eBay has approached potential sellers with this message: “Since the manufacturer of this product has discontinued the item’s sale due to its potentially offensive nature, we are not allowing it to be sold on eBay.”

Luckily, you can still buy this fake human turd prank gag. But you only have 25 hours left.

(TMZ)

“I am a bit drained. I’m now going to take a long, long break. I’ve done three films in two years and I’m just worn out,” DiCaprio tells  German magazine Bild (which features this image on its cover):

DiCaprio says he wants to spend that time traveling and raising environmental awareness. “I would like to improve the world a bit. I will fly around the world doing good for the environment.” In a private jet. That burns fuel. And leaves chem trails.

Meanwhile, the tipsy mommy who the fire department needed to rescue will travel around Germany raising awareness about the dangers of sitting in child seats. (via Deadline)

Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network called for a national boycott Tuesday of the action figures – some of which are based on Jamie Foxx’s Django, Samuel L. Jackson’s Stephen, and Kerry Washington’s Broomhilda. “Selling this doll is highly offensive to our ancestors and the African American community,” Rev. K.W. Tulloss, NAN’s president in Los Angeles.

Najee Ali from Project Islamic Hope spoke alongside Tulloss in Los Angeles Tuesday and said, “I actually enjoyed the movie, but we cannot support this type of commercialization. I don’t seen any dolls representing Hitler that came from Tarantino’s (Holocaust movie Inglourious Basterds)…I don’t see them making dolls of Holocaust survivors who are bald and starving in concentration camps.”

To that point, it should be said that action figures are available for most Quentin Tarantino films including Basterds however Hitler and Holocaust survivors are not available. Nor were they when the Captain America toy line launched.

On one side of the issue, it’s crass and too soon. On the other side, it could be viewed as empowering to have a figure based on slave-turned-savior. Bottom line, the toys aren’t for everyone. If anyone is interested in giving them to their children, they do so with the responsibility of educating them about that period of American history. And also, don’t open them. They’re collector’s items now. (NY Daily News)

And then apologize.

Continuing in this latter vein, rather than the former, Lee tweeted about Django Unchained, claiming, “American Slavery Was Not A Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western. It Was A Holocaust. My Ancestors Are Slaves. Stolen From Africa. I Will Honor Them.”

While that’s not a more or less valid opinion than any other, he could led some credence to the opinion if he had gotten around to seeing the film, which he admitted he hasn’t.

Don’t ever stop doing what you’re doing, Spike.

Gogo Yubari – Kill Bill

Often overlooked on QT superlative lists, how could she ever be missed? Gogo Yubari makes the list based solely on style and kitsch. The top assassin dresses like a schoolgirl, wields a spiked meteor hammer, and disembowels pervy businessmen. That leaves quite an impression with me.

Shosanna Dreyfus – Inglourious Basterds

The French-Jewish cinema owner who lost her family at the hands of Hans Landa bides her time and plots her revenge. She holds a deep hatred for Nazis and commits herself to their downfall. When a young SS soldier takes a liking to her, she uses this influence to lure the fascists into her trap. Melanie Laurent’s Shosanna is the backbone of Inglourious Basterds and the face of Jewish vengeance.

Mr. Blonde – Reservoir Dogs

Michael Madsen portrays Vincent Vega’s brother with a psychotic cool. Most famous for the scene that put Tarantino on the map, Vic Vega (aka Mr. Blonde) shows extreme cruelty while torturing Marvin the cop – all to the hip-swinging soundtrack of Stealers Wheel’s “Stuck In The Middle With You.” A song that is now synonymous with hacking off ears and dosing people with gasoline. Probably not Stealers Wheel’s intent when they wrote the song.

The Wolf – Pulp Fiction

In a film with so many great characters and strong performances, sometimes less is more. Amongst the cameos from Christopher Walken, Eric Stoltz, and Parker Lewis, stands out Harvey Keitel‘s unforgettable performance as “The Cleaner,” Mr. Wolf. When you’ve got a corpse in a car in a garage minus a head, who else can you depend on to solve that problem? I’m sure there are a handful of folks you can trust in that industry, but will they all show up wearing a tuxedo at 8:50am? No. That’s the Winston Wolfe difference.

