Tarantino drafts Brad Pitt to kill Nazis

Hollywood Wrap with George Pennacchio

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By ABC7

Saturday, August 22, 2009

LOS ANGELES 'Basterds' follows a "Dirty Dozen"-style band of Jewish American soldiers led by Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) as they seek revenge by hunting and kill Nazis. They especially want to get to Adolph Hitler.

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The film brings writer-director Quentin Tarantino back into the limelight. When he began to think of casting his lead role, his mind jumped to megastar Pitt.

"Aldo Raine, the character, has been in my head for 10 years, and then halfway through, I thought, 'Who could play him?' I thought of Brad, he'd be the perfect fit for the character," said Tarantino. "Now, it's one thing to come up with Brad, it's another to get him. I got very lucky."

Tarantino knows it can sometimes be tough to get people into the theater for a violent, war-themed drama. But he thinks what his film offers is a good, solid and original story.

Still, the Oscar-winner graciously gives his picks of other good films to go check out.

"Right now, it's a terrific time to go to the movies," said Tarantino. "Ours is one. '/*District 9*/,' '/*Funny People*/' ... There's a lot of good stuff to see if you want to go to the movies."