Happy 15th anniversary to Inglorious Basterds!
One of the greatest films of all time and a staple of Quentin Tarantino’s iconic career, Lt. Aldo Raine and his crew of Jewish soldiers out for vengeance graced the big screen for the first time 15 years ago today on August 21, 2009.
Film analysts Jeff Pratt and Nick Friar will take any opportunity they can get to write about Tarantino, so they’re honoring the anniversary of Basterds with a comprehensive list of the top 10 characters from all of the director’s films. See their full rankings and analysis below.
Context: To create a joint top 10, Jeff and Nick ranked their favorite Tarantino characters separately, then an aggregate of each list was taken to determine the final order.
#10: Calvin Candie (Django Unchained)
Jeff: Arguably Tarantino’s most vile creation, the director made a brilliant choice casting Hollywood heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio in the role. There is truly no redeeming quality for Calvin Candie to cling to, as he directly and indirectly oversees disgusting acts of racism at Candyland. That said, the depths of wickedness the plantation owner reaches make him incredibly memorable. Candie’s death is among the most satisfying in Tarantino’s films, and it wouldn’t be that way if the character wasn’t so captivating.
Nick: Tarantino has a knack for bringing the most despicable characters to the big screen. DiCaprio makes every moment he’s on screen in Django Unchained immensely uncomfortable.
#9: Vincent Vega (Pulp Fiction)
Jeff: Half of one of the best duos in cinematic history. Vega isn’t as iconic as his partner, but he’s still one of Tarantino’s greatest creations. His laid-back, sloppy approach to operating as a hitman is a hilarious contrast to Jules Winnfield, and it makes him incredibly lovable. Vega is a prime example of one of Tarantino’s favorite character archetypes, which is dropping someone into a situation they absolutely don’t belong in to see if they sink or swim. In Vincent’s case, it’s the former. Bonus points for those dance moves too, Travolta.
Nick: Looking for a terrible hitman? Look no further than Vega. John Travolta’s presence is perfectly juxtaposed against the way this character is written. Equal parts intimidating and incompetent.
#8: Dr. King Schultz (Django Unchained)
Jeff: For what it’s worth, I had the dentist ranked higher on my list. One of two truly magnificent performances by Christoph Waltz that earned him Oscars, Dr. Schultz boasts a similar level of charisma as another character he portrays that will appear on this list, just on the opposite end of the moral spectrum. By far the most intelligent person we encounter in the story of Django Unchained, King utilizes his quick wit to talk himself out of situations anyone else would certainly perish in. I think he has a claim as the most likable Tarantino character.
Nick: The moment with the sheriff and the chain of events that ensue are brilliant. Fast-moving when it needs to be, but also measured — which is one way to describe Schultz. Had it not been for another performance from Christoph Waltz, he would’ve been higher on my list (and the final one, in turn).
#7: Mia Wallace (Pulp Fiction)
Jeff: Even if you haven’t seen Pulp Fiction, you know the iconic Mia Wallace stare that graces the film’s poster. Wallace is a different type of dreamer compared to other characters that fit the description in the Tarantino cinematic universe. While she has aspirations for what life could be, they are firmly out of reach. However, that doesn’t stop Mia from playing a significant role in how the plot plays out, and when she’s on screen, she demands your attention.
Nick: When I think of Tarantino, Mia’s dance with Vincent Vega is one of the first moments that comes to mind. She is casual, yet intimidating. Above all else, anxiety-inducing.
#6: O-Ren Ishii (Kill Bill)
Jeff: Arguably greater than the titular character of Kill Bill, O-Ren exemplifies Tarantino’s favorite type of creation: a dreamer who climbs the ladder through sheer will. In a world dominated by violence that one may assume would be completely controlled by men according to traditional film stereotypes, Ishii constantly showcases her superiority on all fronts. She also drops a ton of fantastic quotes up until her demise at the hands of the Bride. R.I.P to a true legend, and props to Lucy Liu for a performance that will stand the test of time.