Jules Winnfield – Pulp Fiction

You don’t get a wallet touting the status of “Bad Motherfucker” by not being a bad motherfucker. Well, I guess you could just buy one at Spencer’s Gifts but, c’mon. You wanna earn a distinction like that.

Pulp Fiction essentially introduced the world to Samuel L. Jackson and the world has been a better place since. Though he’s played many memorable roles since, the mushroom cloud-layin’, scripture-quoting hitman Jules Winnfield remains a standout. His delivery of Ezekiel 25:17 actually makes church seem awesome. Ball’s in your court, the Pope!

The Bride – Kill Bill

After Pulp Fiction, Uma Thurman reteamed with Tarantino to help co-create his most ass-kicking character. Beatrix Kiddo aka Black Mambo aka The Bride awoke from a coma with a list and a mission — to kill her former boss and co-workers who put her in that state. The highly trained assassin, marksman, swordswoman and the self-proclaimed “most dangerous woman in the world” travels the world armed with Hanzo Steel, killing all who stand in her path. Including an entire dojo full of bloodthirsty Yakuza swordsmen.

Col. Hans Landa – Inglourious Basterds

Tarantino’s most engaging and memorable character to date. Brought to gleeful life by Christoph Waltz, the Jew Hunter exudes an easy charm that makes his existence grotesque and haunting. Yielding great power and an ever-turning mind, he injects terror and tension into something as everyday as adding creme to strudel.

We also get a look at Samuel L. Jackson outfitted to resemble Latter Years Louis Armstrong. Sadly, he doesn’t even attempt to do the voice.

“I came really close, it was one of the most amazing screenplays I had ever ever seen. I was in the middle of ‘Men in Black 3‘ and [Tarantino] was ready to go, and I just couldn’t sit with him and get through the issues, so I didn’t want to hold him up. That thing’s going to be ridiculous. It is a genius screenplay.”

So Smith chalks up his declining to do the film to a scheduling conflict (and some undisclosed “issues” with the screenplay). We’ll probably never know if this was the REAL reason or if Smith is just being charitable, but at least now we can buy our tickets to Django Unchained secure in the knowledge that the screenplay has the Will Smith Stamp of Approval. I’ve seen movies for less. (The Playlist)

Looks great but minus points awarded for lack of dog-riding.

Also peace-outtying the production is Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof star Kurt Russell. An anonymous source claims they witnessed Russell storm off set apparantly unhappy with his role. However, if that was his standard practice how do you explain all of those Kurt Russell movies? Luckily, Walton Goggins is on set to lend a hand.

Goggins, who plays a different evil son of a bitch in the film, will absorb the evil deeds that Russell’s son of a bitch was slated to commit. Thanks for being a team player, Walton. (Cinema Blend)

Cohen would play Scotty, a gambler that buys Django‘s wife for companionship. The way Tarantino works, I can’t imagine that things will work out too well for ole’ Scotty. Well, no better than they did for Zed or the Gimp in Pulp Fiction, anyway.

This move would add Cohen to a cast which features Jamie Foxx, Cristoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kurt Russell, Michael Kenneth Williams (Omar comin’!), Don Johnson, and RZA. What a fun bunch!

Coming out next for the comedian-going-straighter is Martin Scorsese‘s Hugo, then The Dictator, which is supposedly in the vein of Borat and Bruno. Way to expand your horizons, funnyboy.

Boardwalk Empire and The Wire star Michael K. Williams announced last week that although he failed to win the lead, Quentin Tarantino might be writing a role for him in the slavery western. Williams remarked, “I’m going to dare to say it’s going to go.” However, noting how non-official that sounds he went on to say, “Yes, I’ve been given a timeline. January through April. I’ve been given some dates when he’s going to want me to work, but I haven’t gotten the official word yet.”

That makes it sound like it is likely to go through. January through April. Mark it down. That’s our window to move product on the streets. (AICN)

As of right now, the truth remains a mystery but we believe the reasons outlined below are all plausible.

