Why can’t we have an American entertainment magazine as good as Empire? Is there an American version? How can I subscribe? Empire Online is a daily destination for me, and today they’re running over with Tarantino news via an interview with QT muse Michael Madsen.
As you probably know, Quentin has been talking for what must be close to a decade now about making his take on a World Wart II flick called Inglorious Bastards. He’s been touting the film so long it’s actually getting a little hard to take it seriously, but apparently he’s got a fantastic finished script and may actually be making the damn thing this time.
In his chat with Empire, Madsen didn’t hesitate to drop names that might be attached to the project along with of course, him. According to Madsen, joining him in the Bastards cast will be Tim Roth, Adam Sandler, and wait for it… Eddie Murphy. Roth and Madsen are no surprise, but Sandler is a somewhat odd choice. Still, he’s really interesting as a dramatic actor and I think he proved it with Punch Drunk Love and perhaps to a lesser degree with Spanglish. I’d love to see what he could do in a Tarantino film. But Eddie Murphy? Where did that come from?
Is Murphy using Tarantino the way so many others have, to regenerate a flagging career and get some critical respect? I can see Murphy’s motive in working for QT, but you have to wonder what made Quentin think of hiring Axel Foley. It’s a casting choice so outside the norm it’s loaded with quicksilver potential. Can Murphy act? Yes, almost certainly. Despite a string of horrible pictures, the guy is a serious talent and there’s more to him than just a few Alfalfa impersonations and a funny laugh. With a good script and a good director, maybe Eddie could be the next Travolta… which leaves Travolta to complete his current cycle of crappy movies and become the next Eddie.
For now, there’s no confirmation that any of these people are actually involved and personally I’m not inclined to fully trust Madsen. The guy always strikes me as a little desperate, and I have a feeling this could just be a bottle of booze talking. It’s an interesting idea though, one that ought to get Tarantino fans fired up… assuming the movie ever actually happens.
