German-Austrian actor Christoph Waltz had his humble beginnings prominently as an actor and director in German-language television. However, he came out of nowhere to mainstream consciousness in 2009 when he starred as Col. Hans Landa in the Quentin Tarantino World War II film Inglourious Basterds and stole the entire show with his enigmatic performance as the sadistic yet charming “Jew Hunter”.
From there, he became one of the eight actors to receive two or more Academy Awards and is typically known for his villainous roles. To celebrate his filmography, here are his ten best film roles, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Schussangst (2003) - 60%
Schussangst (or Gun-shy) is a German drama film about a conscientious objector named Lukas, who leads a dull and works as a “meals-on-wheels” delivery man. One day, he encounters a beautiful girl on a bus, who slips a note to him that reads “Help Me”. Wanting to pursue her, he learns that there is more to her from face value.
Christoph Waltz appeared spontaneously as a police investigator, who initially questions Lukas about a stolen boat case but sticks by his side to protect his life.
Alita: Battle Angel (2019) - 61%
Based on the Gunnm manga series by Yukito Kishiro, Alita: Battle Angel is a live-action adaptation of its anime. But it is mostly known for its long production history, bouncing directorial duties from James Cameron to Robert Rodriguez.
At its core, it is a cyberpunk action film about a female android (Rosa Salazar), who was rebuilt from scraps but destined to find her true purpose. Waltz played Dr. Dyson Ido, the caring surrogate father figure who found Alita’s parts and reassembled her to full function.
It Is No Dream: The Life of Theodor Herzl (2012) - 62%
It Is No Dream: The Life of Theodor Herzl is a documentary about Austro-Hungarian Jewish activist Theodor Herzl, who is dubbed as the father of modern political Zionism and “the state of Israel”. This film explored his life’s work on creating a Jewish state in Palestine after witnessing anti-Semitism being applied in Europe.
While Sir Ben Kingsley did the narration, Waltz provided the voiceover for Herzl on his s and his essays. His performance was stern yet uplifting, given the social intrigue behind the subject.
Spectre (2015) - 63%
The 24th James Bond film, Spectre follows the successful heels of Skyfall, wherein Bond (Daniel Craig) is faced with threats from the criminal organization SPECTRE. As expected from the title, it is predictable to see who is the devious group and its enigmatic leader.
In comes Waltz as Ernst Blofeld (or Franz Oberha) who holds a vendetta against Bond and actually orchestrates the attacks from Quantum of Solace and Skyfall. Just like the film, Waltz was serviceable but predictable, bringing nothing new to the table.
Epic (2013) - 64%
Epic is based on the book The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs by William Joyce about a girl named MK (Amanda Seyfried), who is drawn to a minuscule world of creatures sustaining natural balance. It is a Ice Age.
The ever enigmatic Waltz voiced Mandrake, the malevolent leader of the Boggans who plots to obtain a power source from Queen Tara (Beyoncé Knowles-Carter). If one does not think Waltz was futilely type-casted, here is proof.
Carnage (2011) - 71%
Based on the Tony-winning play God of Carnage, Carnage is about two couples (Jodie Foster & John C. Reilly; and Kate Winslet & Christoph Waltz) gathering to one apartment to resolve the case of their son’s quarrels. However, it devolves into a feeble discussion of their inner conflicts.
As a dark farce and a dysfunctional drama, this film is a showcase for the four main actors. Waltz played Alan Cowan, husband to Winslet’s Nancy, whose main quirk is that he is always on the phone.
Big Eyes (2014) - 72%
In this unique effort from Amy Adams), known for her painting style featuring people with large spherical eyes. However, her husband Walter (Waltz) takes credit for their creation, leading Margaret to file a lawsuit.
In typical charmingly evil fashion, Waltz was at his prime as Walter, who channels from effortlessly charming to maliciously desperate in his pursuit for fame. He was best paired with Adams, the best player in the film.
Django Unchained (2012) - 87%
On the second revisionist-history film from Quentin Tarantino, Jamie Foxx), who crusades with Dr. King Schultz (Waltz) to track down his rivals. Empathetic, Schultz gives back to Django by helping him find his wife Broomhilda (Kelly Washington).
As a change of pace, Waltz implements his elegant charm and discrete vocabulary to a gallant German dentist-turned-bounty hunter. This role granted the German actor his second Oscar.
Inglourious Basterds (2009) - 89%
Now for Waltz’s first Oscar-winning film, Col. Hans Landa, an SS officer who is infamous for his devious Jew hunting operations. He seamlessly switches from a merciless Nazi colonel to a suave-talking American fanatic.
His character balance adds more layers from his sadistic exteriors and actually makes his presence even more intimidating. Thanks to that, Christoph Waltz was propelled to worldwide fame - deservedly so.
QT8: The First Eight (2019) - 91%
For avid fans of Quentin Tarantino’s filmography and style, there is one documentary that celebrates everything Tarantino. QT8: The First Eight relays the director’s twenty-one-year career, starting from his humble beginnings in Reservoir Dogs. This documentary features his frequent collaborators, from actors like Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Madsen, Lucy Liu, and more, to crew like stuntwoman Zoë Bell, producers Stacey Sher, Scott Spiegel, and Richard N. Gladstein.
Waltz was featured here, talking about his two collaborations with Tarantino and how the latter was able to craft awards-worthy characters.
