Hans Landa from “Inglorious Basterds” earns a spot among my all-time favorite villains – he’s the only actor, in my book, that made a Brad Pitt movie a Christoph Waltz movie. His ability to switch between languages and manipulate situations made him a truly cunning antagonist. 

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Waltz’s character, is that he isn’t the typical one-dimensional villain that’s usually motivated by a desire for power. I noticed that a lot of villains in films are primarily just there for the plot – to keep the story going. However, Waltz’s character had elements to it. His motives are rooted in self-preservation and opportunism. He likes to toy with his victims – a trait that is well-established in the movie. 

Christoph Walts did a phenomenal job portraying Hans Landa – a performance that ultimately won him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2010. With a perfect balance of charm and menace, Walts is the heartbeat of the character. Indeed; it is through Waltz’s delivery that I found myself drawn deeply into Landa’s world—engrossed by engaging dialogues that are not only captivating but also formidably significant in shaping my overall perception of him.