10 Best Quentin Tarantino Characters
Okay, okay, I am obsessed with everything Tarantino. My friends know it and now you know it too. That being said, this list was inevitable in its creation, and here it finally is. Choosing from just the divisive director’s “directed by” pictures (leaving out those characters he created for other directors such as Ollie Stone or Robert Rodriguez) it was quite the hard task to narrow down to just ten (and one special mention). Doing this I had to leave off some favorite characters.
Not quite making the list (sadly enough) are Vincent Vega, Mia and Marsellus Wallace, Butch, The Wolf and Lance from Pulp Fiction; Elle Driver (she just missed the cut!), Gogo Yubari, Hatori Hanzo and Pai Mei from Kill Bill; Mr. Pink from Reservoir Dogs; Donny ‘The Bear Jew’ Donowitz, Hugo Stiglitz and Bridget von Hammersmark from Inglourious Basterds; as well as everyone from Jackie Brown (obviously my least favorite QT film). After making this list, though Pulp Fiction remains my favorite Tarantino, it seems as if Inglourious Basterds has the most characters I like, since four made the list. Anyway, without further ado, here are my choices for the 10 Best Quentin Tarantino Characters.
Special Mention: Zoe Bell in Death Proof
The reason the great Zoe Bell doesn’t actually make the list is because she is essentially playing herself – not a character (though she herself is certainly a character). The tough-as-nails stunt woman (she kicked ass as Uma Thurman’s stunt double in Kill Bill and was the real brawn behind Xena: Warrior Princess) gets to show off her unique (and crazy if you ask me) talent as she hangs on to the hood of that iconic 1970 white Dodge Challenger (an homage of course to that classic film Vanishing Point) as the girls are chased down by that sonofabitch Stuntman Mike.
10. O-Ren Ishii in Kill Bill
That entrance she makes in the first Kill Bill is still the best intro of any Tarantino character and then she beheads a guy for calling her a half breed – and she is even anime for part of the film!. Let’s face it, the lady rocks. I have never been much of a fan of Lucy Liu before Kill Bill (nor after really) but her one performance as queen of the Tokyo underworld, nee Cottonmouth, member of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, is one that is hard to ignore. Incidentally, O-Ren just beat out fellow Deadly Viper, Elle Driver (as performed by Daryl Hannah) for the tenth spot on this list, so that makes her even cooler.
9. Stuntman Mike in Death Proof
What’s not to like about a psychopathic serial killer stunt man who kills women with his specially souped-up and tricked-out stunt car? Played by Kurt Russell (an actor who I think deserves a lot more respect than he is normally afforded), Stuntman Mike is a down-and-out ex-stuntman who has taken to picking up young girls and showing them how “death proof” his car is. Of course to really appreciate it they need to be sitting in his seat. Of course no matter how badass Stuntman Mike seems to be in the beginning (badass in a creepy, aging lothario kinda way) he ain’t nothing compared to Zoe Bell and her kickass ladies in the final car chase of the film (all incidentally done without even a second of CGI).
8. Lt. Archie Hicox in Inglourious Basterds
Perhaps he made the list because he plays a film critic-turned-Nazi Killer. Perhaps it is because I feel sorry because he doesn’t know how to properly hand signal the number three. Perhaps it is because I have a kind of man-crush on Michael Fassbender. Maybe it’s just because the ever-proper, film-loving, Nazi-hating Lieutenant Archibald Hicox (loosely based on Graham Greene) is the focal point of one of my favorite scenes in Inglourious Basterds. Whatever the case, Archie Hicox and his pilfered stories of German mountain films of the 1920′s will remain ever in my mind – especially when I signal three to a passing bartender.
7. Lt. Aldo Raine in Inglourious Basterds
“When you join my command, you take on debit. A debit you owe me personally. Each and every man under my command owes me one hundred Nazi scalps. And I want my scalps. And all y’all will git me one hundred Nazi scalps, taken from the heads of one hundred dead Nazis. Or you will die tryin’.” These inspirational words come from the twangy mouth of one Lt. Aldo Raine as played by the immensely versatile Brad Pitt. Another quote from the infamous leader of the Basterds goes like this: “You probably heard we ain’t in the prisoner-takin’ business; we in the killin’ Nazi business. And cousin, business is a-boomin’. ” and let us not forget these words of wisdom: “You know, fightin’ in a basement offers a lot of difficulties. Number one being, you’re fightin’ in a basement!” I guess what I’m sayin’ is, Aldo Raine rocks.
