny in his own introductory remarks as he described Tarantino's directing process.

"When he was casting the picture he never once thought of me, and for 50 years all I was playing was bastards," he laughed. "He's a director, writer, actor , producer who has won Oscars, Palme d'Ors and everything else but his den has one empty spot so the Santa Barbara Film Festival has offered to fill it with the Kirk Douglas Award."

Tarantino, in accepting the trophy, told a funny story about being a child of around 7 and mixing up the plot lines of "The Vikings" and "Spartacus," which both featured Douglas and Tony Curtis. He added that 20 years ago he never would have imagined he would receive an honor with his idol Douglas' name on it.

Reaction in the packed ballroom was wildly enthusiastic, and if the idea was to kick off an Oscar campaign it appeared to be mission accomplished.

Afterward, Bender and recently departed Universal Co-Chairman David Linde (Universal handled the international release of "Basterds") were talking about strategy in bringing awards attention to their box office smash, Tarantino's most successful film ever. They noted that it's main strength in that regard is that filmmakers really seem to love it, and that should bode well once awards season gets around to Oscar and guild voters, the ones who really count.

Weinstein campaigners plan an extensive screening program with the Screen Actors Guild and various Below The Line showings being set. Editors are expected to respond in a big way since Tarantino placed  his editor, Sally Menke, right below himself in the film's credits, an unprecedented move.  Among other events set is a Dec. 14 special screening at Tarantino's New Beverly Cinema (the revival house of which he's part-owner) as "Basterds" co-star Melanie Laurent, who plays a projectionist in the movie, will actually be handling the projection of the film. Bender told me that, while the crew was filming in Berlin, accuracy nut Tarantino actually sent her to L.A. to learn how to thread a print by spending hours in the booth running "Reservoir Dogs" at the New Beverly.

A consultant working on the film told me this campaign is a fun one so far, as the pressure is off. The film is already more successful than even their wildest hopes, so awards are just the icing on this particular cake. Considering the strong response the film seems to be getting in the industry, nominations for screenplay, directing, supporting actor (Christoph Waltz, maybe even Brad Pitt, too), editing, cinematography, sound, costumes and best picture are realistic goals in a wide-open season so far,  especially if the film's occasionally graphic violence doesn't turn off queasy voters. With Oscar maven Harvey Weinstein calling the shots anything is possible, even with internal competition from other expected Weinstein contenders, including the still unseen "Nine," "A Single Man" and perhaps "The Road" (at least for Viggo Mortensen).

At any rate, these "Basterds" clearly have a new mission and is name is Oscar.

-- Pete Hammond

Photo: Quentin Tarantino, left, and Kirk Douglas. Credit: Michael Buckner / Getty Images

Comments

[RF Stovall]

The real story is all in the foreshadowing. Perhaps due to the editing as much as the writing. If a script were made of the final cut, it would have to win best screenplay. This film will be used as a text book example in film schools, as how to say everything, without saying anything. This movie is a true masterpiece.

[hakarg17]

There is no doubt that Inglourious Basterds along with District 9 will be nominated for best screenplay, director and picture.

For one thing IB will be Tarantino's chance to get the Oscar he deserves, he's truly a master of great style and authentic script writing.

Breathtakingly the best Tarantino movie ever since Pulp Fiction and Resevoir Dogs.

[Megan]

Although I may be a bit biased as a Tarantino fan-girl, I'm being honest in saying that this was an extraordinary and unique film.

I really hope big things are possible for QT and company during awards season, especially for Christoph Waltz, who has given one of the best performances I've seen in a very long time.