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Harvey Weinstein Berates Bloggers Over Basterds Cutting Rumors

by Alex Billington
June 25, 2009
Source: GQ

You gotta love Harvey Weinstein. I imagine he'd be more than happy to fight anyone who asks (kind of like Uwe Boll). Right now I'm certain all that's on his mind is making sure that Inglourious Basterds, The Road, and Rob Marshall's Nine are huge hits, or The Weinstein Company may not make it to next year. A month ago, the web was abuzz with a controversial rumor that Quentin Tarantino was being forced by Harvey Weinstein to cut some 40 minutes off of Inglourious Basterds. It seemed hokey anyway, as it came from a very skeptical report on The Wrap. But now Harvey sets it all straight in this GQ interview.

"Those stories are all untrue. There's no fucking way. Here, read my lips: That is nuts. Please don't even write that, it's insanity. There's not even a question of that. Whatever you're reading, it's like some insane blogger… There's no truth to any of this. He's not gonna cut. What he's doing is just reorganizing some scenes. I mean, the guy had six weeks to cut his movie [for Cannes]; most guys take six months. Most guys take a year."

"When I worked with Martin [Scorsese], we'd do eighteen months in post-production. Quentin Tarantino cuts a movie in six weeks? Come on, there's shit on that cutting-room floor that'll blow your brains out. I was telling Quentin the opposite—'You should put that shit back in the movie.' There's scenes with Brad Pitt and the Basterds, and I'm praying he puts that shit back in, ‘cause it's un-fucking-believably great. Listen—this movie will be between two hours and twenty minutes and two hours and twenty-seven minutes. I don't think it's going to be shorter—it's just a question of rearranging. I know he's putting footage back into the movie. I know he's got some cool shit that he didn't get time to address."

I really don't think there is any other power producer in Hollywood who would give you an answer like that to any question you asked them. And that's why I just love Harvey Weinstein. That guy doesn't take shit from anyone and it looks like he was more than happy to tell this guy that those "insane bloggers" were full of shit with that rumor. As I said, it all felt a bit hokey, but I was writing it as a plea in the extreme case that it did turn out to be true. And just to say it, I'm extremely happy to know that Tarantino is not shortening Inglourious Basterds at all and will keep it at least as long as it was in Cannes. Keep on keepin' on, Harvey!

Explore tags: Movie News, Opinions, Rumors

Marcus

Woooooow I've never been sure about the Weinsteins, I've had shit against them while also loving them. They've picked out nobodies and made them huge (Tarrantino, Kevin Smith, plus more), whie also making some stupid decisions (Grindhouse split). But it is nice to hear this; actually coming out and atacking the bloggers after publishing real shit, while also really really bigging QT up. Good to hear! This artical has got me even more pumped for IB. Cant wait till August.
Oliver

June 9, 2009 : Harvey Weinstein Wants to Cut 40 Minutes from Inglourious Basterds?! May 23, 2009 : Tarantino Heading Back into the Editing Room with Basterds From both articles before There was no word about Rumors ! They were news not Rumors ! I hate media when play with the mind of people and Audience , This is work of freaks and unprofessional people , who write stuff that never happen and will never be true ! Tarantino is not a teenage director who take orders from others to cut or delete scenes from his movies , he is the mind and the only commander of his movies . Every fucking Indian movies are 3 hours at least what will happen if Tarantino make a movie with 2 hours and 40 minutes ? is it a big deal ? is it the end of the world ? what about Watchmen ? Indiana Jones 4 ? and a lot of more movies . Alex thanks for the new update but hopefully you will be more careful next time to publish some shit stuff from other sources . I remember you was against the editing too and I respect that . Speaking about my self : I like good movies to be at least 2 hours !
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

Oliver - You're missing some of the points. The first few articles written were about Tarantino editing the movie, which he is, and rearranging, potentially adding, and in general just "re-editing" the movie before its release. Then, most recently, there was a rumor that he was going to cut 40 minutes out of it. Weinstein is saying, as expected, that the 40 minute cut rumor was BS. The rest of the stories ARE legit and Tarantino is still re-editing this for its US release, but the running time will still be 2 and a half hours.
http://www.twitter.com/gimmesumsuga Mathieu

You love Harvey Weinstein?! The man is a total bastard, known within the industry as 'Harvey Scissorhands' for the amount of meddling he does in the post-production process. He hacks films to pieces and leaves them gathering dust on the shelf frequently. But there's no way he would dare clash with the likes of Tarantino or Scorsese, that's the reason this film is safe. Especially considering the dire financial status his company is in.
Oliver

Thanks Alex for the explanation ! and it is good news for sure
LV 426

When you wish upon a Weinstein!!
Al
dexter

This is great news...LOL @(kind of like Uwe Boll). Come to think of it, he kinda looks like Uwe Boll too. except Uwe boll makes not movies but only piece of craps!
Garrett

Yes! Yes! Yes!!
Mark

I don't have a whole lot of opinion about the current state of this film, although I do plan to see it. I am however very impressed with this straight answer. I wish everyone spoke like this.