6. Vic Vega, aka Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs
To this day I cannot here that Steeler’s Wheel song, “Stuck in the Middle”, without getting an ache in my ear. This is all thanks to Michael Madsen’s psychopathic Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs. Actually named Vic Vega (brother to John Travolta’s Vincent Vega from Pulp Fiction) and code-named Mr. Blonde (as QT’s homage to the original Taking of Pelham One Two Three) for the botched heist of which Reservoir Dogs plays as aftermath to, Madsen’s psychotic cop killer and all-around badass madman, is the highlight of Tarantino’s directorial debut.
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42 Comments
Poor Jackie Brown. Always gets the short stick in every QT list I’ve ever seen.
Its because its his worst movie (still a good one though), the ending is way to laid-back.
Yeah, I like Jackie Brown, but it is the lesser QT for sure. It is also, incidentally, the only one that is an adaptation from another source.
I really need to see Inglorius Basterds. Cried a tear that Bridget Fonda didn’t make the list.
SEE IT! It’s a really great film, my favorite of Quentin Tarantino’s stable.
The fact that Mia Wallace didn’t make this list – who is one of my 10 favorite movie characters EVER – is like a knife to the heart, but you made another Uma character #1 so I guess I’ll have to live with it. Also, I love this: “What a woman – able to talk film and kill Nazis.”
Mia (and Marcellus) made the original list of fifteen or so, that I eventually narrowed down to ten.
uma, lucky liu and melanie laurent for the win! they are my faves!
Many people from my own list here. Bride is definitely number 1!
To read a Tarantino fan’s list of their favorite characters and not see Joe Cabot (Lawrence Tierney) from “Reservoir Dogs” even get a mention baffles me. But it is your list sir and you have carte blanche. Tierney was a character and consummate tough guy on screen and off noted by his bar room brawls and altercations with the law. Watching Joe Cabot, you believed this guy had the most seedy of criminal pasts and was not a man to trifle with. Pretty good list overall though.
Good call. I have heard some interesting BTS stories about Tierney’s work on Reservoir Dogs. He sure seemed to be quite the character in IRL too.
Tierney was one I contemplated, but I just could not bring myself to kick anyone out to make room.
Love to see love for Hicox!
A film critic AND my favourite actor!!
Love that you added Oren Ishi, and Aldo! Bonjourno!
I think Shosanna is possibly my favorite QT character, with Aldo in a close 2nd. It’s lists like these that really help you appreciate Basterds.
Good list. However, I’d drop both Pitt and Fassbender (like the guy, but not on this list) and replace them with Jackie Brown and Robert Forster’s character. I really can’t argue with the choices for the top 5 (Shosanna Dreyfus is an inspired choice), but no Jackie Brown appearance is hard to see. I do feel like I’m in the minority with my love for this film, so I guess it’s not a surprise. Nice job.
Since I’m also a QT fan, I like your choices. I probably wouldn’t have include any character from Death Proof though, it’s my least favorite QT film. I would’ve included Chris Tucker’s one and only best role, Beaumont Livingston, on the list. Other than that, cool list.
Yeah, I thought of Max Cherry, but there are so many better characters (in my mind at least) that I had to leave him on the so-called cutting room floor.
How could Beatrix Kiddo be number one? She’s the least interesting and worst played character on this entire list. I kind of think she’s just the icing on the cake that is Tarantino’s genre pornography. I’ve also never been a huge fan of Thurman, and maybe Kill Bill marks my least favorite of her performances– I never for a minute buy that this woman is the dedicated and skilled assassin she’s meant to portray. She never successfully sells herself as that figure, or as the vulnerable person trying to make a better life for herself and her daughter, either.
There are too many characters here for me to name. What about The Wolf? Or Butch? No mention of Marsellus Wallace or Mr. White or Joe Cabot? I’m not liking the conspicuous absence of Jackie Brown here, either, though I admit that everyone in that movie who isn’t Sammy J. is at a big disadvantage against the rest of QT’s various characters. I think Inglourious Basterds definitely takes the cake for me in terms of rich, entertaining, impeccably portrayed characters, with Waltz and Laurent topping the bunch handily.
For me it’s hard to choose a “best”, but I think it’d come down to Mr. White, Stuntman Mike, or Hans Landa.
Wow! No love for Uma, huh? Oh well.
Yeah, she was the definite number one from the second I came up with the list actually. In fact I revolved the whole idea of the list around my love for both Uma and Beatrix.
As for Jackie Brown, it is a great film and all (though my least favourite Tarantino – still heads and shoulders above other filmmaker’s work in many cases) but I just could not kick anyone else off for anyone from there – even Max Cherry or the woman herself.
Yeah, I know. I feel like I’m the odd man out on Kill Bill, always, at all times and forever. It’s sort of how I feel about football, like there’s something I’m missing in my brain necessary to sustain my enjoyment of that brutish sport; I wonder if I could be hypnotized and then suddenly like KB, football, hockey, and such just like everyone else.