The Pulp Fiction star has signed on to re-team with Quentin Tarantino on Django Unchained. The action focuses on Jamie Foxx playing a freed slave who trains with Christoph Waltz‘s bounty hunter to rescue his wife from the villainous slave owner played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Jackson will play Stephen, “a house slave and the right-hand man of a sadistic slavemaster.” There’s no word yet on what crazy hairstyle he will wear in the film, but given that this is a Tarantino project, expectations are pretty high that it will be hilarious-looking. (Variety)

Sadly, I thought that “henchman” would mean some generic bad guy along the lines of the F.O.O.T. Soldiers in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I mean, he played a dead body in The Big Chill, so he’s clearly not in acting for the glory.

Time has shown that it’s not wise to second-guess Tarantino’s casting choices, as no one would have answered “John Travolta” when asked who the best choice to play a hit man would be for Pulp Fiction. This news leaves Django‘s wife, Broomhilda, as the one big outstanding role. It sounds like Kerry Washington is no longer in the running, so expect maybe Harvey Keitel or Tim Roth to step up. (Deadline)

Foxx will join Christoph Waltz, who plays his friend and mentor and Leonardo DiCaprio, who will serve as Calvin Candle, a sadistic slavemaster.

While this is a huge opportunity for Foxx (Tarantino always serves as a great opportunity for everyone), I’m having trouble picturing him as a grizzled slave the same way I could Elba or Smith. However, one of the best aspects of QT’s films are their ability to transform familiar faces and names into something you had never imagined. We will soon see if Foxx can keep that streak alive as Django.

Needless to say, I’m extremely excited for this film and can’t see it turning out nothing short of fantastically awesome superwow. In fact Weinstein Co., just go ahead and pull that quote now for your posters and bus ads. (BoxOfficeMojo)

Leo’s All-Time Greatest Spazzouts

Tarantino almost nabbed DiCaprio for Landa in Inglorious Basterds, as the actor was interested in the role early on. The talks didn’t pan out that time, but perhaps second time’s a charm? (Deadline)

Former Creative Screenwriting Senior Editor Jeff Goldsmith tweeted: “Casting Rumor: Leonardo DiCaprio WILL play villain Calvin Candie in Tarantino’s Django Unchained! QT wanted him for I.B. & now has him!”

Many are inclined to believe Goldsmith based off the fact he tipped the hat that Will Smith was in talks to join the film (though his participation may have fallen through when it was decided that Jayden would not be allowed to play a ninja or something cool like that). So, as of right now, consider this all speculative, though it would be nice to see DiCaprio share screen time with Hollywood legend, Treat Williams. (via The Playlist)

Having one of the biggest meetings of my professional life today…meeting a very controversial director for a very controversial part. :-/

On the plane to the destination of my fate…..ok…. a lil dramatic….destination of my life..?

6 photosNew ‘Thor’ Character Posters Are Like Mugshots Of The Gods

Django Unchained is Tarantino’s follow-up to Inglorious Basterds, a spaghetti Western about the team-up of a slave and a German bounty hunter, who search for the slave’s wife and together take on an evil plantation owner. Samuel L. Jackson and Christoph Waltz are apparently also in talks for major roles, as the house slave to the plantation villain and the bounty hunter, respectively. No surprises with those names. They’re regular Tarantino pal-arounds.

Though Smith is Tarantino’s top choice, no official deal has been made, and the money-factor could be a problem. Smith commands giant, novelty-sized checks for his movies, and rightfully so, as he’s one of the few stars today you can really bank on. Still, Tarantino would save money if he gets Smith’s “Willenium Package,” which includes his acting services, the acting services of his two children, and a radio-friendly end credits rap.

I bet there’s some furious number crunching going on in the Weinstein Co.’s accounting department right now. (Hollywood Reporter)

Twitter user @agenttrainee twote the picture below, which is supposedly the cover page of Tarantino’s new western. Django Unchained sounds like a jazz album somebody recommended to be in college, but I never listened to. The film will definitely star Christoph Waltz and has been described as a spaghetti western. That much we know for sure, not that I don’t trust all news stories broken on Twitter. (/Film)