
“Kill Bill Vol. 1” Movie Premiere – Michael Madsen Interview
Dont blink or youll miss Michael Madsen in Kill Bill Vol. 1. But not to worry, Madsen promises Kill Bill Vol. 2 is where he really gets into the action. The sole male on the Deadly Viper Assassin Squad (DiVAS), Madsen is marked as a target of Uma Thurmans retribution.
Kill Bill reunites Madsen with his Reservoir Dogs director, Quentin Tarantino. Madsen compares his role as Budd in Kill Bill to Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs by saying, It’s a character every bit as memorable as Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs, but it’s a hundred and eighty degrees a different way.”
MICHAEL MADSEN (‘Budd’):
From an actors perspective is it better to be killed or doing the killing on screen?
Id rather survive. Id like to ride off into the sunset at the end.
Do you get to do that in this movie?
Well, I wouldnt want to tell you that or Id ruin it for you. You havent seen anything yet.
Is that kind of a “Stay tuned to Volume 2” teaser?
“Volume 2” is going to be pretty wild.
In “Kill Bill” its the women who do most of the butt-kicking. How about in real life? Is it women or men who are tougher?
Oh, definitely the women. Theyve got the psychological advantage.
Can you describe Budd?
Im Bills younger brother. Were both trying to escape from Uma Thurman. Shes a very dangerous woman.
What was the most difficult stunt Quentin Tarantino asked you to do?
I had to deal with some snakes and I really dont like snakes very much. It was very disturbing.
How did you master your fear?
Well, Im not sure that I did but Im sure that it was captured on film. I guess thats all that matters.
What is it about working in a Quentin Tarantino film? Theres a mystique that surrounds his productions.
I was sure glad to be back with him. You know, its been awhile. He wrote me a good role. Its always good to work with people who have an understanding of each other, you know? Ive definitely got that with him. Hes going to go down in film history already, thats for sure, so anything now is just icing on the cake.
Did he write the part of Budd in Kill Bill for you?
Youd have to ask him. I originally had a different role in the film and he changed his mind and asked me to do Budd. I think he has a lot of people in his mind when he writes things. All I can say is that its a great role the best Ive had in a long time.
How did they explain the lack of a family resemblance between you and David Carradine?
I think theres some resemblance there (smiling).
How much screen time do you get in Volume 1?
Not very much, but I can wait
How has Quentin Tarantino evolved as a director from when you first worked with him on “Reservoir Dogs?”
Hes the same guy that he was on Dogs but hes got a little bit more time now to do stuff. Hes not as rushed as when we did Dogs. Its nice that he has a little bit more time to be involved now. He can really do the stuff that he wants to do.
Speaking of other Tarantino projects, is there a Vega Brothers movie in the works?
Yes, I believe there is. I think for a while it wasnt going to happen, but I think that he came up with a good concept of an idea for actually making it work. Now Im pretty sure that its going to happen.
There’s also talk of another Tarantino project called Inglorious Bastards. Will you be doing that movie with him?
Yeah, oh yeah. I think hes still writing it. Its about 95% done. Youd have to ask him but I think its definitely something we are going to do.
And youre currently working on a movie in England?
Im doing a picture called Red Light Runners with Harvey Keitel and Peter OToole. Its kind of a heist picture about the British Museum. Were about four or five weeks into it and its coming along really well. Im really happy about it.
, I’m a bit sceptical about that biker sttpheagi thing. QT tends to overdo it a bit as an actor I guess the guy just has a lot of impulses in real life too and needs someone really good (and strong)to direct him, in fact someone like himself. And that’s hard to find, obviously.
There seems to be two recurring armneguts in this forum: Tarentino owes us better, and Tarentino knows best. I don’t buy either one. Unless you know him personally, he owes you shit. Did you bum him a cigarrette at a party? Did you change his tire once? Great, then tell him to release Kill Bill in February as planned. Otherwise shut up and wait patiently.Of course the Tarentino knows best argument is just as bogus. You think its coincidence that his break moved the release of Volume 2 from mid-February to TWO DAYS AFTER Volume 1 is released on video? Please. Tarentino is a great writer and director; but deep down inside he’s still human and I’m sure a bit of a greedy Hollywood type (at the least Miramax definately is). Volume 2 is being released late to make someone a lot of money, not because Q needed a break.