I would agree that Jackie Brown is a lesser Tarantino film, even keeping in mind my opinion of Kill Bill (which I think is incredibly well-made even if I still don’t like it). I think it’s hard for even the best characters of that film to stand with the likes of Landa and such.
I like THE BRIDE, but I’ll second that last comment – Landa or Stuntman Mike would probably be my number one choice
You’re not the only person who thinks Beatrix was slightly overrated. Perhaps I’m just more of an anti-hero fan than I am the archetypal hero who goes on and defeats all the bad guys blah blah blah by him/herself. I also never bought that she was supposedly the most skilled and terrible assassin out of all of them and I’m not sure if that’s due to the portrayal itself or the lack of provided background.
Oren-Ishii was by far my favorite.
WHAT ABOUT THE CHARACTERS IN MY BEST FRIENDS BIRTHDAY WARBLGARBLDARBL
Seriously, awesome list. Your lists rock. I was thinking about doing a list on good double features, care to chip in?
That sounds good Max.
Email me, I’d help
Sorry, is it not apropos to the topic to ask about X character from Y film? It’s not a burn on Kev or anything, just discussion.
That’s what its all about Andrew. Discuss away – I am not about to take offense or anything. Everyone has differing opinions.
Sounds pretty cool. If you want my two cents, you got it. E-mail me (said e-mail can be found at my blog).
Great to see so many Bastards characters on here, but no Mr Pink? He’s one of my favourites.
Great list as always Kevyn! It’s hard to do a list like that especially because most of QT’s (your doppelganger)films are ensemble casts!
Now I have to rewatch Reservoir Dogs for that particular ear chopping scene!!!
Thanx. And yes, the ear scene is the tops (as far as psycho acts go).
No Vincent Vega?
FAIL.
Alright, that’s harsh. But I was a racecar in the red. Jules may get all the monologues, but Vincent’s no less a character. Movie isn’t the same without him and its one of my favorite films of all time.
Harsh is appropriate when standing up against someone who has been dissing Vincent Vega.
I’ll give you this though Kevyn. As much as your list irked me last night, (LOL, and it did) it got me thinking about Tarrantino and his characters hardcore, and you know? Sometimes that’s a great thing – getting your audience thinking about your piece.
Its not easy to list “Bests” or “Greatests”.
And listing “Favorites” is useless, what are we on a date?
So you have to put forth an argument otherwise the piece has no merit.
I definitely did like what you said about each character and had no disagreements there.
I’ve got to work on my own list now, I just know that Jules and Vincent are one and two, in that order (sorry Landa) and that my list over all would look VERY dissimilar the rest of the way through.
I don’t think the distinction between “best” and “favorites” matters too much on subjective material, at least so long as one can articulate their reasons behind the choices they make. Which Kevyn does, and very well.
Well thank you.
I’m not sure of the logic in kicking out characters in True Romance and etc. HE MADE THEM, but you’re the boss Kevyn and I must say, you’re list is quite something indeed, in a very good way.
Reservoir Dogs used to be my favourite Tarantino, until Pulp Fiction eventually beat it out, although it looks like Inglourious Basterds might be stealing the top spot. Speaking of which, I’d have put Landa at #1. He’s so subtly terrifying, he sends a gigantic shiver down my spine every time. He has much more power than Winnifield because he doesn’t have to resort to shouting to be scary. He just… is. That’s powerful.
Though Kiddo certainly wouldn’t be my number one, I don’t begrudge you for putting her there, she was brilliant.
Oh, and my biggest question:
WHERE THE F**K IS MR. WHITE????
If anyone else gets in from Res Dogs, it would by Joe Cabot or Mr. Pink.
I could easily extend this list as thus:
11. Elle Driver
12. Mia Wallace
13. Butch Coolidge
14. Pai Mei
15. Vincent Vega
16. Gogo Yubari
17. Bridget von Hammersmark
18. Mr. Pink
19. Donny Donowitz
20. Marsellus Wallace
21. Joe Cabot
22. Hugo Stiglitz
23. Winston Wolfe
24. Jimmie Dimmick
25. Max Cherry
There ya go – still only one Jackie Brown character. I guess I really am not a fan of that film. I do need to watch it again though. Anyway, there it is. Bring it on.
I also really like Fabienne from Pulp Fiction, but I may be alone on that call since so many think of her as an annoying character.
Let’s face it – I could go on forever here (Lance from Pulp Fiction, Mr. White, Sofie Fatale, Budd from Kill Bill…..).
I’d definitely recommend revisiting Jackie Brown. It’s a really strong movie that just gets overshadowed by QT’s other, more iconic work. But I again agree that that movie’s characters don’t really stack up well against the cast of characters from the rest of his oeuvre.
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