Nick: Flat-out badass. Liu’s composure in this performance greatly enhances the writing. The way she handles her fight with The Bride is brilliant, as much as it doesn’t go her way. As much as anyone among this grouping, Ishii could easily slide up this list.
#5: The Bride (Kill Bill)
Jeff: If we were ranking the most iconic Tarantino characters, the Bride would have a real claim for the No. 1 spot on this list. Still, top five is a respectable showing for the only character to feature as the protagonist of two Tarantino films (I know he only counts them as one combined film, but my statement is still technically correct). Beatrix Kiddo isn’t the most intricate of Tarantino’s creations, but she’s relentless, highly-skilled, and straight-up badass.
Nick: This is the character I think of first when I hear Tarantino’s name. Her yellow jumpsuit is iconic (as much as Uma Thurman did not care for the look when filming). She is determination incarnate. Certainly one of the last characters you’d want to go toe-to-toe with of the bunch.
#4: Lt. Aldo Raine (Inglorious Basterds)
Jeff: Gorlami. Raine is probably my second-favorite Tarantino character. Full of iconic quotes that he spouts with an exaggerated Tennessee accent, “Aldo the Apache” wants one thing and one thing only: N*zi scalps. His men would follow him to the end of the earth, and quite frankly, so would I. His character is introduced through one of the best monologues in film history, and his story concludes in the most satisfying way possible; getting the best of Hans Landa, who had priorly appeared to be five steps ahead of everyone else.
Nick: It’s now been 15 years since we had the pleasure of meeting this Lt. Raine, and the world will never be the same. Intimidating. Absurd. More confident than he probably should be. Raine is a wild man. (And of this group, he’s probably got the line I quote most.) Grazie.
#3: Cliff Booth (Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood)
Jeff: I’m convinced that no one on the planet could have played Booth besides Brad Pitt. A stuntman with an ambiguous past, Booth — quite literally — rolls with the punches and manages to exist amidst Hollywood’s elite. The most prominent example of this is shown when he effortlessly takes down Tex Johnson and the rest of Charles Manson’s goons after smoking an acid-dipped cigarette. Also, the guy threw Bruce Lee into a car… he’s not as cool as the other side of a pillow, he’s cooler.
Nick: On my personal list, Booth was No. 1. Dark rumors surround this character, yet he’s as calm of a Tarantino character that you’ll find. Labeled one of the “deadliest guys alive” by Tarantino himself, Booth is prepared for just about any situation thrown his way. If Vega is one end of the competency spectrum, Booth is his opposite.
#2: Jules Winnfield (Pulp Fiction)
Jeff: Arguably Tarantino’s most iconic character, the best performance of Samuel L. Jackson’s career nearly earns the No. 1 spot in our rankings. A complex, God-fearing hitman who constantly questions his own mortality, the list of elite quotes from Jules in Pulp Fiction is extensive. Ezekiel 25:17 has been burned into my memory because of this man.
Nick: Peak Samuel L. Jackson. The man can use anything in the world to enhance a scene’s tension. I could listen to Jules talk about anything for hours. When looking back at his big scene, I was reminded how he called one of the frightened men in the room “flock of seagulls.” Apparently it’s a comment on a character’s haircut, which makes him look like a member of the 80s band, A Flock of Seagulls. Without the context, it may feel out of left field; either way, it’s hilarious.
#1: Hans Landa (Inglorious Basterds)
Jeff: The greatest Tarantino character by a large margin, in my opinion. Landa will forever be immortalized in just the first 20 minutes of Inglorious Basterds, which has a legitimate claim as the best opening scene in film history. However, the character goes much deeper than that, as Christoph Waltz puts on a true masterclass from start to finish. Landa walks the line between effortless charm and gut-wrenching evil, flipping that switch to control conversations at every turn. So much so, that when the Colonel finally receives his comeuppance at the conclusion of the film, you’re almost stunned that he misjudged how Raine would honor his surrender. He is Tarantino’s personal favorite character, and objectively, his best creation.
Nick: That’s a bingo! This is an all-time character, not just among Tarantino creations. He’s a calculated monster that uses his charisma as a tool to keep people off-balance. Extremely well-written and an even better performance by Waltz.
